Unit 1

Question 1

What is philosophy

Answer 1

-The study of things in their most broad and general aspects like existence, values
-seeks to organize the whole of reality into a single comprehensible view
-philia “love” and sophia “wisdom”

Question 2

How did the term “philosopher develop”

Answer 2

Was thought to be “wise men” but Pythagoras disproved saying only God is wise.

Question 3

How does science and theology differ from philosophy

Science (6) Theology (1) Philosophy (5)

Answer 3

Science
-uses empirical evidence to discern
-studies things in their proximate/secondary causes
-facts rely on ultimate causes and science takes these for granted in order to answer questions
-finds objective truths
-cannot be applied to every aspect of our lives like philosophy
-knowledge and observation required to answer questions and can be determined by reading, writing, etc.

Theology
-Beliefs based on a supernatural wisdom by a god/higher being that relays divine revelation

Philosophy
-The basis of science aside from any religious beliefs
-studies ultimate causes in most broad aspects
-Uses logical reasoning, fair judgment, skepticism, and criticism to make refined distinctions
-Finds the truth of things by discoursing, analyzing information, doubting propositions, and getting rid of any bias towards the subject.
-uses subjective and objective questions to answer the question WHY?

Question 4

Metaphysics

Answer 4

Branch of philosophy concerned with general features of reality as a whole
Study of the ultimate reality

-Being, existence, nature of minds, bodies, gods, space, time, identity

Question 5

Epistemology

Answer 5

Branch of philosophy concerned with origins, nature, possibility, extent of human knowledge.

Question 6

Ethics

Answer 6

A branch of philosophy concerned with the evaluation of human conduct of what is right/wrong in the light of reason

Question 7

Morality

Answer 7

A particular system of values/principles of conduct held by a specific person/society
-what is wrong/right in the light of faith

Question 8

Social/Political philosophy

Answer 8

Branch of philosophy concerning the origins/nature of government, social institutions, etc

Question 9

Logic

Answer 9

Branch of philosophy concerned with the distinction of correct/incorrect reasoning. Compromises both deductive and inductive arugments.

Question 10

Aesthetics

Answer 10

the study of feelings and judgment related to beauty and art

Question 11

Ultimate vs Proximate causes

Answer 11

Ultimate causes
-first causes
-relies on reason and judgement to discern
-ultimate nature of things, cannot be proven scientifically

Proximate causes
-secondary causes
-relies on empirical evidence
-must rely on/accept ultimate causes to investigate things

Question 12

How is the denial of truth a self-refuting statement?

Answer 12

The denial of truth is a self-refuting statement because that itself is claiming a truth so it would be contradicting your statement. If the statement “there is no truth” if false then, then there is truth and it is possible to truth.

Question 13

Explain the difference between, opinion, belief and truth

Answer 13

Opinion
-midway between knowledge and ignorance
-can be true or false
-not all opinions are equally valid
-not all supported with evidence

Belief
-Subjective acceptance that a claim / opinion = true
-informed and mere belief

Truth
-truth is a conformity of a proposition or concept to the way things are
-lines up with reality

Question 14

Informed vs mere belief

Answer 14

Informed belief is believe that is backed up by evidence and research, mere belief is only backed up by the act of believing itself and is a belief that stands regardless of solid facts

Question 15

Objective vs subjective truth

Answer 15

Objective truth
-outside of the knower’s consciousness and is backed up by evidence/solid facts
-indisputable

Subjective truth
-personal to the knower
-belief/opinion

Question 16

Explain the difference between knowledge and wisdom

Answer 16

Knowledge
-justified, true, belief
-knowledge is something that can just be gained by reading, studying, researching, etc.
-knowledge is facts based on empirical evidence
-consists of theoretical and practical knowledge

Wisdom
-wisdom is the understanding of the “fundamental nature of things” and ultimate causes
-wisdom requires knowledge
-It requires experience, honest reflection, and ability to reason (judgement)

Question 17

Theoretical vs practical knowledge

Answer 17

Theoretical
-knowledge of facts learned through education

practical
-knowledge of skills
-does not require theoretical knowledge
-piano, building, running

Question 18

What is relativism, why is it a problematic theory?

