Ancient philosophical influences

Question 1

what are the higher forms

Answer 1

they are abstract concepts such as justice

Question 2

how can you see the higher forms

Answer 2

like we need sunlight to see we need intellect to see the forms

Question 3

what are some higher forms?

Answer 3

justice, peaceful, honesty, bravery, courage, humility, self control, faithfulness, morality, truth, wisdom, beauty, generosity

Question 4

Plato’s opinion on our senses

Answer 4

they offer us incomplete information - optical illusions are a great example of this

Question 5

what is the world of appearances?

Answer 5

-temporal (in time) and spatial (in space)
-Many particulars (objects)
-constantly changing
-everything passes in and out of existence
-physical
-imperfect
-known through empirical senses
-subject to opinion
-superficial

Question 6

what is the world of forms?

Answer 6

-Outside time and space
-Each form is one single thing
-unchanging (immutable)
-eternal
-non-physical (spiritual)
-perfect
-known through reason
-not subject to opinion - real and absolute

Question 7

Plato’s opinion on the body and soul

Answer 7

every human is made up with a body and soul. the body will die but the soul is immortal

Question 8

Plato’s belief on humans and the forms

Answer 8

the human soul came from the world of forms and throughout our life we try and recreate them.

Question 9

hierarchy of the forms

Answer 9

Form of good
Higher forms
Lower forms
Material objects
Images

Question 10

metaphysics

Answer 10

the real world is an unchanging world of forms

Question 11

epistemology

Answer 11

through reason not senses

Question 12

who does Plato think should rule?

Answer 12

philosophers as they have greater knowledge

Question 13

weaknesses of Plato’s forms

Answer 13

all good is a human construct a tiger won’t think killing its prey is bad

Question 14

what does Analogy mean?

Answer 14

story in which each feature has a symbolic meaning

Question 15

what do the prisoners represent in the cave?

Answer 15

ordinary people

Question 16

what does the cave represent in the cave?

Answer 16

our worlds

Question 17

what do the chains represent in the cave?

Answer 17

our senses

Question 18

what do the shadows represent in the cave?

Answer 18

our everyday experiences

Question 19

what does the escapee represent in the cave?

Answer 19

the philosopher gaining knowledge

Question 20

what does the difficult ascent represent in the cave?

Answer 20

how the road to knowledge is difficult

Question 21

what does the outside world represent in the cave?

Answer 21

the real world - the world of forms

Question 22

what does the sun represent in the cave?

Answer 22

the form of good

Question 23

what does the return to the cave represent in the cave?

Answer 23

the philosopher’s duty is to educate the others. But we can be close minded and not want to consider other views

Question 24

what does the difficulty adjusting to the darkness represent in the cave?

Answer 24

once the philosopher knows the truth its difficult to to experience the world as an ordinary person

Question 25

what does the persecution by other prisoners represent in the cave?

Answer 25

like Socrates the philosopher will be ridiculed and threatened

Question 26

premise

Answer 26

a previous statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion.

Question 27

valid

Answer 27

an arguement or a point having a sound basis in logic or fact

Question 28

invalid

Answer 28

an arguement or a point having no sound basis in logic or fact (incorrect)

Question 29

proof

Answer 29

evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement

Question 30

epistemology

Answer 30

the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion

Question 31

knowledge

Answer 31

facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject

Question 32

belief

Answer 32

an acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.

Question 33

apriori

Answer 33

relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge which proceeds from theoretical deduction rather than from observation or experience

Question 34

A posteriori

Answer 34

relating to or denoting reasoning or knowledge which proceeds from observations or experiences to the deduction or probable causes.

Question 35

empirical

Answer 35

based on, concerned with or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic

Question 36

what does actuality mean?

Answer 36

what a thing is or does

Question 37

what does potentiality mean?

Answer 37

what a thing can become

Question 38

what is motus?

Answer 38

change

Question 39

what is material cause?

Answer 39

The material cause of a silver ring is silver if the ring was melted down you would be left with a lump of silver. However this does not explain how or why motus (change) occurs.

Question 40

what is efficient cause?

Answer 40

The process of something coming into existence - process of change. The efficient cause explains the process of change from potentiality to actuality. A lump of metal has a potential to be a piece of jewellery but needs a silversmith to act on it to make it a ring.

Question 41

what is formal cause?

Answer 41

How we recognise something is its shape, form or characteristics. The formal cause of a silver ring is its circular shape and the hole through the middle. The formal cause explains change (motus) by describing the result of the change from the material cause through the efficient cause into the object that it is.

Question 42

what is final cause?

Answer 42

Describes the purpose of something. The Greek word for this is telos. Theories to do with purpose are called teleological theories. The final cause of the silver ring is to look beautiful.

Question 43

strengths of the 4 causes

Answer 43

.very reliable as they come from our sense of the world .they can be applied to everything which makes it a lot more believable .based on logic and can be observed whereas Platos cannot

Question 44

weaknesses of the 4 causes

Answer 44

.concepts such as emotions cannot be applied .highly rely on experience .although things have a purpose people may use them for different things

Question 45

what is the prime mover

Answer 45

The prime mover is the final cause of everything as there is nothing that comes after it. It is the final thing in the universe. .perfect .self absorbed .ignorant .happy .lonely .eternal