Just Peachy!
Evil is a ____ of the good. Explain.
Privation.
Evil doesn't exist on its own, it is only a lack or absence of good.
The Watchmaker Analogy
The watchmaker analogy is a teleological argument for the existence of God. In broad terms, the watchmaker analogy states that just as it is readily observed that a watch did not come to be accidentally or on its own but rather through the intentional handiwork of a skilled watchmaker, it is also readily observed that the world shows signs of the intentional handiwork of an intelligent designer.
The Cogito
I think therefore I am
The only thing I can know in the face of the evil demon situation
What is a "thinking thing?"
A thing which doubts, understands, affirms, denies, wills, is unwilling, and also imagines and feels
What is the fallacy of physiognomy?
Augustine says the mind controls the body easily, but cannot command itself with as much ease. Why?
The mind has built up resistance and habits over a period of time that make it difficult to command itself.
The Chinese Room Experiment
The Chinese room argument holds that a computer executing a programcannot have a mind, understanding, or consciousness, regardless of how intelligently or human-like the program may make the computer behave.
Syntax, semantics
Substance Dualism
Substance dualism is the philosophical belief that the mind and body are two separate and distinct substances
Body is divisible, Mind is indivisible
What does Arendt mean when she says Eichmann refused to think?
He failed to engage in the inner dialogue of conscience, and did not place himself in the shoes of his victims.
Define incompatibilism. What are the two categories underneath it? Explain.
Incompatibilism - FW/D are incompatible
Libertarians- FW is true, D is false
Hard determinists - FW is false, D is true
Augustine was the first philosopher to offer the "free will defense." What does this mean?
God gives everyone free will, what we choose to do with it is up to us. This means there is the possibility of great good and great evil.
Descartes' evil demon
Untouchable facts
A fact which I could never have done anything to change.
I.e. The composition of hydrogen, 2+2=4, etc.
Computers cannot think according to Searle. Why?
They have syntax but not semantics
What do necessary and contingent mean?
Necessary beings are beings which must exist
Contingent beings do not have to exist, and are reliant on something else for their existence.
Free will has a long history dating back to Augustine. What does contemporary philosopher van Inwagen say free will is?
In order for an action to be free, one must have had more than one physical possibility open.
I.e. One should have the ability to do otherwise than what one does
Plato's Allegory of the Cave
Related to the theory of the forms
Implications for education, philosopher's role in society, truth, etc.
The Rhine
There are 2 ways of viewing the Rhine:
-Bringing Forth (Poetic)
-Setting Upon (Enframing, instrumental)
Rousseau thinks we were better off before philosophy. Why?
We had natural compassion in the state of nature and that was worth more than all our rational debates and arguments.
What are the options open to citizens when they disagree with their government?
Argue or obey.
Explain Augustine's concept of disordered desires.
The Ring of Gyges
Given the opportunity to be invisible, most people would choose to do bad things. We only care about justice because people see us/judge us.
DAILY DOUBLE
The Five Ways of Aquinas.
Name and explain all 5.
1. The First Way: Motion
2. The Second Way: Causation
3. The Third Way: Contingency
4. The Fourth Way: Gradation/Degrees
5. The Fifth Way: Design
Previous desires and beliefs cannot influence the free act according to the libertarian. Explain why this is an issue.
How can we explain the action?
Dreams can be deceptive. What is Descartes' dream argument?
In dreams, I am sometimes led to believe I am experiencing reality. Thus, I cannot trust my sense perception, as it is misleading.