Answer 18

Relativism is the ideology that all truths are valid and there is no such thing as a universal truth. Relativism believes that truth varies among culture, time period and societies.

Problems:
Free speech under attack
No meaning to life
Creates a society where social order is under attack -> no law
Self refuting
Undermines ethics -> no criteria for moral judgment
Undermines human rights -> abortion the people who create laws think they are right and impose it onto others
Scientism -> cannot prove scientifically

Question 19

What is subjectivism, why is it a problematic theory?

Answer 19

Subjectivism is the belief that all knowledge/truth is subjective and that there is no such thing as objective truth because the only unquestionable part of one’s existence is their own mental reality.

problems:
Criminals have own moral compass
When subjectivist explains using rational they impose truth onto themselves and you
It would be impossible to explain your premise if universal/common truths didn’t exist
Self-refuting to claim that there is no universal truth
Step outside of self and communicate conclude we share no common truth, that is true for both

Question 20

What is tolerance vs relativism?

Answer 20

Tolerance is the willingless to accept a certain set of behaviour as long as it does not cause harm to the public. It is community oriented because targeting issues would cause more harm than leaving alone. Does not tolerate very serious issues.

Relativism is the acceptance of all behaviour because there is no such thing as right or wrong because there is no universal truth. Relativism tolerates behaviour based on the culutre/society and a relativist doesn’t place any blame or praise on the position. It is anti community. Does not abide by any set of morals or ethics.

Question 21

Why is philosophy not just a matter of opinion?

Answer 21

Points:
-opinions are possibility
-philosophy is judgement, criticality, analysis, logic, argumentation, etc.
-philosophy requires knowledge
-if everything in philosophy was opinion, then knowledge couldn’t exist
-philosophy is not a matter of mere subjective opinion rather it is the rigorous approach to seeking truth and understanding

Question 22

What is truth

Answer 22

The conformity of a proposition or a concept to the way things are

Question 23

Inductive reasoning

Answer 23

Probable reasoning where the general conclusion is drawn from specific examples and/or premises
-making an inference based on an observation, often a sample

Question 24

Deductive reasoning

Answer 24

Reasoning which establishes the truth of specific examples from the truth of a general statement. The truth of the premises should guarantee the truth of the conclusion.
Making an inference based on widely accepted facts or premises.

Question 25

Cosmology

Answer 25

Conclusion drawn from and the world/universe

Question 26

Ontology

Answer 26

A branch of metaphysics concerned with identifying the most general terms, the kinds of things that actually exist

Question 27

Knowledger

Answer 27

Justified, true, belief

Question 28

Absolute truth vs truth vs relative truth

Answer 28

Absolute - truth that is the case no matter the circumstances
Truth - conformity/proposition to the way things are
Relative - truth that are considered conditioned by a certain social environment, person, time, place

Question 29

Natural theology

Answer 29

Belief that nature of divine can be derived from a proper understanding on human nature

Question 30

Semantics

Answer 30

Theory of meaning; study of signs/symbols

Question 31

Syllogism

Answer 31

Important variety of deductive argument in which a conclusion follows from two or more premises

Question 32

Fallacy

Answer 32

A mistake in reasoning; fails to provide adequate logical support for the truth of its conclusion, yet appears convincing or persuasive in some other way
-errors in logic

Question 33

Objective vs subjective truth

Answer 33

Objective truth is indepedent of knower of his/her consciousness
-undeniable truths

Subjective truths are personal truths which are only known to the knower
-can be objectively explained to someone

Question 34

Describe the four truth tests

Answer 34

Correspondence
-5 senses
Coherence
-rational, reason, knowledge, explanation, facts
Pragmatic
-if it profits/benefits us, whatever we want to believe
Consensus
-what the majority believes in