Philosophy Exam 1 Flashcards
An Argument is valid when…
It is impossible for all premises to be true and the conclusion false.
An argument is sound when…
It is valid and all of the premises are true.
What is the Truth relativist’s view and an example
That one proposition can be true for one person and false for another, all beliefs are true
The Mona Lisa can be beautiful to one person and ugly to others
What is one reason Bostrom says our ancestors might not have run an ancestor simulation?
Humankind goes extinct before able to run one
Humankind is not interested in running one
What is reductionism about the mind-body problem
and an example
Reductionism is the view that some fact or concept can be fully explained by some more fundamental fact or concept.
Ex: mental states are reducible to physical (brain) states, apple is reducible to redness, roundness, juiciness
Materialism
a view that all that exists in the world is entirely physical, including the mind
Subjective?
Objective?
relation to a subject, perception or mind-dependence, one person’s feelings not all (ex: pizza is the best food, not to all ppl)
relation to an object, mind or perception independent, true for everyone (ex: water boils at 100 degrees, factual for everyone)
Subjective Character of Experience/ Phenomenal Consciousness
Nagel states an organism has conscious mental states iff there is something it is like to be that organism. (human imagines what it is like to be a bat is impossible)
Paul’s self knowledge claims
No evidence: when a subject ascribes a mental state to herself it is not on the basis of evidence or grounds for thinking that she is in that state (does not need evidence to know
infallible: if a subject sincerely believes herself to be in some mental state, then she is. (privileged to know yourself)
first- personal: the methods a subject normally uses to know herself, can’t be used on others (based on evidence)
The theory theory
Denies all 3 self knowledge claims. All knowledge of our own attitudes and emotions is product of theorizing about ourselves, usually on basis of evidence.
Rylean Joke
“You’re fine, how am I?” The person asks this and instead of using observations and theories to know one’s own mental state, the person does it about another person. Usually one would ask another how they are doing to gain evidence from a person
Teletransporter experiment
Parfit trying to explain personal identity when all of you is cloned and sent through a tele transporter, shares your memories and information, you’re sent to mars and earth body is destroyed
New Scanner experiment
your completely cloned (include memories and info) your body continues to live on earth while exact copy is on mars as well.
Qualitative Identity Vs.
Numerical Identity
Q: to be exactly alike in qualities and properties
N: to be one and the same thing
ex: Sophia and sky are wearing the same shirt qualitatively (2 different shirts, same properties vs. numerically (1 shirt, 2 people)
Physical Criterion
If your physical body (brain, organs..) stays the same over time, then you do as well. (in this case you would die in the teletransporter)
Psychological Criterion/continuity
You are the same person as long as psychological criterion (memories, thoughts, personality..) stays the same over time.
Locke on Personal Identity
X is the same person as Y iff X and Y share the same consciousness. X and Y share the same consciousness iff Y can remember some of X’s memories
Determinism
Everything that happens currently is shaping the future
Compatibilist vs. Incompatibilist
C: Determinism and moral concepts/practices can exist at the same time, inappropriate to punish others who make a mistake or act out of ignorance.
I: Moral concepts are not applicable if determinism is true, determinism is false bc we have freedom
Detached attitudes vs. Reactive attitudes
D: moral approval and condemnation
R: gratitude, resentment, forgiveness, love
First Order Desires
Something you want right now, (wanting pizza, wanting to go on a walk, wanting to watch a movie..)
Effective Desires vs. Will
ED: something that affects your will to do something, you really desire to go for a walk, you do it. They push you to act and shape your behavior
Will: goes beyond your immediate desires, self control, commitment
you may want to eat a burger for lunch (ED) but you decide to eat a salad bc you know you need to eat healthier (will)
Second order volition
Things you want to have for yourself, self awareness for your desires. (I want to want to eat healthy, I want to not want to desire junk food..)
Unwilling Drug Addict vs. Wanton drug addict
U: does not want to do drugs, conflicting first order desires. Second order volition to not want to desire the drug (a person bc of second order volition)
W: might not want to do drugs, conflicting first order. No second order desires–no different from an animal
