WHAT IS A

WORLDVIEW?
WORLD VIEWS: WHAT IS TRUE?

MEANING OF WORLDVIEW
An all-inclusive world-view or outlook. A
somewhat poetic term to indicate either
an articulated system of philosophy or a
more or less unconscious attitude
toward life and the world (Hunter Mead,
Types and Problems of Philosophy).
A set of presuppositions which we hold
about the makeup of our world (James
Sire, Discipleship of the Mind).

MEANING OR WORLDVIEW
A worldview is a set of presuppositions (or assumptions)
which we hold (consciously or subconsciously) about the basic
makeup of our world. Everyone has a worldview, whether he
(or she) can explain it or not. It can be likened to a pair of
glasses through which one views the world (Jerry Solomon,
Probe)

DESCRIPTION OF
WORLDVIEW
A Deeper Understanding of Worldview Includesthe sensing,
thinking, knowing, acting self that exists in the milieu of a world or
a universei.e., matter, energy, information.

REALITY AND
WORLDVIEW
BASIC TENETS AND QUESTIONS

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW:

BASIC TENETS
1.
2.
3.

4.

Something exists.
All people have absolutes.
No statement can be both true and false at
the same time (law of non-contradiction) a
statement that claims to be true cannot
affirm and deny to P at the same time and
with the same respect (e.g., blue and not
blue).
All people (though perhaps not claiming to be
religious) exercise faith (or belief in/about
something). This is ones bank or library
of basic assumptions.

REALITY AND WORLDVIEW:

MAJOR QUESTIONS
1.

Why is there something rather than nothing

(Ontology)?

2.

How do you know that you know (Epistemology)?

3.

How do you explain human nature

(Anthropology)?

4.

How do you determine what is right and wrong

(Ethics)?

5.

What is the meaning of history?

6.

What happens to a person at death?

WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT
The Self and its Worldview in the Context of the World (i.e. our
senses of sight, sound, etc.; the ability to feel stimuli from the
world around us in a process by which sensed stimuli and
existing knowledge are transformed into modified knowledge).

WORLDVIEW IN CONTEXT
Based on the Notion of Self and its Interaction with the World, a
Definition for Worldview Emerges

A worldview is the set of beliefs about fundamen

Aspects of Reality that ground and influence all
ones perceiving, thinking, knowing, and doing.

WORLDVIEW AS ONES
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY
The Elements of Ones Worldview, the Beliefs about Certain Aspects
of Reality, become Ones

Epistemology

Beliefs about the nature and sources of

knowledge

Metaphysics

Beliefs about the ultimate nature of Reality

Cosmology

Beliefs about the origins and nature of the

universe

Teleology

Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of

the universe; its inanimate elements and
inhabitants

Theology

Beliefs about the nature and existence of

God

Anthropology

Beliefs about the nature and purpose of

Man in general and, oneself in particular

Axiology

Beliefs about the nature of value, what is

good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)

EPISTEMOLOGY
ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

EPISTEMOLOGICAL ISSUES
What is Knowledge?
What is Knowing?
What is the Basis for Knowledge?
What is the Difference between Knowledge and Faith?
Is Certainty Possible?

EPISTEMOLOGICAL
IMPLICATIONS

Your epistemology, what you believe about knowledge,

affects what you accept as valid evidence and therefore
what youre willing to believe about particulars.

METAPHYSICS
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

METAPHYSICAL BELIEFS
What is the Ultimate Nature of Reality?
What is Truth?
What is the Ultimate Test for Truth?

METAPHYSICAL
IMPLICATIONS
Your metaphysical beliefs (assumptions) will be affected
depending upon whether or not you are a naturalist, admit to a
spiritual dimension to life or to an ultimate Reality (God), or
depending on your approach to truth.

COSMOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

COSMOLOGICAL BELIEFS
What is the Origin of the Universe?
What is the Origin of lifeMan?

COSMOLOGICAL
IMPLICATIONS
Your cosmological beliefs will dictate whether or not you
consider the universe is the result of chance, whether or not
life has meaning and significance and in turn human thoughts
and actions; i.e., Does my life have meaning and significance
in the Big Picture or Grand Scheme of things?

TELEOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

TELEOLOGICAL BELIEFS
Does the Universe have a Purpose?
If the Universe has a Purpose, whose Purpose is it ?
What is the Purpose of the Universe?

TELEOLOGICAL
IMPLICATIONS
Your teleological assumptions (beliefs, convictions) will be
influenced by whether or not you think you are accountable to
Someone-thing higher than yourself; whether or not your
consider your life as in conformance to a Plan.

THEOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

THEOLOGICAL BELIEFS
Is there a God?
What is Gods Nature?
What is the Relationship of God to the Material Universe?
What is the Relationship of God to Man?

THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
Your theological beliefs will affect your sense of purpose and
ultimately your reactions to events (behavior), interpretation of
events (outlook), or your sense of obligation to or need for a
relationship with God (Other).

ANTHROPOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

ANTHROPOLOGICAL BELIEFS
What is Man?
What is Mans Place in the Universe?
Does Man have a Free Will?
What ought Man to Do?
Is Man Basically Good or Evil?

ANTHROPOLOGICAL
IMPLICATIONS
Your anthropological beliefs will affect whether or not you
consider yourself and others as mere mechanistic elements of
the universe, or as a stewards of Gods creation; whether or
not you are a moral agent with the capacity for right and
wrong and needing to look to Someone-thing higher for
forgiveness, redemption and moral strength.

AXIOLOGY
BELIEFS AND IMPLICATIONS

AXIOLOGICAL BELIEFS
What is Value?
What Kinds of Value are There?
Is Value Objective or Relative?
Is Value Absolute or Relative?
What is the Source of Value?
What is the Highest Good?
What is Right?

AXIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS
It is impossible to overstate the importance
of your axiology in determining your
behavior. It is the foundation for all of your
conscious judgments and decisions and
therefore the basis for all purpositive thought
and action (related to designed activity,
plans). Although some acts are reflexive or
instinctive (not ascribed to a conscious
reference to your beliefs), any action based
on even the most cursory reflection has its
foundation in your standards of what is good
or bad, right or wrong.

CONCLUSIONS
In summary, your worldview is the set of
beliefs about fundamental aspects of
Reality that ground and influence all
your perceiving, thinking, knowing, and
doing. Your worldview consists of your
epistemology, your metaphysics, your
cosmology, your teleology, your
theology, your anthropology, and your
axiology. Each of these subsets of your
worldview is highly interrelated with an
affects virtually all of the others.

Epistemology

Beliefs about the nature and sources of

knowledge

Metaphysics

Beliefs about the ultimate nature of Reality

Cosmology

Beliefs about the origins and nature of the

universe

Teleology

Beliefs about the meaning and purpose of

the universe; its inanimate elements and
inhabitants

Theology

Beliefs about the nature and existence of

God

Anthropology

Beliefs about the nature and purpose of

Man in general and, oneself in particular

Axiology

Beliefs about the nature of value, what is

good (or, bad), what is right (or, wrong)

WORLDVIEW TESTS
1.

Consistent?

2.

Coherent?

3.

Comprehensive?

4.

Correspondence?