Lecture 4 Flashcards
Who were the Sophists?
Highly educated teachers who were paid to teach the rich how to speak eloquently and persuade others.
The Sophists had a pragmatic ethical outlook and did not believe in absolute right and wrong.
What is Protagoras known for?
“Man is the measure of all things.”
This reflects the Sophists’ relativistic and skeptical approach to knowledge.
What was the Sophists’ view on knowledge?
Knowledge is subjective opinion based on individual experience.
They believed attempts at metaphysics and defining objective reality were useless.
What did the Sophists believe about reality?
We can only know appearances, not essences.
Sense data is perceived as a surface-level understanding of reality.
What was Socrates’ main philosophical approach?
He debated with others to show uncritical assumptions and provoke deeper reflection.
Socrates is known for saying, “All I know is that I know nothing.”
What did Socrates believe about happiness?
Happiness is achieved by living a Good life, not through wealth, fame, or power.
Socrates emphasized the importance of virtue and moral integrity.
What did Socrates argue about beauty, truth, and goodness?
They point to a mysterious reality that exists immutably.
This contrasts with the Sophists’ view that these concepts were mere names.
What did Socrates believe about right and wrong?
Right and wrong could be discovered through reason, which has a divine spark.
He believed in an intrinsic moral order accessible through rational thought.
What is the significance of the phrase “The unexamined life is not worth living”?
It emphasizes the necessity of self-reflection and personal struggle for knowledge.
Socrates argued that knowledge cannot be acquired through mere purchase or superficial means.
What are the chief writings of Plato?
The Republic, Phaedrus, Phaedo, The Laws, Timaeus.
These works explore various philosophical themes, including justice, love, and the nature of reality.
What was the outcome of the Sophists’ teachings on Greek society?
Students became amoral, leading to a deterioration of Greek society.
The emphasis on rhetoric over ethics contributed to moral decline.
What is the Sophists’ stance on ethics?
They had a practical, or pragmatic, ethical outlook determined by society and convention.
This stance contrasts with Socratic and Platonic ideals of objective morality.
True or False: Socrates wrote extensively about his philosophical views.
False.
Most of what we know about Socrates comes from the writings of Plato, as he wrote nothing himself.
What are the ultimate realities according to Plato?
The Good, the True, and the Beautiful
These are referred to as the Transcendentals.
What drives philosophy according to Plato?
Eros, or love
This is described as a driving force rather than cold logic.
