Paper 3 themes

Question 1

What is radical questioning in philosophy and who are key examples?

Answer 1

• Definition: Questioning everything, including accepted truths

Examples:

Descartes: Questioned reliability of senses
Hume: Questioned Descartes’ method itself
Plato: Questioned basis of knowledge and reality
Ayer & Moore: Questioned nature of morality

Question 2

How do philosophers examine assumptions? Give examples.

Answer 2

Key philosophers challenging assumptions:

Sartre: Challenged possibility of objective truth
Dennett: Questioned existence of self
Bentham: Challenged fixed moral principles
Singer: Questioned scope of moral consideration
Deep ecologists: Challenged anthropocentric morality

Question 3

What is rigorous analysis in philosophy and what are key examples?

Answer 3

• Definition: Careful examination of logical arguments and counterexamples

Examples:

Gilbert Ryle: Analysis of category mistakes
Hume: Critiques of Descartes
G.E. Moore: Open Question argument

Question 4

What is reflexive equilibrium and how is it used?

Answer 4

• Definition: Checking consistency between different philosophical views

Key Example: Rawls’ Original Position
Purpose: Tests coherence of political and philosophical views

Question 5

How does philosophy develop? Give examples of progress and stagnation.

Answer 5

Progress Examples:

Mind-body debate: Plato to Dennett/Chalmers
Scientific questions becoming separate disciplines
Mathematics emerging from philosophy

Stagnation Examples:

Ethics: No clear resolution between theories
Moral frameworks still debated (Utilitarianism vs Kant)

Question 6

What is philosophical realism and how do philosophers view truth?

Answer 6

Realism Definition: Belief in objective, independent truths

Supporting Philosophers:

Plato: Realm of Forms
Kant: Moral truths
Bentham: Moral facts
Mill: Truth in liberty

Opposing Views:

Sartre: Truth depends on individual
Ethical Egoists: Truth based on desires
Virtue Theorists: Truth determined by agent and context