B2 · Upper-Intermediate

Philosophy & Ethics — B2 English Vocabulary

This B2 vocabulary list gathers 50 upper-intermediate English words about philosophy & ethics — truth, morality and the meaning of life. Every word comes with its British-English pronunciation and a natural example sentence, so you learn each one in real context. When you are ready, open the flashcards to practise and remember them for good.

  1. ethics/ˈeθ.ɪks/

    “Medical ethics are complex.”

  2. morality/məˈræl.ɪ.ti/

    “They debated questions of morality.”

  3. existence/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/

    “He questioned the meaning of existence.”

  4. reality/riˈæl.ɪ.ti/

    “Dreams blur with reality.”

  5. truth/truːθ/

    “Philosophers search for truth.”

  6. doctrine/ˈdɒk.trɪn/

    “He rejected the old doctrine.”

  7. free will/ˌfriː ˈwɪl/

    “Do humans have free will?”

  8. soul/səʊl/

    “Some believe in an immortal soul.”

  9. metaphysics/ˌmet.əˈfɪz.ɪks/

    “Metaphysics studies the nature of being.”

  10. philosophy/fɪˈlɒs.ə.fi/

    “She studies ancient philosophy.”

  11. conviction/kənˈvɪk.ʃən/

    “He spoke with deep conviction.”

  12. paradox/ˈpær.ə.dɒks/

    “It is a fascinating paradox.”

  13. abstraction/æbˈstræk.ʃən/

    “Justice is an abstraction.”

  14. absolute/ˈæb.sə.luːt/

    “There is no absolute truth.”

  15. immoral/ɪˈmɒr.əl/

    “Lying is immoral.”

  16. righteous/ˈraɪ.tʃəs/

    “He felt righteous anger.”

  17. mortality/mɔːˈtæl.ɪ.ti/

    “The poem reflects on mortality.”

  18. purpose/ˈpɜː.pəs/

    “She searched for a sense of purpose.”

  19. deception/dɪˈsep.ʃən/

    “The plot involves deception.”

  20. enlightenment/ɪnˈlaɪt.ən.mənt/

    “He sought spiritual enlightenment.”

  21. scepticism/ˈskep.tɪ.sɪ.zəm/

    “She viewed the claim with scepticism.”

  22. dogma/ˈdɒɡ.mə/

    “He questioned religious dogma.”

  23. humanity/hjuːˈmæn.ɪ.ti/

    “He has faith in humanity.”

  24. intellect/ˈɪn.tə.lekt/

    “She has a sharp intellect.”

  25. ideal/aɪˈdɪəl/

    “Freedom is a noble ideal.”

  26. fate/feɪt/

    “He believes in fate.”

  27. destiny/ˈdes.tɪ.ni/

    “She felt it was her destiny.”

  28. contemplate/ˈkɒn.təm.pleɪt/

    “He likes to contemplate life.”

  29. introspection/ˌɪn.trəˈspek.ʃən/

    “Solitude allows introspection.”

  30. faith/feɪθ/

    “Her faith never wavered.”

  31. deduction/dɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

    “He solved it by deduction.”

  32. speculation/ˌspek.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/

    “It is pure speculation.”

  33. humane/hjuːˈmeɪn/

    “It is a humane policy.”

  34. illusion/ɪˈluː.ʒən/

    “Happiness was just an illusion.”

  35. void/vɔɪd/

    “He felt an empty void.”

  36. profound/prəˈfaʊnd/

    “It is a profound idea.”

  37. atheism/ˈeɪ.θi.ɪ.zəm/

    “He openly defends atheism.”

  38. sacred/ˈseɪ.krɪd/

    “The text is sacred to them.”

  39. altruism/ˈæl.tru.ɪ.zəm/

    “Pure altruism is rare.”

  40. paradoxical/ˌpær.əˈdɒk.sɪ.kəl/

    “It seems paradoxical but it is true.”

  41. transcend/trænˈsend/

    “Great art can transcend time.”

  42. spiritual/ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl/

    “She had a spiritual experience.”

  43. intuitive/ɪnˈtjuː.ɪ.tɪv/

    “He has an intuitive grasp of it.”

  44. conscientious/ˌkɒn.ʃiˈen.ʃəs/

    “She is a conscientious worker.”

  45. contradiction/ˌkɒn.trəˈdɪk.ʃən/

    “His story contains a clear contradiction.”

  46. metaphysical/ˌmet.əˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/

    “It is a metaphysical question.”

  47. reflective/rɪˈflek.tɪv/

    “He is in a reflective mood.”

  48. fundamental/ˌfʌn.dəˈmen.təl/

    “It is a fundamental truth.”

  49. mortal/ˈmɔː.təl/

    “All humans are mortal.”

  50. philosopher/fɪˈlɒs.ə.fə/

    “The philosopher wrote many books.”