Socrates/Plato
This type of philosophical inquiry involves a structured exchange of questions and clarifications in which an individual probes a conversation partner on a topic to bring said partner to a conclusion of one's own, to expose potential contradictions in their logic, and to overall promote critical thinking.
What is the Socratic method?
According to Aristotle, moral virtue comes about as a result of what?
What is habit?
Is Descartes a rationalist or empiricist?
a rationalist
This one-word metaphysical theory held by Epicurus claims that everything can be reduced down to some physical explanation.
Name and explain the six branches of philosophy.
Ethics: theory of morality
Epistemology: theory of knowledge
Metaphysics: study of the structure of reality
Aesthetics: study of beauty and art
Logic: study of principles of correct reasoning
Political phil: studies structure of government, state, justice, liberty, and how we organize ourselves into societies
Socrates' primary goal of teaching was to promote logical thinking and moral reform, contrary to the ___ of his time, who were traveling teachers who taught relative, persuasive rhetoric to help others win arguments, and who sought money for their teachings.
Who were the sophists?
Aristotle claims that every art, inquiry, and action aims at some good. What is the highest good that human actions aim for, and how does he justify it as "complete?"
What is eudaimonia, the highest good because it is desired for its own sake and is self-sufficient, unlike other goods which are desired for the sake of something else.
In Descartes' Meditations, Descartes is reacting to a crisis of knowledge in early modern Europe. What scientific revelation-- that destabilized epistemology-- was Descartes motivated by?
What is the shift from a geocentric to heliocentric universe?
Epicurus thought that the deepest hidden anxiety in human life-- ultimately the fear of what-- drives the culture that convinces us to chase money, fame, and luxury items in a misguided way?
What is the fear of death?
In the documentary Examined Life, there is a quote that says "Incredulity is the first step toward philosophy." What does this mean?
What is questioning what we're told instead of simply accepting it?
In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, one prisoner escapes the cave and finally sees the sun. The sun allows him to have a clearer vision and start seeing what's around him. What metaphysical concept of Plato's does the sun represent?
What is the Form of the Good?
Aristotle distinguishes between two main types of virtues. What are they? Name and explain.
What are intellectual and moral virtues?
intellectual: acquired through being taught
moral: acquired through repeated experience (habit)
Descartes imagines an evil demon capable of deceiving him about everything. Why does this hypothesis not undermine the certainty of his own existence?
Even if an evil demon were to deceive him, he must exist as a thinking being in order to be deceived. His existence-- as a thinking thing-- is indubitable.
Epicurus thought that human life is structured by what two forces/ movements?
What are fear and desire?
Explain the difference between moral objectivism vs moral relativism.
objectivism: moral principles are universally true and apply to everyone, regardless of preference, opinion, culture, etc.
relativism: morality of an action is justified by virtue of its acceptance
This character in Book 1 of Plato's Republic describes justice as "the advantage of the stronger."
Who is Thrasymachus?
In his function argument, Aristotle asks what is unique to humans. What is the function of a human, and how does fulfilling it relate to eudaimonia?
What is rational activity?
fulfilling this function well, in accordance with virtue, leads to eudaimonia (the highest human good)
Descartes argues that because waking life can resemble this experience, sensory beliefs about the external world are not indubitable.
What is dreaming?
For Epicurus, what is the highest type of pleasure and the ultimate aim of life, and what does it mean?
What is ataraxia: a state of not needing; a state of tranquility; being free from psychological disturbance
What type of theory (under what umbrella of a larger theory) is utilitarianism?
a normative ethical theory that is a form of consequentialism
Socrates refuses Polemarchus by showing that justice cannot be this, because harming someone makes them worse with respect to virtue.
What is harming one's enemies?
Aristotle compares the life of pleasure, the life of honor, and the contemplative life as candidates for the best human life. Which does he consider the highest and why?
What is the contemplative life?
- it is the highest form of human life because it exercises the rational part of the soul, which is the most distinctive and excellent aspect of humans
Explain the wax argument in Meditation 2 and how it demonstrates that knowledge of material objects depends on the mind rather than the senses.
The wax argument shows that a piece of wax changes sensory properties when melted; yet we still recognize it as the same piece of wax. This demonstrates that knowledge comes from the mind's judgement, not the senses alone, because the senses alone cannot account for identity over change.
For Epicurus, all human desires fall into three categories. What are these categories and what do they mean?
natural, necessary: arise from nature; common to all human beings; without this, one will definitely suffer; essential to survival, bodily health, and achieving ataraxia
natural, unnecessary: arise from nature; not essential but may greatly enhance our well-being; moderation here is key
unnatural, unnecessary: do not arise from natural human needs; driven by social constructs; insatiable (impossible to satisfy); produce more pain than pleasure; never terminate
What branch of philosophy would ask this question:
"What types of beings are we that makes it possible for us to even ask these types of complicated questions?
What is metaphysics?