midterm short answer

Question 1

Define philosophy (on the definition-do not unpack it)

Answer 1

Philosophy is the activity of thinking rationally, critically, and presuppositionally about important issues to live life with insight and understanding

Question 2

Define Christian philosophy.

Answer 2

Christian philosophy is the activity of thinking rationally, critically, presuppositionally, and prayerfully about the Christian faith, its biblical context, and non-christian ideas from a perspective of faith to obtain insight and understanding

Question 3

Explain Christian philosophy

Answer 3

We, as Christians, need to apply philosophical thinking to the Christian faith and approach life’s problems and situations with a spirit-led, philosophy-guided way of thinking.

Question 4

Explain the teaching of the atomists according to Democritus.

Answer 4

Democritus proposed that the universe’s tiny building blocks were made up of tiny, invisible, without-character materials called atoms. He explained that every physical feature that we can sense in the material world was made up of these atoms. Even though they had no physical properties, they could assimilate and make “chance linkages” that result in the physical characteristics of larger things.

Question 5

What is the first step to Plato’s argument about the immortality of the soul. Why is this a lapse in philosophical problems?

Answer 5

1) all human knowledge and judgement presupposes knowledge prior of some standard
- makes a pretty big assumption that the soul existed before us but he doesn’t have any concrete evidence

Question 6

What is the second step to Plato’s argument about the immortality of the soul. Why is this a lapse in philosophical problems?

Answer 6

2) Human knowledge of the standard of Form cannot be acquired by the senses
- making another assumption that we as humans can’t learn things during our lives. We learn everyday through our senses and how can you differentiate between what you already knew and what you learned.

Question 7

What is the third step to Plato’s argument about the immortality of the soul. Why is this a lapse in philosophical problems?

Answer 7

3) our knowledge of the standard of Forms must have been acquired in a previous life
- This is an assumption based on two other assumptions that are either false or haven’t been proven.

Question 8

What is the fourth step to Plato’s argument about the immortality of the soul. Why is this a lapse in philosophical problems?

Answer 8

Therefore, the soul is immortal
- This is on the basis of other shaky claims. Plato’s argument is an example of circular reasoning. The assumption that our knowledge gained from a previous life requires that the conclusion that the soul is immortal is true. The past performance of having knowledge from a previous life does not guarantee that the soul will have future performance.

Question 9

Illustrate and explain Plato’s allegory of the cave.

Answer 9

was on quiz

Question 10

List and briefly explain the intellectual disciplines. Describe how you plan to apply them in your life.

Answer 10

1) solitude: when I study I will not be looking at my phone
2) silence: meditate every once in a while
3) Concentration/attention: focus on one task at a time
4) Holistic thinking: mind mapping
5) Prayer: pray to help accomplish solitude, silence, concentration/attention, and holistic thinking
6) keeping your thinking cap at all times: always question things around me.
7) understanding your thinking style: I learn well through repetition so I will continue that