Philosophy Flashcards
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy literally means love wisdom philosophers use only their reasoning skills and evidence in the world to help ask and answer questions
What is Theology?
Theology means study of god. Theologians use evidence and the clues that god has put in the world and within us to help ask and answer questions.
What is the Ring of Gyges?
The Ring of Gyges is a story presented in Plato’s Republic. The story explores the nature of justice and morality by imagining a shepherd who discovers a ring granting invisibility , promoting the question of whether a person would act justly if they could commit injustice without fear of consequences.
Glaucon (character in Plato’s Republic), uses the Ring of Gyges as a thought experiment to argue that people are only just because they fear punishment or social disapproval. He argues that if a person could be completely invisible and act with impunity, most people would choose to act unjust.
Who was Socrates?
Socrates was a philosopher, who lived in ancient Greece, 2500 years ago.
His nickname was “The Gadfly” as he stung people into thinking about issues and concepts rather than blindly accepting them.
He engaged with people into discussion and debate in public areas.
How did Socrates teach? Describe a Socratic dialogue?
He kept questioning people, forcing them to give questions for their beliefs, analysing key terms, searching for the correct definition, seeking for the truth.
Socratic dialogue is a form of argumentative dialogue, based on asking and answering questions to explore ideas and uncover deeper understanding.
Why some people thought that Socrates methods were annoying?
- Lack of clear right answer
- Time consuming/ inefficient
- Focus on weaknesses (identifying weaknesses in arguments)
- Some people may feel manipulated (a lot pre-determined conclusion by the instructor’s questions)
Why Socrates methods are good?
Socrates’ method is characterised by relentless questioning and critical examination of ideas.
It’s good because:
- It fosters critical thinking
- It encourages active learning
- It promotes self-reflection
- It identifies internal inconsistencies
- It lead to deeper understanding of oneself and the world.
What is Knowledge?
Knowledge =
Facts information and skills acquired through experience and education.
For Socrates, Knowledge should be without contradiction to support particular belief.
What is Contraction?
A contradiction is a combination of statements, ideas, which are opposed one to another.
If we contradict ourselves, it places doubt on whether what we believe is true, as the statements we use say opposing things.
What is a belief?
A belief= An acceptance that something exists or is true without proof
What are the types of belief?
TRUE BELIEF- doesn’t have a justification through evidence or reasoning.
UNTRUE BELIEF- False belief not backed up by evidences
JUSTIFIED BELIEF- false belief which appears to be justified by evidence
JUSTIFIED TRUE BELIEF- True belief justified with evidence or reasoning
Socrates’ view on Knowledge
It needs to be:
1. true
2. believed
3. justified
Who were Sophists?
Sophists wanted to win the argument. They would give clever arguments that sound convincing but turn out to be deceptive/ wrong.
What is a logical fallacy?
A logical fallacy is an error in reasoning that makes your argument less affective and convincing.
Examples of logical fallacies?
- Ad hominem
- Bandwagon
- Hasty generalisation
- False dilemma
- Appeal to fear
- Guilt by association
- Strawman
- Slippery slope
Definition of Slippery slope
A slippery slope fallacy occurs when someone claims that a position or decision will lead to a series of unintended negative consequences. These negative consequences are often bad and/or increasingly bizarre.
Example: If you don’t buy this toothpaste you will have cavities and lose all your teeth.
Appeal to fear definition
An appeal to fear is a logical fallacy that uses fear to manipulate people into doing something they might not otherwise do.
Example: If you don’t buy this product, you risk injury and death.
Bandwagon definition
Bandwagon fallacy is a logical fallacy that occurs when someone claims that something is true or should be done, because everyone else is doing it.
Example: Everyone one is getting the new iphone this weekend, why aren’t you?
What is justice?
Justice is commonly defined as giving each person what he or she deserves or, in more traditional terms, giving each person his or her due. It is used interchangeably with concept of fairness.
What is Cephalus definition of justice?
Cephalus’s definition of justice being honest, and pay his debts.
What is Thracymachus definition of justice?
Thracymachus said that justice is simply whatever is in the interest of those who have power and who are stronger. If an action was advantageous to those in power then they should engage in it, and if it was advantageous then they should refrain from that action.
Socrates criticised Thracymachus’ definition of justice as he argued that those in power can make mistakes about what’s in their self-interest. This means they could create laws which they thought were in their self-interest, but in actual fact, they are not in their self-interest.
Socrates’ view on justice
Justice is an excellence of the soul.
Injustice is defect of the soul.
Socrates saw justice as the sum of all virtues (high moral standards, courage truthfulness, temperance and prudence).
What is a martyr?
A martyr is a person who is killed because of their religion or beliefs.
Why was Socrates put on trial
- Denying the god of the city
- Corrupting the youth
