Intro To Philosophy Flashcards
I think therefore I am
Rene Descartes
Apology: what is Socrates charged with?
Not believing in the gods
Corrupting the youth
Making the weaker argument appear the stronger
Apology: penalty Socrates rejects
Exile, no matter where he goes, he would continue to question and upset people
Apology: what is death
Could be a dreamless night or soul could go somewhere, we don’t know death is bad
Apology: worst harm
Knowingly doing wrong
Apology: why is Socrates questioning people
The oracle, to find out who is truly wise (being wise is not caused by being good at one profession)
Apology: why does it not make sense to corrupt the youth?
Why would he corrupt them if he has the live with them? And why would you charge him for corrupting the youth rather then talking to him about it first?
Apology: why does it not make sense that he doesn’t believe in gods?
He believes in spirits and they are the children of gods
Apology: what does he believe his punishment should be?
He should be paid and fed. He never took money, and those in good shape get money and food but those in need continue not to.
Metaphysics
The study of how things are, the fundamental nature of being
Dualism
Mind+body
Egyptian metaphysics: shadow?
Non corporal double
Egyptian metaphysics: akh
Aspect of the sun
Egyptian metaphysics: ka
Vital forces of everything
Egyptian metaphysics: Ba
Exists independently from the body
Egyptian metaphysics: pharaoh’s ethics
Ensure that the equilibrium of creation was maintained during their lifetime (equilibrium- ma’at- justice)
Confucianism: period developed
Warring states
Confucianism: why did Confucius leave his home state
His leader was given dancing girls and he ignored his responsibilities, to look for a virtuous leader
Confucianism: 5 main themes
Focus on everyday life Revivalist tradition Differentiated caring Ritual Ethical cultivation
Normative theories
Consequentialism
Deontology
Virtue ethics
Consequentialism
The right action is the one that creates the greatest good ( Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart mill, mozi, yang zhu)
Deontology
We must act accordingly to ethical duties
Virtue ethics
Good character (Aristotle, kongzi, mengzi)
Questions for virtue ethics
What is it to live well?
What traits of character are central
What is human nature like
How can one cultivate virtues
4 cardinal virtues
Goodness (humanness, caring, benevolence)
Wisdom
Humility
Righteousness (integrity)
Confucianism: mencian critique of profit
If leader values profit, those below him will and focus on themselves rather then the collective and look to improve themselves.
Confucianism: ox mountain
Looks like it can not produce trees, but that is because ox have trampled on the sprouts. Same with a ‘bad’ person. They seem like they cannot be good, but it was the upbringing that made them this way
Confucianism: kongzi virtues vs mengzi
Kongzi: goodness, righteousness, humility, wisdom
Mengzi: benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom
Confucianism: Mencian human nature
Human nature is naturally good. (Kid falling in a well)
Daoism: who is Laozi, and was he real
He wrote the daodejing, and he is fiction, it means “old master”
Upanishad: what does upanishad mean
“sitting down near”
Upanishad: meaning of Atman
self
Upanishad: meaning of Brahman
That which is, spiritual force
Upanishad: meaning of Brahma
creator god
Upanishad: meaning of Brahmin
Priest caste
Upanishad: Atman is Brahman
we are connected to the all powerful force of the universe
Upanishad: True or false, each of us has a “me”
True
Upanishad: how do we know “I” am unchanging
Through intuition and experience, we know that the core of “I” has not changed
Upanishad: What about yourself can change without “I” changing
Personality, thoughts, opinions, etc.
Upanishad: does “I” include any changeable features?
No
Upanishad: What is liberation
experiencing that Atman is Brahman, or knowing the fundamental nature of being
Upanishad: what is Monism
Theory that everything is one
Upanishad: what is the ‘good life’
A life of contemplation, and truly knowing and experiencing truth
Bhagavad Gita: the Bhagavad Gita is part of what epic
The Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita: Can liberation be found in life as a part of society
Yes
Bhagavad Gita: Meaning of Nomaste
I a recognizing that there is something in you that is in me
Thales: What is the world made of, and why
Water, because everything is constantly changing
Crito: Why should laws not be broken or why does Socrates say he cannot escape before his death?
- Agreeing to stay means you agree to the laws (just agreement), could leave at any time, had children, etc
- leaving weakens the importance of the laws, either persuade the city to change the laws, or abide by them
- Socrates chose death over exile, how could he leave now
Plato: Detail Plato’s ‘Social Contract’
- State raises us through education, and legal structure
- Provides security
- Provides civil laws
- Provides public goods such as transportation and roads
Nussbaum: Explain her capabilities approach
- States owe their members certain goods because of the demands of human dignity
- Freedom to achieve well-being
John Rawls: View on a just state
State isn’t just unless less well-off people are doing okay in society
Liberalism: View on a just state
Minimal interference and support for individuals
Utilitarianism: View on a just state
State does what provides the greatest good for the greatest number of people
Two ways of speaking of freedom
Positive (freedom to) Negative (freedom from)
