Philo Exam Flashcards
Philosophy
Study of nature, reality, existence
Seeks to view the whole of reality into a single comprehensive view
Philosophy Science vs Theology
Philosophy
-studies the whole of reality
-ultimate causes
-uses logic, skepticism, criticism to make judgements about reality, existence
Science
-studies a single view of reality
-proximate causes
-cant be applied to every aspect of lives
-emprical data
Theology
-beliefs off a higher being/supernatural reveals divine revelation
Ontology vs metaphysics
Ontology - study of existnece/being
Metaphysics - study of teh ultimate reality
Wisdom vs knowledge
Wisdom
-requires knowledge of highest/ultimate causes
-based on experience, honest reflection, and ability to reason
Knowledge
-justifeid, ture, belief
-can be used to tell right/wrong
-attainable by research, study, etc.
ultimate vs proximate causes
Ultimate
-primary causes
-discoverable through reason and judgement
Proximate
-secondary cause
-discoverable through senses/empiricism
-relies on ultimate causes
Goal of wisdom
To learn about the ultimate nature of things, human existence, and fundamental truths about the world
Obtain both knowledge and experience throughout it.
Become a better person throughout the way and improve yourself
Wisdom is the ultimate aim of learning
Based on experience, honest reflection, and ability to reason
Problems with relativism
Main problems:
Allows dangerous extremist actions to happen, undermining ethics (genocide/slavery)
Claiming that there is no absolute truth is self-contradictory
Rob’s meaning of life: if there is no absolute truth, how can we know anything?
Problems with subjectivism
Problems:
Allows bad actions to occur like crimes because the criminal thinks their action is right
Self refuting
When a subjectivist explains why subjectivism is true, he is imposing an opinion on you but he claims that all opinions/knowledge/truth is different per person so its self-contradictory.
Truth
conformity of a proposition to the way things are
-objective reality independent of beliefs or perceptions
4 truth test
coherence
pragmatic
consenses
correspondence
What is Divine Revelation and how does it relate to philosophy?
Divine revelation: god has divine control over all actions and things in the universe
right/wrong actions can be guided by god
God communicates truth and knowledge to the people on Earth.
We have a role model and guide to follow through our path in life
This relates to philosophy because it talks about the absolute truth and what is real and what is not, the origin of the world, etc.
Deductive reasoning
General -> specific
Inducitve reasoning
Specific -> general
Belief vs knowledge (plato)
Belief
-acquired through senses and are about physical change
-they are the becoming and can change and come from sense experience
Knowledge
-acquired through reason and is about what is always the same
-the being -> never change
belief are appearance/illusion
knowledge is reality/real things
Theory of forms
The theory of forms is the ultimate goal of human understanding and highest form of truth and certainty.
-There is a realm of forms where platonic forms exist -> perfect models of objects and experiences
-These are pure and unchanging regardless of shifts in the universe
-The actual world is a mere shadow of this
-True and realiable knowledge rests in those who can comprehend the true reality
-We must recall not learn
What does plato believe true knowledge rests in?
Those who can comprehend the true reality behind the physical world (forms)
Knowledge according to plato
Something that is never changing and always the same
It is the being
-can only be gained through intellect/reason
-about how things truly are
Truth according to plato
Eternal, immutable, unchanging
-cannot be found in empirical world
-discovered by reason
opinion according to aristotle
Opinion comes from the physical world of illusion
-changeable and unanchored
-personal subjective experience
What did Plato think about the physical world and the senses?
Physical world is unreliable
senses cannot be trusted (illusion)
physical world is merely an opinion
Innate rationalist meaning
All knowledge comes from within us and from reason/intellect
Divided Line
There is the Form of the sun and the good
Sun
-illusions, opinion, imagination
Good
-rational intuition
What are the 3 parts of the soul according to Plato, explain each.
Appetite
-causes us to move to get things
Spirit
-causes us to achieve things
Reason
-only part of soul capable of reasoning
-guides spirit and appetite
4 cardinal virtues
Courage
Temperance
Justice
Wisdom
Rule of wise
In order to live a good life you must live in a functional and happy society
Workers: the ones that provide goods, food, shelter to sustain the state
Warriors: the ones that guard the state maintain law and order
Philosopher kings: the ones with the knowledge of the forms and know how to rule a state
Ex. they know the form of good
Use their intellectual abilities for common good not their own
What is a Philosopher-King?
Someone who is a philosopher-king:
Love of wisdom and search for true reality
Someone who loves wisdom negates the possibility of the love for falsehood, physical, sexual, material pleasures -> all desires that threaten corruption
Trained in philosophy and deeply understands the Forms (perfect and eternal ideals that exist beyond the material world)
Philosopher kings can make decisions based on reason + knowledge rather than bias + emotion
Wants common good rather than self-interest
Understands the forms of goodness