Lecture 3: Rome and the Middle Ages Flashcards
Which philosophers emerged after Aristotle’s death?
Pyrrho, Antisthenes, Diogenes, Epicurus, and Zeno
What is Cynicism, and who were its advocates among the post-Aristotelian philosophers? What lifestyle did they promote?
Antisthenes and Diogenes, promotes a back-to-nature approach, rejecting societal norms for a simple life close to nature, free of wants and passions.
According to Epicurus, what constitutes the good life? How did he define and pursue pleasure?
Epicurus believed the good life involved seeking the greatest amount of pleasure over the longest period of time. True pleasure, according to him, came from a life of moderation.
Describe Zeno’s philosophy of Stoicism. What did living in harmony with nature entail, and how did Stoics view material possessions?
Stoicism, founded by Zeno, advocates living in harmony with nature. Stoics believe that everything happens for a reason, and material possessions are deemed unimportant.
Why did philosophers transition from ethical inquiries to religious considerations? What were some philosophical developments during this shift?
Philosophers shifted from ethics to religion to address principles of human conduct. This transition led to the synthesis of various philosophies with religious beliefs.
How did Neoplatonists like Philo synthesize Platonic philosophy with Judaism? What aspects of the spirit and flesh did they emphasize?
Philo, a Neoplatonist, combined Judaism with Plato’s philosophy, glorifying the spirit and condemning the flesh.
Explain Plotinus’s perspective on emanations in Neoplatonism. What emanates from the One, according to Plotinus?
According to Plotinus, from the One (God) emanates the Spirit, from the Spirit emanates the Soul, and from the Soul emanates the physical world.
What role did St. Paul play in establishing the Christian religion? How did he contribute to the transformation of Christianity under Emperor Constantine?
St. Paul claimed that Jesus was the son of God, establishing the Christian religion. Emperor Constantine later standardized Christianity in 313.
According to St. Augustine, how can humans know God? What role did introspection and avoiding experiences of the flesh play in his philosophy?
St. Augustine believed humans could know God through intense introspection, considering the ecstasy from cognitively embracing God the highest human emotion.
What’s Augustine’s Concept of Human Free Will?
Augustine postulated human free will to explain evil as the result of choosing evil over good. Humans became responsible for their destiny, and personal guilt became a means of controlling behavior.
According to Augustine, what’s the Role of Memory, Sensory Impressions, and Anticipations?
According to Augustine, experiences of the past are accounted for by memories, the present by ongoing sensory impressions, and the future by anticipations. Memories, sensory impressions, and anticipations play crucial roles in human cognition.
What is realists vs. nominalists debate about?
The realists believed in universal essences, while nominalists argued that universals were merely verbal labels applied to classes of experiences. Abelard’s conceptualism offered a compromise, viewing concepts as less than essences but more than mere words.
What did scholastics aim to synthesize?
The Scholastics aimed to synthesize Aristotle’s philosophy with Christianity. St. Thomas Aquinas was a prominent figure, advocating the acceptance of both reason and faith as ways of knowing God.
What was the social climate during social climate during early Christianity?
In early Christianity, a largely negative social climate prevailed with widespread superstition, fear, and persecution of nonbelievers. The church held absolute power, and dissension from church dogma was harshly dealt with.
What was Zoroastrianism about?
The Persian religion that equated truth and wisdom with the brilliance of the sun and ignorance and evil with darkness.
