midterm Flashcards
what does philosophy mean
love of wisdom; created by Pythagoras
what is metaphysics?
study of reality
what is epistemology?
study of knowledge
what is ethics?
study of the good life
what is political philosophy?
study of good society
what is aesthetics?
study of beauty
what is teleology?
study of purposes/goals/ends
who are Homer & Hesiod?
Poets
Homer: Iliad & the Odyssey
Hesiod: Theogony
what philosophers did the gods anticipate?
Uranus: Parmenides
Cronos: Heraclitus
Zeus: Anaxagoras
who are the Milesian philosophers?
the first Presocratics (Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes)
Monists
Physis (what everything is made of)
Who is Thales & what did he believe?
the first philosopher/presocratic (water)
Who is Anaximander & what did he believe?
Thales’ student, Apeiron (boundless, infinite)
Who is Anaximenes & what did he believe?
student of Anaximander, he believed everything was made from air
Who are the Pythagoreans? What did they believe?
Everything is governed by perfect mathematic harmonies.
Who is Heraclitus? Who did he believe?
Second wave Presocratic. Logos (reason/word). Everything is constantly changing & in flux. Fire is the metaphor for change.
Who is Parmenides? What did he believe?
From Elea in S. Italy. Nothing changes; there is only being. Everything other than being presupposes nothing. Nothing doesn’t change. Therefore, there is only being.
Who is Zeno? What did he believe?
A disciple of Parmenides. Argued that motion was an illusion. Paradoxes of motion. Achilles & the Tortoise. The Arrow.
What is the difference between monism & pluralism?
Monists believe in one thing as the fundamental reality. Pluralists believe that many things compose reality.
Who is Empedocles? What did he believe?
A third wave Presocratic. Reality is made up of four elements (earth, air, water, fire) & two forces (love & hate)
Jumped into Mt. Etna to prove his divinity, left behind a shoe.
Who is Anaxagoras? What did he believe?
-Third wave Presocratic. Friends w/ Pericles. Prosecuted for impiety by the Athiens.
-Believed the sun was a fiery rock & the moon a cold rock. Nous (mind & matter) In the beginning, matter was w/o form, & Nous intervened to give it form & purpose.
-Homomereity: the whole is contained in the part
Who is Democritus? What did he believe?
Atomist, atoms & space. Atoms are eternal, invisible, & many/multiple. Átomos: uncuttable.
No teleology.
Determinist: everything operates according to cause & effect
What was Socrates primarily interested in? How did that make him different than the Presocratics?
Human condition; not primary interested in natural science & metaphysics.
How do we know about Socrates? Who are the main authors who talk about Socrates’ life?
Plato, Aristophanes, Xenophon
Socrates didn’t write anything down.
who are the Sophists? What did they believe?
intellectuals, worldly-wise experts, interested in rhetoric (art of speaking); relativists, didn’t believe in objective truth
“man is the measure of all things.”
Why isn’t Socrates a sophist, according to Plato?
doesn’t charge money & he’s committed to truth
Which playwright accused Socrates of being a sophist? What is the name of the play he wrote about Socrates?
Aristophanes, The Cloud
What is the Peloponnesian War?
massive series of battles between the Athenians & the Spartans. Spartans win.
What was the Thirty?
a violent oligarchy created by the Spartans to rule over Athens.
Who are Critias & Charmides?
relatives of Plato, students of Socrates, & members of the thirty
What is the court of the
King Archon?
Religious cases (heresy)
What are the charges against Socrates?
impiety (disrespecting the old gods) & corruption of the youth
Who is Socrates’ main accuser?
Meletus
What is Socratic irony?
when Socrates takes an expert at their word as knowing something; at the end of the convo. he is the teacher & teaches the expert of their own ignorance
Who is Euthyphro? What is his profession?
Fictional character invented by Plato. He’s a prophet.
first definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) prosecuting his father for wrongdoing
b) example, not a definition
second definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) what the gods love is piety
b) the gods love different things
third definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) what all the gods love
b) do the gods love piety because it’s pious, or because it’s godly?
fourth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) part of justice which is care for the gods
b) what do you mean care? how can one care for a perfect human being?
fifth definition of piety, & why doesn’t it work according to Socrates?
a) knowing how to pray & sacrifice
b) more examples, does not answer the problems of the other definitions (& why should we sacrifice to protect beings)
Which god does Euthyphro compare himself to?
Zeus, for did not Zeus punish his own father.
What is divine command theory?
An ethical framework where what is good is determined by gods commands & what is bad is determined by what gods forbids.
what happens at the end of the Euthyphro dialogue?
He walks away.
At the beginning of the Apology, which dead person does Socrates say he fears the most?
Aristophanes
what does the Oracle at Delphi tell Chaerephon about Socrates?
there is no man wiser than
Socrates
How does Socrates refute the idea he corrupts the youth?
No one deliberately corrupts; no one knowingly does wrong.
How does Socrates refute the idea that he’s impious?
Socrates believes in his daemon or his spirit. Spirits are the children of gods. Therefore, he believed in gods.
Which philosopher does Meletus confuse Socrates with?
Anaxagoras; Meletus says Socrates believed that the sun is a fiery rock.
Why does Socrates compare himself to an insect?
A gadfly; he’s pestering Athenians to do right as their conscience.
Why does Socrates compare Athens to a horse?
It has gotten lazy & stubborn & needs to get up & do great things again.
Why does Socrates say he doesn’t fear death?
It is arrogant to be afraid of the unknown.
Death is either eternal sleep or there is an afterlife for the just, where he can philosophize w/ the heroes of Greek society
What is worse for Socrates; death or disgrace?
disgrace
What is the jury’s verdict?
guilty
How does Socrates say he should be punished?
(1) treated like an Olympian (free meals)
(2) let him go
(3) pay a fine
How does the jury sentence Socrates? (How does he die?)
death via Hemlock
Who is the dog of Egypt?
Anubis
Which god does the Oracle represent?
Apollo
In your opinion, is Socrates innocent or guilty?
(look on notes for answer)
