Philosophy Final exam Flashcards
What is Metaphysics?
The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of existence, reality, and the fundamental nature of being. It asks questions about what exists and what it means for something to exist.
What is epistemology?
The study of knowledge, its nature, sources, limits, and justification. It addresses questions like “What can we know?” and “How do we know it?”
What distinguishes weak and strong inductive arguments?
Weak Inductive Argument: The conclusion is not strongly supported by the premises.
Strong Inductive Argument: The premises provide substantial evidence to support the conclusion’s likelihood.
Define valid, invalid, and sound arguments.
Valid: An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
Invalid: An argument where the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises.
Sound: A valid argument with all true premises.
What are the three laws of classical logic?
Law of Identity: 𝐴=𝐴
Law of Non-Contradiction: A statement cannot be both true and false.
Law of Excluded Middle: A statement is either true or false, no middle option.
What are strong and weak definitions?
Strong Definition: Clear, precise, and unambiguous.
Weak Definition: Vague, imprecise, or open to multiple interpretations.
What is a false dichotomy?
A logical fallacy that presents two options as the only possibilities when others exist.
What is classical hedonism?
The ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good and primary motivator of human behavior.
What is adaptation in the context of happiness theories?
The phenomenon where people return to a baseline level of happiness despite changes in circumstances.
What is the distinction between the “experiencing self” and the “remembering self”?
Experiencing Self: Lives in the present moment and feels happiness or pain.
Remembering Self: Reflects on past experiences and evaluates them as memories.
What objections does Mill raise against Bentham’s quantitative hedonism?
Mill argues that pleasures differ in quality, not just quantity, emphasizing intellectual and moral pleasures over base ones.
What are common objections to Mill’s hedonism?
Critics argue it is too subjective and fails to account for objective goods or diverse sources of fulfillment beyond pleasure.
What is Feldman’s attitudinal hedonism?
A theory where happiness is not sensory pleasure but a positive attitude toward one’s life.
What is Haybron’s emotional state theory?
Happiness is rooted in an individual’s emotional state and deep psychological conditions rather than momentary pleasure or satisfaction.
How do Stoic and Buddhist philosophies compare to Haybron’s emotional state theory?
Similarities: Both emphasize inner states over external conditions.
Differences: Stoics focus on rational control of emotions, while Buddhists aim for detachment from desires.
