Renaissance

Question 1

Mercy

Answer 1

forgiveness & compassion show to
an enemy or offender

Question 2

“the end justifies the means”

Answer 2

A phrase by Machiavelli, meaning that immoral actions can be used to achieve important goals.

Question 3

the Renaissance:

Answer 3

Historical period (1400-1600 AD) characterised by a renewed interest in the art, literature, and philosophy of the ancient world.

Question 4

Name of Machiavelli’s book:

Answer 4

Machiavelli wrote The Prince, which set out his views on leadership.

Question 5

The goal of leadership:

Answer 5

Machiavelli thought a prince should aim for power, prestige and security, for themselves and their state.

Question 6

Qualities of a good leader:

Answer 6

Machiavelli thought good leaders were wise, cunning and ruthless. They were willing to lie and kill if necessary, because “the end justifies the means.”

Question 7

Why did Machiavelli think good people made bad rulers?

Answer 7

Machiavelli thought that good people care too much about following the rules, e.g. treating people with mercy and forgiveness. They would always be beaten by bad people, who do whatever they need to gain power.

Question 8

Did Machiavelli think it was important for leaders to be popular?

Answer 8

Machiavelli thought that people’s affections are fickle, but their fear is much more reliable. “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both

Question 9

the Enlight-enment

Answer 9

Philosophical period (1650-1800) which emphasised the value of reason and individualism over tradition.

Question 10

method of doubt:

Answer 10

Descartes’ attempt to use skepticism to find knowledge which could not be doubted.

Question 11

the Reform-ation:

Answer 11

Period during the 16th century where Protestants challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.

Question 12

Scepticism

Answer 12

The view that it is impossible to know anything with certainty.

Question 13

How did the Renaissance influence philosophy?

Answer 13

During the Renaissance, knowledge which had seemed certain for over a thousand years was disproved. This influenced the Sceptics, who argued that nothing can ever be known for certain.

Question 14

What was Descartes’ goal?

Answer 14

Descartes set out to disprove scepticism, by showing that reason could provide certainty.

Question 15

What is the method of doubt?

Answer 15

Descartes tried to think in the most sceptical way possible. He hoped that by doing this he would eventually find at least one piece of knowledge which simply could not be doubted.

Question 16

What are the three parts of Descartes method of doubt?

Answer 16

1. We cannot trust knowledge that comes from the senses, because they sometimes deceive us, e.g. when we mistake a stranger for a friend.
2. Nothing we are experiencing is certain, because it is possible that we are not awake, but dreaming.
3. We cannot even trust our use of reason e.g. “1+1=2”, or “a triangle has three sides”, because it is possible that we are being deceived by some evil, all-powerful demon.

Question 17

the cogito:

Answer 17

Descartes’ attempt to prove his own existence from the fact that he thinks.

Question 18

cogito ergo sum:

Answer 18

Latin for “I think, therefore I am”.

Question 19

dualism

Answer 19

The belief that humans are made of two separate parts, a physical body and a spiritual soul.

Question 20

How did the cogito take Descartes from doubt to certainty?

Answer 20

• Descartes did not know if the things he was imagining / thinking of were real or false.
• Even if the things he was thinking of were false, it was true that he was thinking.
• Whenever “I think”, there must be an “I” that exists to do the thinking.
• This lead Descartes to say, “cogito ergo sum”, meaning “I think, therefore I am”

Question 21

What one thing was certain?

Answer 21

Descartes realised that it was impossible to doubt his own existence.

Question 22

How did the cogito give certainty?

Answer 22

• It does not rely on sense experiences (so is true even if I am living in a dream).
• It beats the evil demon. The demon cannot deceive me into thinking I exist, because if “I am being deceived”, there must be an “I” that exists to be deceived.
• I could doubt that I exist, but doubting is a form of thinking, so if I think “I doubt that I exist” there must be an I to do the doubting.

Question 23

Descartes’ view of human nature:

Answer 23

For Descartes, the one thing so fundamental to human nature that it cannot be doubted was that “I am a thinking thing.”

Question 24

social contract:

Answer 24

The laws and rules that people agree to follow in a society, in return for benefits such as protection.

Question 25

state of nature:

Answer 25

A situation where humans live outside the rule of government, with no social contract between them.

Question 26

punish-ment

Answer 26

A penalty imposed for a crime or wrong committed.

Question 27

reform-ation:

Answer 27

To change an offender’s behaviour for the better.

Question 28

deterr-ence:

Answer 28

To put people off committing crimes.

Question 29

Hobbes’ view of human nature:

Answer 29

Hobbes thought that humans are by nature selfish, cruel, and violent. Our positive traits are the products of civilisation.

Question 30

How does Hobbes describe human life in a state of nature?

Answer 30

Hobbes described human life in a state of nature as being “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” Without laws to restrain their behaviour, people would use violence to obtain what they wanted.

Question 31

What are the origins of systems of law and morality?

Answer 31

Humans formed temporary alliances to protect themselves from stronger people. This led to more permanent forms of co-operation. People follow rules, and restrain their selfish instincts and desires, in return for security: being protected from the selfish and violent impulses of others.

Question 32

How did Rousseau disagree?

Answer 32

Rousseau believed that humans are naturally good, but are forced by modern society to act in a selfish, competitive manner.

Question 33

Why is the Hobbes- Rousseau debate still important?

Answer 33

The Hobbes-Rousseau debate links to political issues e.g. is the main aim of punishment deterrence (Hobbes) or reformation (Rousseau)?

Question 34

*roles:

Answer 34

A position that a person has in society, as well as the characteristics and behaviour expected of them.

Question 35

feminism

Answer 35

A perspective that opposes patriarchy and argues for full gender equality.

Question 36

gender equality:

Answer 36

Men and women enjoying the same rights and opportunities in all aspects of their lives.

Question 37

patriarchy

Answer 37

A society in which men hold all the power and authority.

Question 38

*divorce:

Answer 38

The legal ending of a marriage

Question 39

Why is Astell important?

Answer 39

Astell is often regarded as the first feminist.

Question 40

What social institution did Astell criticise?

Answer 40

Astell was criticised marriage, and the status of married women.

Question 41

What rights did women lack in Astell’s time?

Answer 41

• Married women could not own property
• There were no laws against domestic violence.
• It was almost impossible for women to obtain a divorce.
• Women could not attend university or practice well-paid professions.

Question 42

Locke’s views on gender roles:

Answer 42

Locke argued that men were “stronger and abler”, so it was the man’s place to rule over his wife, and her place to obey him.

Question 43

Why did Astell call male philos-ophers hypocrites?

Answer 43

• Philosophers called the kings their age tyrants, because they had too much power. But they ignored the many husbands who ruled as tyrants over their wives.
Philosophers criticised slavery and declared that man was born free. Astell challenged them, asking “If all men areborn free, how is it that all women are born slaves?