Glossary of Terms

Clear definitions are an important part of any especially helpful discussion, and in that spirit we've provided this glossary of some words important to Beingism. We've tried our best to define these words in a manner consistent with common usage, often as reflected by a dictionary. Sometimes, in order to discuss specific Beingist concepts which lack applicable words, we give specific meanings to words which may under other circumstances be used to indicate several different concepts, or to words which are normally defined only vaguely. We recognize that such words may legitimately be understood in a number of ways and that you may not automatically realize what we mean when we use them -- hence this glossary. Of course, as we come to better define and understand Beingism, our definitions may change and improve.

Bad
a judgement that one (or a group of beings) has relating to an emotion or sensation experienced negatively.

Causality
the relation of cause and effect.

Compassion
consideration for the happiness and welfare of beings.

Compassionate
behaving in a way consistent with the feeling of compassion.

Determinism
The philosophical concept that given the initial state of the universe and the logic behind the forces affecting it, the future is the inevitable result of past causes, and it is therefore (in principle) possible to predict the future state of the universe at any point in time.

Effect
something that is produced by a cause; result; consequence.

Free Will
The idea that beings are 'free' to make choices regarding their thoughts and actions. While it is left vague as to what beings are free of in their making of those choices, it is often used to deny the concept of determinism by stating that beings are free from causality.

Fulfillment
The complex experience of a constantly evolving but overall positive mental state made up of some combination of experiences, including sensations, feelings, and found meanings.

God
Monotheistic God: A conscious being more powerful than any other force who is partly or completely exempt from universal forces. Characteristics commonly attributed to gods include immortality, the power of creation (e.g of humanity and of the universe itself), and extreme sacredness (i.e. deserving of a level of respect or reverence that other beings do not).

Polytheistic Gods: Conscious beings belonging to a category of entities who, collectively, are more powerful than any other conscious force and who are partly or completely exempt from universal forces. Characteristics commonly attributed to gods include immortality, the power of creation (e.g of humanity and of the universe itself), and extreme sacredness (i.e. deserving of a level of respect or reverence that other beings do not).

Good
a judgement that one (or a group of beings) has relating to an emotion or sensation experienced positively.

Happiness
A desirable mental state generally thought of as consisting of mostly positive sensations and emotions, but with somewhat less emphasis on the importance of creating personal meaning as a fundamental component of life satisfaction than the concept of "fulfillment."

Happy
Experiencing happiness.

Logic
1. The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning.
2. The relationship between elements and between an element and the whole in a set of objects, individuals, principles, or events.

Rational
see Reason

Reason
Thinking in a manner consistent with the relationship between elements and between elements and the whole in a given system.

Reasoning
using reason.

Resource
everything that people have, potentially including (but not limited to) genetic, emotional, intellectual, social, and material things.

Value
That which a being desires.