Philosophy for Non-Philosophers Pgs 18-44

Question 1

What does “Everyone is a philosopher signifies”?

Answer 1

That even individuals without formal philosophical training possess a “natural” philosophy

Question 2

What is “natural” philosophy?

Answer 2

Philosophy that stems from lived experiences and acts as a compass guiding their understanding of the world

Question 3

What is one way religion influenced philosophy?

Answer 3

The everyday philosophy of ordinary people (spontaneous philosophy) often includes religious beliefs, especially in accepting that life is guided by forces beyond their control.

Question 4

Idealism

Answer 4

• Explores abstract ideas and tries to connect philosophy with religious
• Values thoughts and concepts more than physical reality
• Focuses on interpreting and reflecting on philosophical writings to find deeper truths

Question 5

Materialism

Answer 5

• Highlights the role of human effort in changing nature and society through work and action
• Values experience and observation over abstract ideas
• Focuses on the importance of matter and physical reality
• Believes that all phenomena, including consciousness and thought, can be explained by physical processes

Question 6

Meaningless questions

Answer 6

Questions that are inherently unanswerable or nonsensical

(- Materialism critiques idealism for addressing “meaningless questions” rooted in religion
- Materialists believe these questions are based on faulty assumptions and distract from true understanding by focusing on issues that can’t be answered)

Question 7

What is the “adversary within”?

Answer 7

It highlights the inherent tension and ongoing dialogue between opposing approaches, suggesting that no philosophical perspective can fully exist without considering its opposite.

Question 8

Spontaneous Philosophy

Answer 8

The implicit philosophical beliefs and assumptions that guide the everyday lives of ordinary people, even those without formal philosophical training

Question 9

Necessity of Things

Answer 9

The ideas that there are fixed, unchangeable laws or principles that govern the natural and social world, to which humans must submit

Question 10

Determinism

Answer 10

The philosophical view that all events are predetermined by antecedent causes, leaving no room for free will or chance

Question 11

Dialectic

Answer 11

A method of philosophical inquiry characterized by dialogue and debate, often involving the exploration of contradictions and the resolution of opposing viewpoints

Question 12

How do philosophy teachers distinguish themselves from other teachers?

Answer 12

By continuously rereading and reinterpreting philosophical texts, seeing their meaning as “inexhaustible” and interconnected across history

Question 13

What characterizes the idealist approach to philosophy?

Answer 13

Focus on interpreting philosophical works as holding profound, inexhaustible truths, emphasizing mind and ideas over material reality

Question 14

How do materialists critique the idealist view of philosophical works?

Answer 14

By arguing that meaning is tied to historical context and material conditions, reflecting concrete social and political struggles, not infinitely open to interpretation

Question 15

What is the “common stock of philosophy”?

Answer 15

The shared set of philosophical ideas and attitudes among ordinary people, including a practical wisdom and a personal philosophy developed through life experience

Question 16

How does Gramsci connect the “necessity of things” to religion?

Answer 16

By arguing that uncontrollable life forces lead people to attribute agency to a higher power (God), fostering resignation and acceptance of existing conditions

Question 17

How do idealists explain the origin of the world?

Answer 17

By invoking a divine creator (God) who brings forth existence from nothingness, emphasizing God’s omnipotence through abstract reasoning

Question 18

How does Epicurus, a materialist, explain the beginning of the world?

Answer 18

Through the interaction of pre-existing matter (atoms) governed by natural laws like gravity, eliminating the need for a creator deity or creation from nothing

Question 19

How do materialists critique the question of the meaning of human existence?

Answer 19

By arguing that it presupposes a higher power’s purpose, suggesting that humans create meaning through their actions and interactions with the world

Question 20

How is the emergence of mathematics connected to the birth of philosophy?

Answer 20

The rise of abstract mathematical reasoning, focused on demonstrable truths, challenged religious authority, prompting philosophers to develop new rational discourses

Question 21

How did Plato’s philosophy respond to the challenge posed by mathematics?

Answer 21

By integrating abstract reasoning into a system that prioritized philosophical inquiry over mathematics, aiming to restore the unity of knowledge and reinforce religious values