Agency Dictionary
Discernment
nounPronunciation: /dɪˈsɜːn.mənt/
In Portuguese: Discernimento
Philosophy & Ethics
Psychology & MindWhat does “Discernment” mean?
The ability to judge well, perceive keen distinctions, and grasp obscure psychological or practical truths.
Etymology
From the verb discern and the suffix -ment. Discern came into Middle English from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere, "to separate, to tell apart", formed from dis- ("apart") and cernere ("to sift, to distinguish"), the verb behind certain, concern and secret. The noun dates from the end of the 16th century. In Christian writing, the discernment of spirits is the judging of what moves the soul, a use that gave the word its moral weight.
Usage note
Discernible is spelled with -ible. The c is silent: the word is pronounced with a plain s sound, like "concern".
Synonyms
- judgment
- insight
- acumen
- perceptiveness
- wisdom
- shrewdness
Word family
- discern
- discerning
- discernible
- discernibly
- undiscerning
Usage examples
Therefore, the metamodern philosopher, like an athlete who trains diligently their moral discernment, places themselves in a position of a bridge builder with tools that should be used with the main and noble objective of uniting what is separated.
Concepts
- Intellectual AutonomyIntellectual autonomy is the capacity and willingness of a thinker to formulate beliefs, make evaluations, and pursue truth through independent critical reasoning rather…
- Is-Ought ProblemThe is-ought problem is an ethical and epistemological principle stating that one cannot logically deduce prescriptive moral obligations merely from descriptive factual…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- vocationnoun
- A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Resiliencenoun
- The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
- Stigmanoun
- A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
- clevernessnoun
- The mental quality of being quick-witted, agile, and ingenious in solving specific situational problems.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- collective consciousnessnoun
- The set of beliefs, ideas and feelings shared by the members of a society, which exists beyond any single person. By extension, what a community knows and repeats in common.
Also from these editions: terms
- Desolationnoun
- A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, or destruction; deep sorrow caused by abandonment or acute loss.
- Dogmaticadjective
- Characterized by the expression of opinions strongly and as if they were unquestionable facts without proper evidential backing.
- Empiricistnoun
- A person who supports the theory that all knowledge is derived from sense-experience. In practice, an empiricist insists on tangible observation and verifiable testing before accepting a claim.
- Hemlocknoun
- A highly poisonous biennial herbaceous plant of the parsley family with small white flowers, historically used as a method of state execution in classical Greece.
- metamodernadjective
- Relating to a cultural paradigm that oscillates between modern sincerity and postmodern irony.
- Obsoleteadjective
- No longer produced or used; out of date because a newer, more efficient replacement has emerged.
- Rationalistnoun
- A person who bases their opinions and actions on reason and logic rather than on religious belief or emotional response. In philosophy, a rationalist maintains that knowledge is primarily innate and deduced.
- Secularadjective
- Denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis; worldly rather than sacred.
- Skepticnoun
- A person inclined to question, doubt, or suspend judgment regarding accepted opinions, claims, or apparent facts until verifiable proof is presented.
- Superficialitynoun
- The quality of lacking depth of character, serious thought, or profound substance, remaining confined to outward appearances.
- Inertianoun
- The tendency of an object to remain at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force, or a state of sluggish inaction in organizations.
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