Midterms Flashcards
Explain what is meant by the notion that ancient philosophers were the scientists of their day?
Philosophers were the first people of their day who were willing to take a non-religious explanation for things. Their explanations were purely based on what they see and what they can reason (based on experience).
Socrates was originally part of a philosophical group that he broke away from. What was that group called?
Sophists
Unlike the members of that group, Socrates believed in?
Socrates believed in truth and dialogue
A sophist believes……
That you should use reason and rhetoric to manipulate people and achieve power.
Socrates is most famous for saying …… (2)
“The unexamined life is not worth living.” and “The one thing I know for sure is that I know nothing.”
Socrates most famous student was……
PLATO
Who put Socrates to death and why?
The Athenian court for corrupting the youth.
What is the name of Plato’s most famous book?
The Republic
Who is the protagonist in all of Plato’s writings?
Socrates
What is the central question of platos most famous book?
‘what is justice’
What did Plato believe society should be modeled after? Explain the 3 parts
The three parts of the soul.
reason/intellect - part of you that KNOWS
spirit/will - part of you that DOES
The appetitions/appetite - part of you that WANTS
Was Plato a fan of democracy? What event may have heavily influenced this?
No Plato witnessed democracy unwillingly in his city of Athens - put SOCRATES to death
What is a form according to Plato? give an example of This?
The Form is a metaphysical, perfect representation of anything. Ex: circle
Who was Aristotle’s teacher?
Plato
What kind of philosopher is Aristotle? How is it different from Plato?
Aristotle was a realist. Plato was an idealist. Aristotle believed fundamental knowledge was derived from the senses (by going out and seeing things) vs Plato believed ultimate knowledge was derived from reason within your own head.
List and describe Aristotle’s 4 causes
Material cause: “that out of which” it is made.
Formal Cause: What form does it take/how is it structured?
Efficient Cause: how does something come to be
Final Cause: what is the purpose or the goal of the object - what is it used for
Explain how Aristotle models his version of society of those 4 causes
what was the purpose of society according to plato
Aristotle models society after these 4 causes by: material cause is it’s citizens
formal cause is its laws or constitution
efficient cause of any society is its ruler
final cause is righteous prosperous citizenry (people doing well materially and ethically).
Plato believed that purpose of society was to bring people towards ultimate knowledge.
according to him, what 2 factors determine what type of society a given group of people is living under?
Two factors are: a) how many rulers? b) who are they ruling for?
Based on these 2, what are the 6 types of political societies according to Aristotle?
(My Toes Own A Dumpling Palace)
Monarchry: one ruler ruling for the people
Tyranny: one ruler for himself.
Oligarchy: ruled by the few for themselves
Aristocracy: Noble Elites ruling for the people
Democracy: governed by the majority for the majority
Polity: majority ruling for EVERYONE
Which according to Aristotle is the worst and why?
Democracy because he felt the tyranny of the majority was the most dangerous than any single ruler.
What is social contract theory?
A theory of govt based on a contract between a people and a ruling body
Before social contract theory, how many basic theories were there for validating leadership? What were they? List and describe them?
Divine Right Theory: by the GDs
Power Theory: most powerful are the ones to rule
Structural Theory: those people most fit to rule would rise to the top
The first major Social Contract Theorist was? Where was he from? What major Historical event did he live through
Thomas Hobbes from England lived through The English Civil War
What is the name of Hobbes most famous book? What is the title a reference to? Why did he call it that? How is it a symbol of his beliefs?
The Leviathan. Refrence to biblical sea creature. He called it that bc it was a symbol of his beliefs. Hobbes believed in an authoritarian monarchy - a monarchy so big and strong that you would give up all your rights and disputes in font of it. Ties to Leviathan becaus eit represents a gigantic sea monster before which all disputes and rights are not, once u see a giant sea monster all your rights and disputes vanish. Hobbes believed that purpose of government was to settle disputes between citizenry by being the biggest baddest strongest thing and thereby keeping everyone in line and away from chaos (state of nature)
