second exam review

Question 1

logic

Answer 1

systematic study of reasoning and argumentation

Question 2

epistimology

Answer 2

studies nature of knowledge

Question 3

innatism

Answer 3

holds knowledge comes from reasoning within the mind

Question 4

empiricism

Answer 4

knowledge comes from observation of the world

Question 5

skepticism

Answer 5

claim that we humans do not know anything

Question 6

incorrigble

Answer 6

if it it cannot be corrected, that is, it is not possible that belief in it should be found to be mistaken

Question 7

incorrible example

Answer 7

if you think you are alive, you are

Question 8

a priori

Answer 8

-prior to experience, ontological, innatist

Question 9

a posterirori

Answer 9

truths that come from experience of material world

Question 10

doctrine of illumination

Answer 10

god reveals truth within our minds, augustine’s christian version of innatism

Question 11

great chain of being

Answer 11

cosmic scale according to which the absolute value of every existing thing can be measured

Question 12

begging the question

Answer 12

assuming the truth of the conclusion you are trying to prove

Question 13

reductio ad absurdum

Answer 13

-like anselms argument
method of arguing that aims to show that the opponents view implies something that cannot possibly be true

Question 14

metaphysics

Answer 14

systematic study of the fundamental nature of reality as such

Question 15

universal

Answer 15

philosophical term for a category or kind of thing

Question 16

problem of universals

Answer 16

(metaphysics problem) what exactly makes two different individuals members of the same kind

Question 17

transcendent realism

Answer 17

view that universals exist in a realm beyond the physical world

Question 18

immanent realism

Answer 18

-supports idea of universals
-Forms exist without us imagining them

Question 19

nominalism

Answer 19

view that what makes different individuals memebers of the same kind is nothing but a name

Question 20

principle of simplicity (ockham’s razor)

Answer 20

assertion that the simpler theory is more likely to be true. Alternate formulations: it is futile to do with more what can be done with less
-entities should not be multiplied without necessity
-simpler explanation tends to be correct

Question 21

natural theology

Answer 21

study of god based on human reason

Question 22

revealed theology

Answer 22

based on doctrine that all religious truth is derived exclusively from the revelations of god to humans

Question 23

ontological argument

Answer 23

-a priori
-by anselm (innatist argument)
-1)argument of gods existence based on the very idea of God
-2)argument of gods existence based on existing as perfection

Question 24

great making characteristucs

Answer 24

all of the characteristics that make a being great, such as omniscience, omnibenevolence and omnipotence

Question 25

cosmological argument

Answer 25

argument for God based on existence of universe

Question 26

creation ex nihlo

Answer 26

(out of nothing) view that God created universe ex nihlo some finite number of years ago

Question 27

critically compare and contrast platos innatism and aristotles empirciism in the question of the worlds shape and motion

Answer 27

-critical comparison means to pick a side: can say that I cant because they both have correct ideas but are also not fully correct.
-Discuss Plato innatist vs aristotle empiricist

plato: god is good and free and he wants our world to be perfect so he determines the most perfect shape is a sphere because each side is equidistant from the center. Then god assigned movement to the world, he chose the movement that is most appropriate to mind and intelligence. God made world move in same manner from same spot within it own limits in a circle.
1. the world is perfect in every way
2. the perfect shape is a sphere
3. therefore the world is a sphere

Aristotle: thinks earth does not move at all. earth moves from any point to the center. It is impossible for any portion of the earth to move away from the center except by force. Earth always moves to center. The world would require a force greater than itself to move it. Therefore it must necessarily stay at the center. in an eclipse outline is always curved, which is caused by the Earth’s spherical surface.

Question 28

what is academic skepticism and augustines refutation

Answer 28

-give a history of skepticism: it develops in platos school.
-talk about skeptic vs empiricist.

Academic skepticism is the claim that we as humans do not know anything. There are three skeptical strategies. First, external impressions based on our five senses, can we really trust them? Second dream hypothesis, which questions what if you’re asleep. Third, the insanity hypothesis, which asks am I mad? Augustine’s argument could be seen as a constructive dilemma.
1. skeptic: I am deceived or correct
2. augustine: if i am deceived I am alive
3. If im correct im alive
therefore either way Im alive
im alive is an incorrigible fact, if you think you are alive, you are (belief that cannot be mistaken)

Question 29

explain problem of universals explain and evaluate platos or aristotles solution. Consider an objection

Answer 29

the problem that occurs within metaphysics: what exactly is it that makes 2 different individuals members of the same kind. Universal is the philosophical term for ‘kind’ or ‘category.’ There are three aspects to the problem of universals. 1)reality/things, 2)knowledge/thoughts, 3)language/words. reality/things asks what are kind and what makes them members of a kind. Knowledge/thoughts asks how do we know about universals and is the knowledge real or subjective. Language/words asks what do commonalities relate to and what justifies our use of common names. Platos view on problem of universals is transcendent realism. It is the view that time exists independently of the way the human mind expresses it. (DRAW DIAGRAM). Top part is category/kind and dotted lines are participation from members in that kind. leads into one problem with plato’s theory which is problem of participation.
1. if things participate in forms they do so partially or fully
2. not fully
3. not partially
therefore things dont participate in forms.

-another problem could be ockham’s objection, which asks why do we need all of this? dont need forms to explain what you think, only individuals that resemble each other and common words from our mind to explain things in problem of universals.

Question 30

explain and evaluate augustines argument of divine illumination. Does it commit fallacy or flase dichtomoy.

Answer 30

doctrine of illumination is when you leanr anything divine light shows whether it is true. This argument is purely innatist. God is responsible for us attaining the truth. False dichotomy is multiple alternatives are arbitarily reduced to two. (LOOK AT PG 34 OF BOOK). avods false dichotomy from arguing empiricist view (hes innatist) math knowledge comes from within. can not observe math. when you learn from a teacher, you check it with you teacher within to see if its really true/you think it. no dichotomy because he acknowledges all three aspects, within, teachers, observations but then refuts observation and teacher because of above reasons listed.

Question 31

explain and evaluate anselms ontological argument. What is guanilos objection

Answer 31

anselsm ontological argument is innatist and, therefore a priori. It argues for God’s existence based on the very idea of god and based on existing perfection. Anselm, therefore, defines God as the greatest conceivable being. To sum up his argument, he says god exists in the mind, but existing in reality is better (great making characteristic) therefore God exists in reality and our minds. Guanilos objection is that Anselm’s proof of god is interchangeable with a lost island. But if you used Lost Island in the proof, it would be absurd; therefore, Anselms proof is absurd

Question 32

explain and evaluate kalam cosmological argument. Consider an objection to it

Answer 32

kalams argument was an argument in faith and reason also known as compatibilism. He argued that the universe had a beginning because whatever begins to exist must have a cause of its existence. the argument goes, if the universe began to exist, then it has a beginning. The universe did begin to exist therefore, the universe has a cause. Going into further detail, the cause is supremely powerful and personal, personal meaning it was a free act of making the universe and that the choice was independent. A creation of the universe that is such what meant by God and therefore god exists. A creation of the universe that is such what meant by God and therefore god exists.From proving universe has a cause on can prove god exists as a well.
Objection is the oscillating model. According to the oscillating model, there does not have to be a moment of creation. It states that the universe has always existed and has had no absolute beginning.