Chapter 3 vocab

Question 1

One of the first Western philosopher-theologians to emphasize the works of Aristotle

Answer 1

Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

Question 2

Epitomized Scholasticism; he sought to “Christianize” the works of Aristotle and to show that both faith and reason lead to the truth of God’s existence

Answer 2

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Question 3

After having demonstrated the validity of inner, subjective experience, said that one can know God through introspection as well as through the revealed truth of the scriptures; wrote extensively on human free will

Answer 3

St. Augustine (354-430)

Question 4

A Muslim physician and philosopher who, among other things, wrote commentaries on Aristotle’s work on the senses, memory, sleep and waking, and dreams

Answer 4

Averrones (1126-1198)

Question 5

Abelard’s proposed solution to the realism-nominalism debate; Abelard argued that concepts do not have independent existence (realism), but that, being abstractions, they are more than mere names (nominalism)

Answer 5

Conceptualism

Question 6

Roman Emperor whose Edict of Milan in 313 made Christianity a tolerated religion within the Roman Empire. Under his leadership, widely diverse Christian writings and beliefs were formalized, thus facilitating the widespread acceptance of Christianity

Answer 6

Constantine (ca. 272-337)

Question 7

The belief that the best life is one lived close to nature and away from the rules and regulations of society

Answer 7

Cynicism

Question 8

Like his mentor Antisthenes, advocated natural impulse as the proper guide for action instead of social convention

Answer 8

Diogenes (412-323 BC)

Question 9

The belief that the best life is one of long-term pleasure resulting from moderation

Answer 9

Epicureanism

Question 10

Founder of Epicureanism

Answer 10

Epicurus of Samos (ca. 341-270 BC)

Question 11

The belief that the good life consists of seeking pleasure and avoiding pain

Answer 11

Hedonism

Question 12

The internal knowledge of moral right that individuals use in evaluating their behavior and thoughts; postulated by St. Augustine

Answer 12

Internal sense

Question 13

The examination of one’s inner experiences

Answer 13

Introspection

Question 14

A simple, sensitive man who St. Paul and others claimed was the Messiah; those who believe this person to be the son of God are called Christians

Answer 14

Jesus (ca. 6 BC-AD 30)

Question 15

Insisted that God could be known through faith, reason, or the study of his work in nature

Answer 15

Peter Lombard (ca. 1095-1160)

Question 16

Made a comprehensive review of Aristotle’s work; following Aristotle’s suggestion, he also made careful, direct observations of nature

Answer 16

St. Albertus Magnus (ca. 1200-1280)

Question 17

Jewish physician and philosopher who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy and Judaism

Answer 17

Maimonides (1135-1204)

Question 18

Roman emperor and author of the Meditations, a seminal work of Stoic philosophy

Answer 18

Marcus Aurelius (121-180)

Question 19

Philosophy that emphasized the most mystical aspects of Plato’s philosophy; transcendental experiences were considered the most significant type of human experience

Answer 19

Neoplatonism

Question 20

The belief that so-called true universals are nothing more than verbals or mental habits that are used to denote classes of experience

Answer 20

Nominalism

Question 21

The belief that of several, equally effective alternative explanations, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be accepted

Answer 21

Occam’s razor

Question 22

St. Anselm’s contention that if we can think of something, it must be real; because we can think of a perfect being (God), that perfect being must exist

Answer 22

Ontological argument for the existence of God

Question 23

Founded the Christian church by claiming that Jesus was the son of God; this person placed the soul or spirit in the highest position among the human faculties, the body in the lowest, and the mind in the position somewhere between

Answer 23

St. Paul (ca. 10-64)

Question 24

A Neoplatonist who combined Jewish theology with Plato’s philosophy; this person differentiated between the lower self (the body) and a spiritual self, which is made in God’s image; the body is the source of all evil; therefore, for the spiritual self to develop fully, one should avoid or minimize sensory experiences

Answer 24

Philo (ca. 25BC-AD 50)

Question 25

A Neoplatonist who emphasized the importance of embracing the soul through introspection; these subjective experiences were more important and informative than physical experiences

Answer 25

Plotinus (205-270 AD)

Question 26

Founder of Skepticism

Answer 26

Pyrrho of Elis (ca. 360-270 BC)

Question 27

The belief that abstract universals (essences) exist and that empirical events are only manifestations of those universals

Answer 27

Realism

Question 28

The synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian teachings

Answer 28

Scholasticism

Question 29

The belief that all beliefs can be proved false; thus, to avoid the frustration of being wrong, it is best to believe nothing

Answer 29

Skepticism

Question 30

The belief that one should live according to nature’s plan and accept one’s fate with indifference or, in the case of extreme hardship, with courage

Answer 30

Stoicism

Question 31

Denied the contention of the realists that what we experience are but manifestations of abstract principles; instead, he sided with the nominalists who said that so-called abstract principles, or universals, were nothing more than verbal labels that we use to describe classes or experiences; for him, reality is what we experience directly; there is no ned to assume a “higher” reality beyond our senses

Answer 31

William of Occam (ca. 1285-1349)

Question 32

Founder of Stoicism

Answer 32

Zeno of Citium (ca. 335-263 BC)