Test 2- study guide

Question 1

The definition of an argument

Answer 1

A sequence of statements, some of which give reason to accept another statement, called a conclusion

Question 2

The definition of validity

Answer 2

Reason to accept a conclusion

Question 3

James’s thesis on the Will to Believe

Answer 3

There are times where must make a passionate decision between two possibilities that cannot be decided intellectually; we must fully commit and cannot be passive

Question 4

The argument from design, or the teleological argument for the existence of God

Answer 4

Essentially that the universe biologically resembles human artifacts (also called analogical argument):
1. Artifacts come from intelligence 2. Universe resembles the artifacts 3. Universe is probably from intelligent design 4. Universe is significantly larger than human artifacts 5. There probably is a powerful and vastly intelligent designer

Question 5

What metaphors do Locke and Leibniz use to describe the nature of the mind?

Answer 5

Locke- tabula rosa

Leibniz- block of marble

Question 6

Hume on miracles

Answer 6

He finds miracles to be too improbable to believe; no testimony is sufficient unless the testimony’s falsehood would be more miraculous than that which it endeavors to establish; simply viewing miracles as a violation of law is incoherent, attacking human’s gullibility

Question 7

Tertullian’s dictum

Answer 7

The reasoning that Zoran Kierkegaard argues for belief in God; I believe because it is absurd

Question 8

What kind of skepticism does Descartes employ?

Answer 8

Methodic

Question 9

What for Plato are objects of opinion or belief said to be what they are only in a qualified sense?

Answer 9

Ordinary objects perceived by the senses

Question 10

What is Fideism?

Answer 10

The doctrine that religious faith is founded on faith, which is superior to reason

Question 11

What are the two mental operations that mathematics consists of according to Descartes?

Answer 11

Intuition-our understanding of self-evident principles, where no rational mind can doubt (2+2=4)
Deduction- orderly logical reasoning, inferences

Question 12

What branch of philosophy deals with the study of knowledge?

Answer 12

Epistemology

Question 13

Hume on miracles

Answer 13

He finds miracles to be too improbable to believe and the testimonies too weak

Question 14

The doctrine of innateness.

Answer 14

The idea involving the block of marble; we are born with all ideas innate in us but it is the blow of

Question 15

For Hume, is there a place for philosophy?

Answer 15

Yes, so long as we limit our inquiries to things capable of human understanding

Question 16

What is Locke’s view concerning the origin of our ideas?

Answer 16

He is an empiricist, meaning that he believes all of our ideas come from experience

Question 17

Pascal’s Wager

Answer 17

Believing in and following God is a bet with the possibility of infinite winnings and no opportunity for loss

Question 18

What is Hume’s criterion regarding testimony about miracles?

Answer 18

no testimony is sufficient unless the testimony’s falsehood would be more miraculous than that which it endeavors to establish; simply viewing miracles as a violation of law is incoherent, attacking human’s gullibility

Question 19

According to Leibniz, what do the truths of mathematics depend on?

Answer 19

Not on instances nor consequently on the testimonies of senses, so it must depend on innate principles independent of these that are simply discovered through the senses; a priori