What is Philosophy? 💜

Question 1

What are the three major historical periods of philosophy? What is the minor one?

Answer 1

1. Ancient (600BC-400AD)
2. Medieval (400-1400)
   - Renaissance (1400-1600)
3. Modern (1600-Present)

Question 2

Which philosophers are associated with the Ancient period?

Answer 2

1. Socrates
2. Plato
3. Aristotle

Question 3

Which philosophers are associated with the Medieval period?

Answer 3

1. St. Augustine
2. St. Thomas Aquinas

Question 4

Which philosophers are associated with the Renaissance period?

Answer 4

1. Machiavelli

Question 5

Which philosophers are associated with the Modern period?

Answer 5

1. Descartes
2. Kant

Question 6

What is the name of the dialogue in which the Allegory of the Cave is found?

Answer 6

“Republic”

Question 7

What are the four main elements in The Allegory of the Cave? What does each symbolize?

Answer 7

1. Prisoners (humans in the initial biased condition)
2. Chains (anything that prevents ppl from seeing the truth)
3. Shadows (appearance)
4. Statues (reality)

Question 8

What is the Allegory of the Cave arguing?

Answer 8

One must overcome their original biased condition to see the true reality of logic/the world.

Question 9

What does “phil” translate to?
What does “sophos” translate to?
What does “philosophy” mean by these translations?

Answer 9

1. love
2. wisdom
3. love of wisdom

Question 10

According to the Allegory of the Cave what does it take to be wise? In real life what does it take to be wise?

Answer 10

1. Break free from the chains
2. Overcome one’s biased thinking

Question 11

What is the goal of philosophy metaphorically and in real life?

Answer 11

Find the truth.

Question 12

What are the three branches of Philosophy and their definitions?

Answer 12

1. Metaphysics (what are things-beyond science)
2. Ethics (how to live well as a human being)
3. Epistemology (how do you know-what is knowledge)

Question 13

What are three subgroups of Ethics and their definitions?

Answer 13

1. Happiness (what is the best way to live)
2. Morality (are morals cultural or universal)
3. Political (how should we organize our society)

Question 14

What message does the Allegory of the Cave make regarding knowledge.

Answer 14

It is very difficult to overcome biases.

Question 15

What are two cognitive biases he wants us to know and their definitions?

Answer 15

1. Tribalism (favoring one’s own group)
2. Confirmation Bias (only searching for information that validates one’s original belief)