Classical Greek God Flashcards
What does rationalism mean?
All knowledge can be understood through a process or reasoning, without external sources
What does empiricism mean?
All knowledge comes through experience
Was Plato an empiricist or rationalist?
Rationalist
For Plato, what did the sun represent?
The form of the good, the sun is needed for everything to work, and can ‘shine light on people’s philosophical views’
Briefly explain the analogy of the cave
Men are chained against a wall, it’s all they know, the shadows and mumbled voices they see and hear are believed to be real and refined
One man is freed and is dragged up the path outside the cave
At first he cannot see because the sun is blinding, but looks into a long and sees the reflection
The prisoner recognises the sun the form of the good as it is the basis for all life and his new perspective
He goes back and tries to explain but realises he is just another mumbled voice and faded shadow
What did Socrates famously say?
“The unexamined life is not worth living”
What were the two words called?
The world of forms
The world of appearances
Note that this made Plato a dualist
How did Plato believe knowledge was gained?
A priori
What were Aristotle’s four causes
Material - what is it made out of?
Formal - the shape of the object
Efficient - the way the object was made
Final - what is the purpose of the object?
What was Aristotle’s book called?
Nicomachean Ethics
What was Platos book called?
The Republic
What did Aristotle question about the cause of continual change?
Everything moves from a state of potentiality to actuality
What are some properties of the Prime Mover
The prime mover didn’t start everything off, but is the originating cause of all motion
What are some properties of God
God is: Necessary Immutable Divine simplicity (no parts) "Pure actuality" (doesn't lack anything, is what it is) Doesn't interact with, independent
What are some criticisms of the prime mover
The relationship between the prime mover and motion is unclear
It doesn’t fit with the biblical God
How does it cause motion?
