Philosophy Flashcards
What is Philosophy?
It’s the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, morality, and the nature of reality.
What does Philosophy challenge?
It challenges assumptions, sharpens critical thinking, and encourages deep reflection.
What is critical thinking?
What are the core branches of Philosophy?
Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic, Political Philosophy, and Aesthetics
What is Metaphysics?
What is Reality? Deals with the nature of existence, being, and the universe.
Key Questions:
- What is the nature of reality?
- Do we have free will, or is everything determined?
- What is the mind? Is it separate from the body?
What is Epistemology?
What is knowledge? Studies knowledge, belief, and justification.
Key Questions:
- What does it mean to “know” something?
- Can we ever be certain of anything?
- What is the difference between belief and truth?
What is Ethics?
Explores morality and how we should live.
Key Theories:
- Utilitarianism: Morality is about maximizing happiness.
- Deontology: Morality is based on duties and rules
- Virtue Ethics: Morality is about developing good character.
What is Logic?
Examines principles of valid reasoning and argumentation.
Key concepts:
- Deductive reasoning: If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
- Inductive reasoning: Generalizing from specific observations
- Fallacies: Errors in reasoning
What is Political Philosophy?
What is a just society? Investigate government, rights, and justice.
Key questions:
- What is the best form of government?
- What are individual rights?
- What is justice?
What is Aesthetics?
What is beauty and art? Studies the nature of art, beauty, and taste.
Key questions:
- What makes something beautiful?
- Is art subjective or objective?
- What is the purpose of art
How did Plato see art?
Plato saw art as an imitation of reality, but he was skeptical of its value. He believed:
- Art is twice removed from the truth because it is a copy of the physical world, which is a copy of the ideal Forms.
- Art can mislead people by appealing to emotions rather than reason.
- In his ideal society (as described in The Republic), he even suggests banning certain types of art that might corrupt citizens.
How did Aristotle see art?
Aristotle believed that art had great value:
- Imitation: Art imitates reality but can reveal deeper truths about human experience.
- Catharsis: Tragic art, in particular, helps people experience and purge emotions like fear and pity in a healthy way.
How did Immanuel Kant see art?
Kant argued that Art/Beauty should be appreciated without wanting to use or own it. (Disinterest Pleasure), Universal.. we expect others to agree when we say something is beautiful, and a result of our faculties: our minds impose order on the world, and beauty arises when our cognitive faculties (imagination and understanding) harmonize.
How did Hegal see art?
Hegal saw art as an expression of the human spirit and historical progress.
- Different artistic styles correspond to different cultural and historical periods.
How did Neitzche see art?
Fridrich Neitzche saw art as a powerful force that makes life meaningful:
- He divided art into two opposing forces:
1. Apollonian (order, logic, form) - Represented by classical, rational art.
2. Dionysian (chaos, passion, instinct) - Represented by wild, emotional art
How did Tokstoy see art?
Leo Tolstoy defined art as a way of transmitting emotions from the artist to the audience:
- The value of art lies in its ability to evoke shared feelings.
- He criticized “elite” art for being disconnected from ordinary people.
What are contemporary art views?
- Formalism: Art is valuable for its form and composition, independent of meaning.
- Expressionism: Art is primarily about expressing the artist’s emotions.
- Postmodernism: Challenges traditional ideas of beauty and meaning, often embracing irony and questioning what even counts as “art”.
