Chapter #1 (Greek Philosophy) Flashcards
What is Philosophy?
the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge.
What is the Socratic Method?
A technique using prodding questions to reveal the flaws/truths in another’s argument.
What is a Socratic Dialogue?
A dialogue discussing moral & philosophical problems between 2 or more individuals.
Who is Plato?
A student of Socrates known for his key work “The Republic”. He also developed the idea of ideal forms, asking how we recognize the form of anything.
The allegory of the cave
It was a story by Plato to represent how people lived, contrasting reality vs what we know and what we experience with our senses is a “shadow of reality” in which true knowledge comes from the study of ideas through reason.
Who is Socrates?
A Greek philosopher who questioned what gave our lives meaning. He believed that concepts such as virtue and justice were objective and universal truths. He also believed that Evil = Ignorance and that “the unexamined life is not worth living”
Who is Aristotle?
A student of Plato who rejected his idea of ideal forms. He believed that the ultimate goal in life is to achieve eudaimonia (the pinnacle of happiness)
Who is Thales of Miletus?
He was considered the first philosopher. He used logic & reason to predict & solve problems. He was also one of the first thinkers to turn away from superstition and seek answers using rational & naturalistic ideas
Who is Pythagoras?
A greek philosopher who believed abstract reasoning was superior to the senses
Who is Democritus?
A Greek philosopher who believed that everything is made up of tiny particles and in between those particles there is the “void”
Who is W.E.B Du Bois?
Du Bois focused his intellectual efforts primarily on the “Study of the Negro Problems’
Who created the concept of double consciousness and second sight?
W.E.B Du Bois
What is second sight?
always looking at oneself through the ‘gaze of others’
What is double consciousness?
two ideas of who you are that are irreconcilable
Who is Confucious?
He was born in China during a time of civil war. Confucius felt that virtue was necessary not just as a personal quality, but also as a requirement for leadership.
