1 Flashcards
What is the definition of philosophy?
The love of wisdom; it encompasses the pursuit of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, and reality.
Examples include questions like ‘What is the meaning of life?’ and ‘What is the nature of reality?’.
What does the term ‘formal reasons’ refer to?
The essential nature and attributes of things.
Example: The formal reason of a triangle is that it has three sides and three angles.
What are formal principles in philosophy?
The underlying principles that govern the existence and behavior of things.
Example: The principle of causality suggests that every event has a cause.
What is the material object of philosophy?
Everything that exists, including physical objects, ideas, and experiences.
Materialists and physicalists focus on these subjects.
What is the formal object of philosophy?
The primary focus of philosophical inquiry, which is to understand the formal reasons and principles of things.
Examples include understanding the nature of truth, justice, or consciousness.
What is rational inference?
The process of using reason and logic to reach conclusions.
Philosophical arguments often rely on rational inference to support their claims.
What is the study of correct reasoning and argumentation called?
Logic.
What does cosmology study?
The universe, its origin, and structure.
What is the philosophical exploration of the mind and consciousness?
Psychology (Philosophical).
What does ethics study?
Morality, right and wrong, and good and evil.
What is ontology (metaphysics)?
The study of being, existence, and the nature of reality.
What is theodicy?
The attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the existence of a benevolent, omnipotent God.
What does epistemology study?
Knowledge, its nature, and its limits.
What is inferential thinking?
The process of drawing a conclusion from premises.
Example: If all humans are mortal, and Socrates is a human, then Socrates is mortal.
What is the material object of logic?
The subject matter of logic, which includes concepts, propositions, and syllogisms.
Examples: The concept of ‘justice’, the proposition ‘The sky is blue’, and the syllogism ‘All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.’
What is the formal object of logic?
The primary focus of logic, which is to understand the inferential relations of concepts and propositions.
Example: Analyzing the structure of arguments to determine their validity.
What are beings of reason?
Mental constructs or concepts that exist only in the mind.
Example: The concept of ‘justice’ is a being of reason.
What are second intentions?
Mental acts of reflection that involve understanding the relationships between concepts and propositions.
Example: Analyzing a syllogism engages in second intentions, examining inferential relationships.
What is a proposition?
A statement that can be true or false.
What does formal logic focus on?
The structure and form of arguments, regardless of their content.
What is a syllogism?
A three-part argument with two premises and a conclusion.
What key feature does formal logic analyze?
The relationship between premises and conclusions based on their form, not their meaning.
Fill in the blank: A valid argument with true premises is called a _______.
Sound Argument
What does material logic deal with?
The content and truthfulness of the statements in arguments.
What is inference?
Drawing a conclusion from premises.
What is a valid inference?
The conclusion logically follows from the premises.
What is deductive logic?
Moves from general statements (premises) to specific conclusions.
What does inductive logic do?
Moves from specific observations to general conclusions.
Who is considered the father of logic?
Aristotle.
What is the significance of Zeno of Citium in the history of logic?
He is the founder of the Stoic School and one of the first to use the term ‘Logic.’
Define correct reasoning.
Reasoning that follows logical principles and does not violate any of them.
What is a concept in logic?
A mental representation of an idea.
What is the role of logic as an art?
A tool that facilitates clear and organized thinking, leading to valid conclusions.
Fill in the blank: If either premise is false, the conclusion is _______.
invalid.
What is reasoning?
A specific type of thinking that involves solving problems, making decisions, or determining truth with a purpose.
What is the objective of logic?
To assist in the discovery of truth.
What are the methods of logic?
Analyzing the truthfulness of premises and the validity of the structure of arguments.
What is a limit of logic?
Logic cannot provide direct knowledge of the material world.
What are truths outside the realm of logic?
There are truths that logic cannot address.
What is natural logic?
The innate ability to reason in simple, everyday matters.
Provide an example of natural logic.
Deciding to bring an umbrella when it is raining.
What are other sources of truth?
- Human experience
- Authority
- Universally accepted principles
What is scientific logic?
Cultivated reasoning to handle complex matters.
Provide an example of scientific logic.
A manager using logic to make strategic decisions for a company.
What is deductive logic?
