Philosophy lecture 2 Flashcards
Philosophia
philo means?
love
Philosophia
sophia means?
knowledge
Philosophia
Philosophy means?
love for knowledge or wisdom
What are philosophers?
those who have a love for knowledge
Philosophy comes from the greek words (blank) and (blank)
✓ Philia(love,desire for, interestin)
✓ Sofia(wisdom)
✓ Philiaand Sofia join by Pythagoras-600 B.C
What is Episteme?
knowledge
Give 3 Practicality of Philosophy
- Systematic, rational, and universal thinking.
- Free from tradition; based on logic and reasoning.
- Encourages problem-solving and thorough analysis.
What is wisdom?
deep understanding, basic awareness
(blank) was said to have been the first man to call himself a philosopher;
Pythagoras
What is knowledge?
collection of information from experience
“… only through knowledge can man attain the real truth.”
who said this
PLATO
According to Pythagoras, men and women of the world could be classified into 3 groups:
1) those that love pleasure
2) those that love activity
3) those that love wisdom
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing .” WHO SAID THIS?
Socrates
“… knowledge which encompasses truth. … contains (382SM- 322SM) metaphysics, logic, rhetoric, ethics, economics, politics and aesthetics.
who said this?
socrates
“… knowledge about the physical universe.”
who said this
Al-Farabi
Explain metaphysics
Investigates the nature of reality, existence, and the universe.
e.g What is truth? What is mankind?
What are the branches of philosophy? Give 4
Metaphysics
Axiology
Epistemology
Logic
Explain axiology
Examines ethics, aesthetics, and social values.
e.g What is goodness? What is beauty?
Explain epistemology
Explores the nature, sources, and validity of knowledge.
e.g What is knowledge? What are the sources of knowledge?
Explain aesthetics
study of beauty and art
Explain logic
- Examines principles of valid reasoning and argument.
- Helps differentiate between valid and fallacious arguments.
- Fundamental to all other branches of philosophy.
e.g What is good reasoning? Not so good reasoning?
Explain ethics
study of morality (right vs wrong)
- Descriptive ethics (observing moral behavior)
- Normative ethics (what ought to be)
- Metaethics (analysis of moral language and reasoning)
What is normative ethics?
- Here philosophers try to work out acceptable judgments regarding what ought to be in choice and value.
- “We ought to keep our promises” and “you ought to be honorable” are examples of normative judgments— of the moral ought, the subject matter of ethics.
CHATGPT:
Normative Ethics (What ought to be)
Normative ethics goes beyond observation and asks what people should do. It tries to establish general moral principles that guide human behavior. It deals with ethical theories such as:
Deontology (duty-based ethics, e.g., Kant’s philosophy—”always tell the truth”)
Utilitarianism (consequence-based ethics, e.g., “do what brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number”)
Virtue Ethics (character-based ethics, e.g., “a good person is honest, courageous, and compassionate”)
✅ Examples:
“We ought to be honest in our dealings.”
“Stealing is wrong because it violates others’ rights.”
“Doctors should always prioritize patient well-being over profits.”
💡 Key point: Normative ethics focuses on moral judgments and principles—what is right and wrong based on reasoned arguments.
What is descriptive ethics?
Slide: consider the conduct of individuals, or personal morality; the conduct of groups, or social morality; and the culture patterns of national and racial groups.
CHATGPT: 1. Descriptive Ethics (What is)
Descriptive ethics is an empirical approach that studies how people behave and what moral beliefs they actually hold. It does not judge whether those beliefs are right or wrong but rather observes and records moral practices across individuals, groups, and cultures.
✅ Examples:
Anthropologists studying how different cultures view honesty or justice.
Surveys on moral attitudes toward controversial topics like abortion or capital punishment.
Research on corporate ethics and how businesses handle ethical dilemmas.
💡 Key point: Descriptive ethics is more like sociology or psychology—it tells us what people believe rather than what they should believe.
Explain methaethics
Metaethics (What does good mean?)
