Objective Values: Values which – although often absurdly denied – are independent of individuals’ affirming them (e.g., the values of universal life support systems like the earth’s atmosphere). Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of… Read More

Observation sentence: A sentence without theoretical content designating an observable phenomenon. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11. 

One-dimensionality: In relation to social organization, a state in which the meaning of universal terms like Freedom or Equality is reduced to their functional role in justifying prevailing social powers and institutions. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO… Read More

Onto-Ethics/Onto-Axiology: A primary concept of life-ground value theory in which the standard and reductionist split between ontology (the philosophy of being) and ethics/axiology (critical theory of good and bad) is overcome in a non-divided unity of understanding such that the analysis of the ultimate structure of being as such (ontology) and of the ultimately regulating… Read More

Ontology: philosophy of being, its nature and logic of relations among entities or fields. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11. 

Open question argument: Whenever identity of the good with a natural property is claimed, the question of value that always remains is – but is it really good? (e.g., “pleasure”). Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in… Read More

Operational definition: A type of definition such that words are defined by describing some operations designed to produce observable results. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11. 

Oppression: A situation arising from social structures that impede a definite group or groups from freely expressing their subjecthood. See Freedom. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford, 2004-11. 

Organism: body or system composed by organs or other parts that cooperate in order to perform the various processes required for biological existence. Source: ‘What is Good? What is Bad? The Value of All Values across Time, Place and Theories’ by John McMurtry, Philosophy and World Problems, Volume I-III, UNESCO in partnership with Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Oxford,… Read More

Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: See Health Promotion (section I) Source: Health Promotion Glossary (1998), WHO/HPR/HEP/98.1