Chapter One Flashcards
Is the sentence “Germs become drug resistant by mutating” teleological?
Yes this sentence is teleological. The Germs have a future goal (become drug resistant) by mutating.
What is Teleology?
Goal directed behaviour.
Aristotle viewed perception as being driven by a type of soul or animating force.
T or F?
True.
According to Aristotle, when a sense organ functions normally, it is designed by nature to accurately reflect the physical attributes of an object.
T or F?
True.
According to Descartes, when a sense organ functions normally, it is designed by nature to accurately reflect the physical attributes of an object.
T or F?
False. Descartes wanted to create a theory of vision – and ultimately a theory of as much cognition as possible, based on physical mechanisms.
What did Descartes mean by an idea being “clear”?
By being clear, Descartes means that the truth of the idea must be obvious and present in our minds as physical objects that we see clearly with our eyes.
What did Descartes mean by an idea being “distinct”?
Something is distinct when it can be clearly distinguished from other objects.
What is the “Homunculus fallacy”?
An argument that accounts for a phenomenon in terms of the very phenomenon that it is supposed to explain, which results in an infinite regress.
Cartesian theatre.
What is a mental representation?
is a hypothetical internal cognitive symbol that represents external reality, or else a mental process that makes use of such a symbol.
What did Descartes mean when he wrote that animals were automata?
Descartes meant that they are self moving things.
What was the source of conflicting emotions, according to Descarte?
Contradictory emotional states happening at the same time.
impulsive vs. learned responses
stopping a reflex
what is the difference between passions of the soul and passions arising from external objects?
Passions of the soul are triggered by the mind itself.
Passions arising from external objects are triggered by events acting on our senses.
what is the difference between a simple and complex idea?
A simple idea is one that cannot be analyzed farther. Ex. The quality of redness, cannot be analyzed into simpler elements.
A complex idea is made of simpler components.