Reasoning from general principles to specific conclusions.
Provide an example of deductive logic.
All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
What is the mind?
The intellect or understanding, the unique ability that distinguishes humans from other beings.
What is an example of the mind’s capability?
The mind is capable of reasoning, forming ideas, and making judgments.
What is inductive logic?
Reasoning from specific observations to general conclusions.
Provide an example of inductive logic.
Observing that several teachers in a school are licensed, concluding that all teachers in that school are likely licensed.
What are external senses?
Bodily knowing powers (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) that provide initial information to the mind.
Provide an example of an external sense.
Seeing a table with our eyes is an act of the sense of sight.
What are internal senses?
- Imagination
- Sentient Consciousness
- Sentient Memory
- Instinct
What is imagination?
Creating mental pictures of things not physically present.
Provide an example of imagination.
Imagining a beach while in class.
What is sentient consciousness?
Being aware of your own feelings and sensations.
Provide an example of sentient consciousness.
Feeling pain after bumping your elbow.
What is sentient memory?
Remembering past sensory experiences with emotions.
Provide an example of sentient memory.
Remembering the smell of cookies and feeling nostalgic.
What is instinct?
Automatic responses to stimuli without conscious thought.
Provide an example of instinct.
A baby instinctively sucking when hungry.
What is material logic?
Focuses on the truthfulness of the content of propositions.
Provide an example of a material logic proposition.
“Every political leader is honest.”
What is formal logic?
Focuses on the structure of arguments, regardless of their content.
Provide an example of formal logic.
If A is true, then B is true. A is true. Therefore, B is true.
What is the value of logic?
- Develops critical thinking skills
- Improves decision-making
- Enhances communication skills
- Prepares individuals for academic and professional pursuits
What is simple apprehension?
The initial act of the mind where we form ideas or concepts.
What does simple apprehension involve?
Perceiving the essence of a thing without making any judgments.
Provide an example of simple apprehension.
Seeing a table and understanding its general characteristics without comparing it to others.
What is Judgment?
The act of comparing two ideas and determining if they agree or disagree.
Examples include affirmation/composition and negation/division.
What is an example of Affirmation/Composition?
“My friend is thoughtful and loyal.”
This combines two ideas about the friend.
What is an example of Negation/Division?
“My classmate is not participative in class.”
This separates two ideas about the classmate.
What is Reasoning?
The process of drawing conclusions or establishing new truths from previously assumed truths.
It involves using logical principles to connect ideas and arrive at a conclusion.
What is Immediate Inference?
“The forest is rich in natural resources.” -> “The forest is not non-rich in natural resources.”
This rewords the proposition without introducing new information.
What is Mediate Inference?
Using a middle term to connect premises.
Example: “No tree is an animal. But coconut is a tree. Therefore, coconut is not an animal.”
What is Quiddity?
The essence or whatness of a thing, its intrinsic nature or characteristic quality.
Example: The quiddity of a knife is its ability to cut.
What is an example of a quiddity of a home?
Its ‘homeness’.
This refers to the intrinsic nature of a home.
What is the quiddity of a man?
His inherent goodness.
If a man performs evil acts, he deviates from his true nature.
What is an Idea?
A mental representation of something perceived through the senses.
Example: The idea of ‘dog’ is a mental representation of a furry, four-legged animal.
What is Phantasm?
A mental image or representation of something perceived through the senses, existing in the imagination rather than the mind.
Example: The mental picture of a specific apple.
What is Abstraction?
The process of separating the essential qualities of a thing from its specific details.
Example: Forming the idea of ‘dog’ by abstracting essential qualities from specific dogs.
What is a Term?
An expression of an idea or concept.
Example: ‘Dog’ is a term that represents the idea of a dog.
What is Tabularasa?
The idea that the mind is born as a blank slate, and all knowledge is acquired through experience.
Aristotle believed that knowledge is impossible without first passing through the senses.
What are Syncategorematic Words?
Words that do not express an idea on their own but are used in conjunction with other words to form a complete thought.
Examples include prepositions (over, in, for) and conjunctions (and, but, because).
What is a Sign?
Anything that represents a meaning different from itself.
Example: A flag is a sign that represents a country.