Metaethics is not concerned with what is right or wrong but rather with the nature of morality itself. It analyzes ethical language, concepts, and reasoning.
✅ Key Questions in Metaethics:
What does “good” or “evil” really mean?
Are moral values objective (independent of human opinion) or subjective (based on personal or cultural views)?
Can ethical statements be true or false in the same way as factual statements?
✅ Examples:
“When we say ‘lying is wrong,’ are we making a factual claim, or is it just an expression of personal disapproval?”
“Do moral principles exist outside of human thought, or are they social constructs?”
“Can we prove that something is morally right or wrong through logic?”
💡 Key point: Metaethics is like the philosophy of ethics—it questions the meaning and justification of ethical beliefs rather than prescribing moral rules.
LOGIC
inferences are made by…
construction of arguments
LOGIC
(blank) determines which arguments are VALID and which are FALACIES
Rules of Logic
Talk about socrates (469-399 bc)
Philosopher known for critical reasoning and commitment to truth.
Served as a soldier in the Peloponnesian War and later became a sculptor.
Spent his life discussing philosophy on topics like knowledge, values, and politics.
Taught freely without charging money, attracting many young followers.
Accused of corrupting youth and interfering with religion, sentenced to death.
Chose to drink hemlock poison and died among his friends
Talk about Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC) - Key Points
Student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle.
Wrote “Dialogues” (about Socrates) and “The Republic”, covering ethics, politics, psychology, epistemology, and metaphysics.
Founded the Academy (385 BC), the world’s first university, offering subjects like Astronomy, Biology, Math, Politics, and Philosophy.
Plato’s Views on Teaching
Teachers should be caring, sensitive, and responsible in delivering truth-based knowledge.
Teaching Stages:
Early stage: Use the Socratic method to help students overcome difficulties.
Middle stage: Still use Socratic method but focus on Plato’s own ideas (knowledge, soul, political theory).
Final stage: Emphasize metaphysics and logical reasoning.
“The Republic” - Ideal Society
Society should have three classes:
Guardians (leaders/philosophers)
Traders (businessmen)
Craftsmen (workers)
Talk about Aristotle (384-322)
Aristotle (384-322 BC) - Key Points
Greek philosopher, student of Plato, teacher of Alexander the Great.
Studied at Plato’s Academy for 20 years, later taught rhetoric there.
Wrote on education, physics, politics, arts, biology, and poetry.
Founded his own school, the Lyceum, where he taught and conducted research.
Teaching method:
Morning: Advanced discussions for students.
Afternoon: General discussions for the public.
Taught while walking, not standing in front of students.
Collected knowledge across many fields, setting up a library for historical artifacts.
Believed culture and God were not in conflict.
His works became a virtual encyclopedia of Greek knowledge.
Talk about Mahamat Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) - Key Points
- Real Name: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Born: Porbandar, Gujarat, India
- Education: Law degree from University College London.
- Work: Worked in South Africa for an Indian firm and fought for the rights of Indian migrants.
Gandhi’s Struggles & Key Events:
1. 1896-1914: Rights for Indian Migrants in South Africa
- Fought for autonomy and political rights, using passive resistance and non-cooperation.
- Successfully got the South African government to recognize Indian marriages and abolish poll taxes.
-
1919-1931: Campaign Against British Rule in India
- Led non-violent resistance and non-cooperation movements after World War I.
-
1932: Voting Rights for Dalits
- Fought for the rights of Dalits (excluded from the caste system) by fasting until their demands were met.
-
1944: Independence for India
- Negotiated between the Congress Party and the Muslim League, ultimately agreeing to their claims.
-
1948: Peace in New Delhi
- Fasted for peace after disturbances in New Delhi, showing his dedication to non-violence.
Key Principles & Legacy
- Gandhi became the voice of the oppressed, advocating for ahimsa (non-violence), truth, and non-resistance.
- His ideas are still followed by many and are regarded almost as a religion.
Would you like a more detailed breakdown of any event? 😊
