ancient philosophical influences (1) Flashcards
rationalism/empiricism
rationalism- human reason is the source of all knowledge and truth
empiricism- knowledge is derived from the senses
aspects of the analogy of the cave
prisoners= chained people who believe that the shadows they are seeing are real
sun= highest form of the good which illuminates the other forms
chains= the senses that chain us to the material world
story of the analogy of the cave
people are imprisoned in a cave and believe shadows are real, one escapes and goes outside, returns and tries to tell the others. he is ridiculed.
analogy of the cave is useful today
- shows how our senses can deceive us. like a pencil looking bent in a tub of water.
- prisoner leaving shows truth is only evident to those who use reason
- senses can trap us, like the chains
- relying on reason is difficult but the journey and role as a philosopher worth it
analogy of the cave is not useful today
- prisoners of the cave rely on their senses, which are important to survive
- not everyone can be a philosopher and Plato’s view is elitist. we need practical problem solving.
- too abstract in relation to the forms, the world is important without senses
theory of forms
plato argues there are two world: the world of the forms and the world of appearences
world of appearences
the material world, things are not permenant so decay and die. material world is the cave, illusion of being real but really an imitation.
example of paticulars
puppys or flowers, they are paticulars (imitation of form) that change and decay. the reason we have different views on beautiful because its based on unreliable senses
world of the forms
contains the immutable, perfect forms. Plato thinks this is the real world as the reality does not change. the WOF is superior, instead of seeing shadows in the cave there are colours. this is like a philosopher who has been enlightened.
particulars that participate
explains why there would be recognisable goodness in things like ‘pens’ and a ‘kind person’. we recognise the goodness in the world due to the fact they participate in the realm of the forms.
anamenesis
the soul remembering the forms from the world of the forms
hierarchy of forms
form of the good
form of beauty
abstract ideas
world of apperances
the theory of the forms makes sense
- everything appears to be chnaging so it makes sense that there would be a world that is unchanging
- world of forms much better, like the outside of the cave
- we can deceived by our senses
- contains idea forms, like justice. we can recognise the beauty in different things.
the theory of the forms makes no sense
- change is better than immutability
- material world is all we know and have an understanding of
- using reason is difficult, how could we agree of disagree
- how can there be disagreements of true goodness?
Aristotle motus
acknowleged how things are constantly changing from actuality to potentiality, caused by external forces. kettle is full of hot water but has the potential to be hot.
four causes
material= the substance of something
efficent= how something exists, describe process of change
formal= what something is. explains motus by describe change from material
final= describes the telos, why it is here.
ring example
material= silver
efficent= silversmith made it
formal= it is ring shaped
final= may be to propose
aristotle’s four causes give true picture
- efficent explains change from potentiality to actuality
- formal, helps us understand why things have certain characteristics
- final, explains why everything has a purpose
- if an object fufils its purpose it is good, purpose is intrinsic
- applicable to science as relies on observation
aristotle’s four causes cant give true picture
- there is no formal cause of a concept
- how can we determine what characteristics are needed fir the formal cause
- purpose is a human construct and is not instrinsic
- goodness may not be linked to purpose, if a knife cuts my finger instead of bread is it good?
geocentric view
Aristotle’s view of the universe, it is eternal and the sun went around the world. like the constant movement of planets, things also changed from potential to actual as things drew closer to final cause
prime mover
Aristotle’s ultimate final cause. its draws things into itself without changing. like a bowl of milk attracting a cat without changing itself. the final cause of everything is the desire for the prime mover.
prime mover motus
attracts everything so everything is in a continous cycle of potential to actual. explains the constant state of motus.
Aristotle’s God
very different from theist, it is the only example of pure actuality, it os absolute goodness. cannot know of the existence of the physical world as this may cause change.
Aristotle’s prime mover explains the world
- can observe how natural things tend to have a telos, like a sunflower. explains why there is change
- explains perpetual motion and why planets rotate- they are drawn towards PM
- gives ultimate purpose and is the final reason why
