Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Philosophy > Metaphysics And Human Nature Test > Flashcards

Metaphysics And Human Nature Test Flashcards

1
Q

What is materialism?

A

The only thing that exists in the world is matter. There is nothing that is not part of the physical world. Only material things are real.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are some objections to materialism?

A

How do we explain human consciousness like thinking, wishing, loving, and hating. Modern science goes against this view.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is idealism?

A

The view that reality is comprised of minds and ideas rather than matter. Puts an emphasis on the mental/spiritual.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is subjective idealism?

A

The view that the world consists of only person’s mind and things that are dependent on the mind. (The world is created by our minds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Who created subjective idealism?

A

George Berkeley (1685 -1753)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is objective idealism?

A

What we imagine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Provide an example of objective idealism.

A

Walking from period 3 to 4 we probably see the same people and classes this is easy for us to imagine but trying to picture a big mythical creature would be very difficult to imagine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Who created objective idealism?

A

George Berkeley ( 1685-1753)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are some objections to idealism?

A

Anthropomorphism, subjective idealism, objective idealism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is anthropomorphism?

A

The attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal or object (oxford) how can we use human context to explain the universe. If the braindies does the mind die with it?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is pragmatism?

A

A reaction to traditional systems of philosophy such as materialism and idealism and their seemingly endless debates about the nature of reality. Practical implications of concepts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Who created pragmatism?

A

John Dewey -moved philosophy away from just intellectuals and let it change regular people’s lives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some objections to pragmatism?

A

Is it an acceptable way of getting beyond the dispute of materialism and idealism? Or is it muddled thinking?
If we only know our experience don’t we need to reject all belief on objective reality.
Does it givens a clear Notion on what I real?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an example of pragmatism?

A

Even though your brand new high heels look great you wear your running shoes on your hike because they are more comfortable/ practical.
Even if you believe in the value of navigating by memory, you use the map app to avoid getting lost in a hurry.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

According to Alfred J. Ayer there are only 2 kinds of true statements. What are they?

A
  1. True by definition. (Tautology)
  2. True by fact = can be proved by sense observation. (Emperical)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is an example of an empirical statement?

A

Saying it’s raining. A statement of fact determined by an observation of the world.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is an example of a tautology?

A

A bachelor is an unmarried man.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are some meaningless statements according to Ayer?

A
  • God does/does not exist
  • Lying is wrong/right
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How does Rudolph Carnap object Ayer’s statements? Provide an example.

A
  • Carnap says that although the statements may not be true they still have meaning.
  • For example If a lyrical poem included the words “Sunshine”, “clouds” or “rain” they are not trying to inform readers of the weather they are using these words to express emotion.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a categorical claim?

A

A claim possessing two terms one for the subject and one for the predicate that uses connectives like “all” “Some” “no” “not” “is” and “are”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is an example of a categorical clain?

A

Some apples in this case are not edible.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are some objections to Logical Positivism?

A
  • Their premise is meaningless because “all meaningful statements are either tautologies or empirically verifiable.” how can we verify the first premise?
  • Although Logical positivists think that metaphysical questions are meaningless they are still important to many other people.
  • Dictionary defines meaningful statements as something different
    -We cannot verify meaningful statements by observing the world around us.
  • By their own standards their search for meaning is meaningless.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is Antirealism?

A

Suggests that the world and its features depend on how they are described, perceived, and thought about. Modern Antirealists believe that our own knowing simply depends on our linguistic creations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Name two anti-realists.

A
  • Nelson Goodman
  • Dale Spender
  • Hilary Putnam
25
Q

What is postmodernism?

A

Rejects the idea of a single objective reality.

26
Q

What are some objections to Antirealism?

A
  • Questions by some feminists
  • Diverse worlds deemed equally real
  • Antirealist claim : No reality beyond language and thought. Concern : Validates oppressive worlds shaped by oppressive language.
  • Antirealists believe that a group of people cannot if its not in their language, Feminist Jean Grimshaw however denies this saying oppression exists only if its not perceived.
  • Jean Searles says that language is NOT subjective because regardless of the language you are still observing the same reality.
27
Q

What is realism?

A

The opposite of antirealism. The world today is exactly the same now as it would have been then even if no one had been around to perceive it.

28
Q

What are the objections to antirealism?

A

Hilary Putnam a prominent Antirealist says that there is no one answer to the question how many objects appear here?

29
Q

What is libertarianism?

A

Focus on individual responsibility for who he or she is. Commitment to actions.

30
Q

What is determinism?

A

Every event has prior conditions that cause it. Thus every event is at least theoretically predictable if we know all its prior conditions and the laws governing those conditions.

