Basics of Phil
Identify and explain the six branches of philosophy.
Ethics: theory of morality
Epistemology: theory of knowledge
Logic: study of correct reasoning and argumentation
Aesthetics: study of art, beauty, taste
Political Phil: study of how/why we have organized ourselves into societies; philosophical study of government, rights, contracts
Metaphysics: study of structure of reality
According to Plato, this realm of reality contains the perfect, eternal, and unchanging blueprints of all things, making it more 'real' than the physical world.
What is the world of forms?
Aristotle says that happiness (eudaimonia) is "final and self-sufficient." What does he mean?
Happiness is desired for its own sake, not for the sake of anything else. It is the chief good toward which all of our actions aim.
What is the ultimate aim of life, according to Epicurus?
ataraxia: a static state of tranquility and freedom from anxiety
What is Plato's definition of education?
education is a reorientation of the soul toward truth
- turning the soul around
- redirecting soul toward intelligible world
What is the etymology of the word "philosophy?"
comes from Greek word "philosophia," which translates to "love of wisdom"
What are the three parts of the soul, according to Plato?
Appetitive, Spirited, Rational
This moral virtue lies between the vices of stinginess and wastefulness.
What is generosity or liberality?
Why does Epicurus believe we should not fear death?
All goodness/badness exists in sensation; since death is the privation (ultimate end) of sensation, we cannot experience death, and without experience, there is no good or bad.
What is the difference between moral relativism and moral objectivism?
Relativism: maintains morality of an action is justified by virtue of its acceptance, and thus may vary between places/cultures
Objectivism: moral principles are universally true and do not vary, i.e., apply to everyone
How is philosophy similar, yet different, to science?
Both philosophers and scientists seek truth and understanding about the world, but their methodologies differ. Scientists construct hypotheses and collect empirical data to conduct physical experiments about the natural world. Philosophers use conceptual analysis and dialectical reasoning (rational argumentation) to address intangible questions.
Internal justice is what, according to Plato?
What is harmony, or proper ordering, of the three parts of the soul, where each part is properly performing its function
According to Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean, every single virtue is a middle ground located directly between two opposite vices, which are classified by these two concepts.
excess and deficiency
What type of metaphysical world view does Epicurus have?
He was a radical materialist and believed reality consists of atoms and void.
What does the sun represent in Plato's Allegory of the Cave?
The Form of the Good
Under what branch of philosophy would the question "What is the soul?" fall under?
If individual instances of beauty (like a painting) or justice (like a specific law) are imperfect and change over time, why did Plato argue that 'Beauty' and 'Justice' themselves are more real than these specific examples?
Plato argued that individual instances are less real because they are temporary, imperfect, and dependent on context, whereas the Forms themselves are eternal, perfect, and independent.
character is the stable, enduring disposition or active state of one's soul that determines how one deliberately chooses to act, feel, and respond to emotional circumstances
What is the difference between static and kinetic pleasure according to Epicurus?
Kinetic pleasure is the active process of satisfying a desire, whereas static pleasure is the stable state of equilibrium achieved once all pain and lack are fully removed.
Aristotle argues that true virtue begins with _____, an intellectual calculation used to choose the best means toward a moral end.
What is deliberation?
Explain the difference between descriptive morality and prescriptive morality.
Descriptive morality: refers to factual observation about how people actually behave
Prescriptive morality: dictates how people should behave
Plato used this fundamental law of logic-- stating that a single thing cannot move in opposite directions at the same time-- to prove that the human soul must have three distinct parts.
What is the law of non-contradiction?
To explain what eudaimonia (happiness) is, Aristotle uses his famous Function Argument. How does he look at other things in the world (like an eye, a knife, or a flute player) to deduce what a good human life looks like?
Things are good to the extent that they fulfill their function, or unique characteristic of what they do best. Since the unique characteristic of humans-- that distinguishes us from other life forms-- is the capacity for reason, it follows that being a good person (or living a good life) entails exercising reason, or exercising this function. So, living well (flourishing; happiness) is an active activity of the soul in accordance with reason.
Epicurus categorized human desires into three distinct groups. Name and explain.
natural, necessary: absolutely necessary in order to survive/ reach ataraxia
natural, unnecessary: variations of basic needs that are not essential but increase well-being and which should be consumed in moderation to avoid dependence/anxiety
unnatural, unnecessary desires: desires that do not arise from biological needs but societal conditioning; desires which are insatiable and vain (devoid of true utility)
Identify and explain the three types of friendship for Aristotle.
Utility: based on obtaining something that is useful, i.e., getting some practical advantage/benefit in return; fragile and end when utility stops
Highest Good: based on mutual admiration of goodness/character; long-lasting