Ancient Philosophical Influences

Question 1

Plato

Answer 1

Plato was a rationalist, believing the key to unlocking reality was through a priori reasoning

Question 2

The world of forms

Answer 2

true unchanging knowledge
experiencing the world
state of ignorance
world of appearance
true reality
world of forms

Question 3

Particulars

Answer 3

world of appearances
everyday experience
imperfect representations
a priori reason
vague shadow

Question 4

The story of the cave

Answer 4

Chained in an underground cave
shadows
real world,
not believe him
allegorical
empirical world
outside world

Question 5

Heraclitus

Answer 5

constant change
flux
same river twice

Question 6

The form of the Good & the hierarchy of forms

Answer 6

cave analogy
highest form
higher forms
phenomena
material objects

Question 7

Plato’s argument from recollection

Answer 7

perfect, eternal and unchanging concepts. never experienced
a priori.

before we were born
perfect forms
dim recollection
Anamnesis
perfect and immutable forms
true reality

Question 8

AristotlevsPlato

Answer 8

empiricist
‘per genus et per differencia’
proper understanding
pure thought
observation and reflection
different types of learning

knowing how todosomething is as much knowledge as knowing what things are
lunar eclipse
spherical object
senses must be involved for truly whole knowledge.

Question 9

The four causes

Answer 9

The basis of nature
David Hume
‘change is a scientific curiosity’
’cause and effect’
what things are in themselves

Material cause
Formal cause
Efficient cause
Final cause

Question 10

Prime mover

Answer 10

purpose
universal cause
non-Abrahamic god
only considers perfection
drawing everything towards its purpose
just exists
‘pull’ or an ‘unmoved mover’

Question 11

Comparisontotheformofthegood

Answer 11

similarities
impersonal and unconcerned
form of the good
consciousness
only permanence
explains the action of this change