Semester 2 revision

Question 1

Modus ponens

Answer 1

Affirms, if A then B. A, therfore B

Question 2

Modus tollens

Answer 2

Denies, if A then B. Not B, therefore not A

Question 3

Premises

Answer 3

Reasons offered in support

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

Claims the argument makes

Question 5

Deductive argument

Answer 5

A valid argument with true premises and a true conclusion (are the premises true?, is the argument valid?)

Question 6

Inductive argument

Answer 6

argument where the conclusion doesn’t follow the premises (are the premises acceptable, relevant or compelling?)

Question 7

Generalisation

Answer 7

Obtained by inferences from a specific case

Question 8

Induction

Answer 8

Giving rise to something

Question 9

Empiricism

Answer 9

All knowledge is based on experience

Question 10

Scepticism

Answer 10

True knowledge is uncertain

Question 11

Change

Answer 11

How internal and external environments interact to create change

Question 12

Causation

Answer 12

Relation between two successive events (cause and effect)

Question 13

Scientific method

Answer 13

Testing of universal theories by comparing deductive statements with observations of the world

Question 14

Observations and their problems

Answer 14

Conclusions drawn based on what people see
Problems- hard to be unbiased, ‘trained eye’ means some won’t see what others do, some things unobservable

Question 15

Inductions and their problems

Answer 15

Process of generalising from a sample of evidence
Problems- risky

Question 16

Explanations

Answer 16

Involves finding a story that ‘fits the facts’, Need a mechanism to be a complete explanation

Question 17

Hume’s theory

Answer 17

Anything might cause anything

Question 18

Issues with Hume’s theory

Answer 18

We can sometime observe causation (when digging a hole you can see chunks of dirt moving), Doesn’t distinguish between real causes and accidental associations, Can’t tell difference between inputs and outputs (what leads to what)

Question 19

Aristotle’s theory

Answer 19

Distinguished between three kinds of change- kinesis, boulesis and morphesis, Kinesis- physical movement (object changing location), Boulesis- changes in our will (changes that lead to emotions), Morphesis- change that happens over time (caterpillars to butterflies)

Question 20

Aristotle’s form of causation

Answer 20

Material- something inherent in the material the object is made of that allows change (clay can be moulded), Efficient/moving cause- provides the ‘power’ of the change (potter moulding clay), Final cause- intended end point of change (making a cup), Formal cause- blueprint/plan (cup shape formed by a potter)

Question 21

Thought experiment

Answer 21

Take place in the imagination and only involve ideas, Conceptual questions where performing the experiment wouldn’t give us an answer

Question 22

Dialectic

Answer 22

Dialogue between two or more points of view, Begins with a claim that is challenged meaning a counter-example together, Involves a thesis (idea), antithesis (opposing idea) and synthesis (resolves conflict)

Question 23

Rational proof

Answer 23

Shows that not all knowledge is based on observation and experience (no actual measurements are needed)

Question 24

Libertarianism

Answer 24

View that free will exists, Human beings are capable of making choices that aren’t determined by the prior causes of behaviour, Subscribes to principle of alternative possibility suggesting that no one can be held for their behaviour unless there was some alternative

Question 25

Notions of libertarianism

Answer 25

Not all events are caused, Decisions are not caused events, Argues that if we subscribe to the notion of free will, we must suppose some events are not caused

Question 26

Criticisms of libertarianism

Answer 26

Uncaused events are doubtful, No rational models for how something can interact with another without causing in to do something

Question 27

Determinism

Answer 27

View that there is no such thing as free will, All human behaviour is fixed by a combination of natural and social laws, Recognizes the principle of alternative possibilities, Cannot be held responsible as there is no free will

Question 28

Notions of determinism

Answer 28

All events have causes, Any event has a unique set of causes, Given that unique set of causes that event and only that event could have occurred

Question 29

Principle of alternative possibilities

Answer 29

We can be held responsible only for those actions for which there was some alternative, A person is morally responsible for what they have done if they could have done otherwise

Question 30

Criticisms of determinism

Answer 30

Quantum physics and chaos theory- certain natural phenomena exhibit unknown behaviour, Biological and genetic behaviour are subject to change, mutation and variation, Higher cortical functions are reflexive (automatic)

Question 31

Compatibilism

Answer 31

Assumption of free will and the existence of a concept of determinism are compatible with each other, Free will is self-determination/self-caused behaviour, Agrees with determinism

Question 32

Materialism

Answer 32

mind is an extension of the body but inseparable, mind is nothing more than the brain, if the brain dies the mind must also die

Question 33

Valid, sound, cogent

Answer 33

Logical, true, convincing

Question 34

Mind and body

Answer 34

Dualism- mind is distinct from the body, materialism- mind is an extension of the body but inspeparable

Question 35

Morally strong vs morally weak

Answer 35

Morally strong people are capable of self-control despite temptations, morally weak are people who intend to do good but give into temptations

Question 36

Self controlled vs self indulgent

Answer 36

Someone who no longer feels desires for untoward pleasures vs person who chooses immediate pleasures without regard for benefit