31
Q

What does Jean Paul Sartre say about Libertarianism?

A

when we act we intend to achieve something by our actions. We think about future situations that do not yet exist.

32
Q

What is the deductive argument for determinism?

A
  1. All actions are causally determined by previous conditions and the laws of nature.
  2. If all actions are causally determined by previous conditions and the laws of nature, then people do not act freely and are not morally responsible for their actions.
  3. So, people do not act freely and are not morally responsible for their actions.
33
Q

What are some objections to determinism?

A

Contradicts the idea that we are each personally responsible for our actions.

34
Q

What is psychological egoism?

A

There is no such thing as a selfless act, there is always some benefits to you. (all behaviours are self motivated)

35
Q

What is the traditional western view according to Plato and Aristotle? Provide an example.

A

Humans were created with a unique purpose. Ex. Eyes designed to see to be rational is to be human. This sets us apart from animals.

36
Q

What are the 3 distinct parts of human nature?

A
  1. Appetite: The natural instincts of humans. Ex. Drinking dirty water when you are thirsty
  2. Reason: telling yourself not to drink the water even though you are thirsty because you will get sick.
    3.Aggression: similar to appetite but only deals with reason.
37
Q

What are the 3 defining parts of our human nature?

A

There are 3 types of human beings:
Those who desire knowledge, power, or wealth.

38
Q

What is the judeo-christian view according to St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas?

A

Humans are made in the unique image of God and they are made to love God and one’s neighbour. Augustine and Aquinas were inspired by Plato and Aristotle.

39
Q

What are the 3 basic disorderly desires?

A

Lust, curiosity, and Pride.

40
Q

What is the Darwinian challenge?

A

Humans evolved from other non-human ancestors. Reason is a developed variation coming from our ancestors. We are made in the image of primates not God.

41
Q

What did Darwin use as evidence for evolution?

A

Fossils prove evolution.

42
Q

What are some objections to the Darwinian challenge?

A
  • Fossils disprove his theory because of the large gaps between fossils.
  • We may have evolved but we were still created for a reason.
    -Human’s ability to reason is unique.
43
Q

What is the extestenhalist challenge according to jean-paul Sartre?

A

No such thing as human nature since humans are whatever they make themselves. However there is still a sense of freely choosing, self-created, active agent. Humans are defined by our actions make the most of now.

44
Q

What is the feminist view?

A

Our concepts of reason, appetites, emotions, mind, body, are all based in favour of men and against women.

45
Q

True or false: the view that women are capable of reason and rationality and value emotion and feeling is not sexist.

A

False: this is sexist because it’s coming from a male perspective.

46
Q

What is the dualist view?

A

Rene Descartes humans are immaterial minds with material bodies. Material bodies have colour, shape, size, shape, and weight, our minds do not.

47
Q

What is the identity theory?

A

Conscious states are identical with the body’s brain states.

48
Q

What is another name for the identity theory?

A

Mind/brain theory

49
Q

What is the behaviourist theory?

A

Says that conscious mental states are bodily behaviours or dispositions. We should only study what we know.

50
Q

What is the functionalist view?

A

Every mental state of the brain but defined not by its physical neurobiological features but in terms of functions - casual relations.

51
Q

What is the materialist view?

A

Thomas Hobbes. Only physical or material things exist operations of the body. Our body is like a machine and the mind is part of the machine.

52
Q

Describe the ontological argumen for God’s existence.

A

If we can imagine that good is that which nothing greater can be conceived. God must exist in reality and not just in our minds.

53
Q

Who developed the ontological argument for God’s existence.

A

Anslem Archbishop of Canterbury

54
Q

What are some objections tothe ontological argument for God’s existence?

A

-Existence is not a quality
- most qualities make a thing greater or lesser better or worse. But either something exists or it does not.
- Emanuel Kant says the argument fails because it confuses the two categories: the concept or idea of a thing and its existence. (The effect it exists)

55
Q

What is the cosmological argument for God’s existence?

A

Two proofs of Gods existence, first mover + first cause. Works as followed:
1. Some things move
2. Nothing can cause itself to exist
3. Existence of anything must be caused by something
4. Chain of causation cannot go on forever because there would be no beginning to the existence of things so nothing would exist.
5. This chain must start with a being whose existence is uncaused
S. Gods existence does not depend on anything.

56
Q

Who created the cosmological argument for God’s existence?

A

Thomas Aquinas

57
Q

Describe the design argument.

A

If we and a watch that is designed for a purpose we can conclude that it was made by an intelligent being.

58
Q

Who created the design argument?

A

Theologian William Paley.

Philosophy (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions