Term
| Know the etymological definition of philosophy |
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Definition
| philo=love sophy=wisdom Love of wisdom |
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Term
| Be able to explain the basic subdivisions of philosophy and list some questions that arise in each subdivision |
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Definition
Metaphysics, Epistemology and Axeology
Metaphysics: Does God exist? Do we have free will? Do we have an immortal soul? What is the fundamental nature of reality?
Epistemology: What is knowledge? Do we have any knowledge? Assuming that we have knowledge, where does it come from? What does it mean to have good evidence for our beliefs? Can we know (or even reasonably believe) that God exists?
Axeology (Value Theory):
- Aestethetic Questions: What is beauty? Is it in the eye of the beholder?
- Ethical Questions: What makes an act right or wrong? Does morality depend on us? Is abortion right or wrong? What makes slavery wrong? |
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Term
| State the rationalist credo |
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Definition
| The universe is orderly. The universe is knowable. The universe is knowable best by human reason. |
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Term
| State the traditional analysis of knowledge |
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Definition
| Justified true belief, belief, true justification. Each of these is necessary for true knowledge. If you are missing one you don't have true knowledge. |
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Term
| Name some of the sources of knowledge claimed by the Standard view of knowledge. |
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Definition
| Senses, memory, testimony, reasoning, rational insight |
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Term
| Explain the Pre-Socratic's' shift away from mythological understandings of reality. |
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Definition
| Thinking on their own, no longer believing in myths, seek reason as common currency. Demand that beliefs about the world be supported with rational insight, reasoning, or experience (or all of these together). |
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Term
| What are the so-called "four elements" commonly discussed in Pre-Socratic philosophy? Why are the elements important? |
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Definition
| Earth, air, fire and water. What's really real is behind their early candidate for ultimate reality. |
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Term
| Explain the concept of Socratic wisdom |
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Definition
| Even though I know nothing at least I am aware that I know nothing. |
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Term
| Explain Plato's attempt to reconcile Heraclitus and Pareminides on the topic of change. |
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Definition
Heraclitus: Change is basic, always changing.
Paramenides: Change is impossible, nothing changes.
Plato offers balance & says they are both right. Heraclitis is right about the physical world always changing. Parmenides was right because forms never change. |
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Term
| Give the definition of "the forms" |
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Definition
| The eternal, unchanging ideas which lie behind the changing, temporal physical world. The forms are perfect |
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Term
| Explain Plato's myth of the cave. |
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Definition
| Metaphor for our pathway for reality. What we think is real isn't ultimately real. Physical world is not real. |
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Term
| Explain what the example of the "equal sticks" (discussed in Phaeton) is supposed to show. |
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Definition
| We have a concept of perfect equality. It never came from our senses because we've never truly seen it, we've had this idea all our lives, this means we were born with the concept. What we call knowledge is actually a memory. Proves that knowledge is from memory. |
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Term
| Plato asks two key ethical questions in Republic. What are these questions, and how does Plato answer them? |
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Definition
| What is justice? Is it always better to be just than unjust? Injustice harms the soul; justice creates harmony in the soul (our papers) |
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Term
| State the definitions of (a) argument; and (b) logic: |
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Definition
A) argument is a set of statements in which one statement (the conclusion) is affirmed on the basis of others (the premises). Example, all dogs are mammals, all mammals are animals, therefore all dogs are animals.
B) Logic: Logic is the study of methods for evaluating whether the premises of an argument provide good evidence for a conclusion. Discipline of studying arguments. |
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Term
| State Aristotle's definition of knowledge |
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Definition
| We know a thing when we know both the cause of a thing (and know that it is in its cause) and also that it is not possible for it to be otherwise. |
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Term
| Compare and contrast Plato and Aristotle on the sources of knowledge. |
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Definition
| An argument between scientific knowledge vs. observational knowledge. Plato thought we are born with knowledge, no senses involved, and just don't recall it. The senses only remind us of what we already know. Aristotle believed we use our senses to gain knowledge. |
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Term
| Explain why someone might think that Aristotle's definition of knowledge is too strict. |
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Definition
| Do we really need to know all the four causes and identify them in order to know there is a cow there? Doesn't account for things that are not the norm. There is more than one opinion, based on the senses. |
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Term
| Explain Aristotle's account of change |
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Definition
| Change is just movement from potential to actual. Acorn to oak tree. |
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Term
| Using Aristotle's Four Causes, explain (a) a knife; (b) a mushroom. Which is more difficult to explain. |
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Definition
Knife:
-Material: Metal & Wood
-Formal: Pointed
-Efficient: By a blacksmith
-Final: To cut or stab
Mushroom:
-Material: Spores
-Formal: Umbrella shaped
-Efficient: Spores in air by moisture
-Final: To grow and reproduce.
Mushroom harder to explain because it is a living thing. Living things are more difficult, understanding. They physical world is always changing. We didn't make them so we don't know their final cause. |
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Term
| Explain Aristotle's Doctrine of the Mean, and illustrate it with at least one virtue (and corresponding vices) |
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Definition
Virtue is the mean between two extremes. The mean is in accordance with reason. Finding two extremes of a virtue. It is the goal to live in "the mean" which is the area in the balance (or middle).
One such virtue is: Courage. The extremes are Cowardliness and Rashness. |
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Term
| Explain the difference between Epicurean and Stoic physicalism (Both groups think that everything is physical =; but they disagree about determinism. Explain the disagreement) |
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Definition
| Stoics are determinists - there is only one course of events possible. Epicureans do not -- they believe there a lot of different ways things can go. Epicureans believed there are lots of Gods but they don't have anything to do with us. |
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Term
| Explain the difference between the Epicurean and Stoic attitudes toward sense perception (on the one hand) and the Skeptical view on the other. |
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Definition
| Skeptics doubt the senses and Epicureans trust the senses. |
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Term
| Be able to state both of the Epicureans' arguments against fear and death. |
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Definition
| All good and evil are senses. Senses end at death. When we exist, death doesn't exist, so death is never present and therefore shouldn't concern us. |
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Term
| What is the Epicurean view of the Good? |
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Definition
| Pleasure is the good. Body free from pain, mind free from anxiety. Overdo anything and you will be full of pain and anxiety. |
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Term
| Explain the common misunderstanding of Epicurean ethics discussed in class (and explain the Epicureans' actual view as a contrast |
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Definition
| They didn't mean "party animal" pleasures, that kind of good is worth more trouble than good. |
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Term
| What is the link between Epicurean theology and Epicurean ethics? |
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Definition
| The gods exist but they aren't concerned for us, therefore we don't need to fear them. So focus on the good in the life, be content, have a good attitude. |
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Term
| What is the link between Stoic theology and Stoic ethics? |
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Definition
| Logos is "the force" not physical being but a principle and virtue. Like the "force" from Star Wars. Our circumstances are beyond our control. The logos directs it, towards the good, it's up to us to have a good attitude and be virtuous. |
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Term
| State the Skeptical Argument from Disagreement. |
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Definition
| Don't worry about things, suspend judgement, and go neutral. Whenever you disagree on something controversial, give up your beliefs. Everything is controversial so give up everything. |
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Term
| With reference to Skepticism, explain the three attitudes someone might take toward a claim/proposition. |
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Definition
| Belief, disbelief & suspension of judgement. |
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Term
| Be able to explain the differences between the Hebrew view of God and the view of the Epicureans. |
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Definition
| Epicureans believed in lots of Gods, but those Gods didn't care about us. Hebrews believed in one God and that God cares about us personally. |
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Term
| State the three key Christian beliefs about Jesus and explain what made it possible for the early Christians to hold those beliefs. |
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Definition
Jesus is 1) Messiah, 2) Savior, 3) God
By his death, Jesus saves us from our sins. Jesus (the Risen Christ) is worthy of worship. He taught us he was the Messiah and savior and God. He was raised from the dead. If he wouldn't have, he would have failed to be the Messiah. |
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Term
| What were some key factors in the success of the early Church? Briefly explain these factors. |
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Definition
| Destruction of Jerusalem - that caused Jesus' message to be spread outwards. Universal message - meant for all, not just the special ones (richest, smartest, Greek, Roman, etc.). Organizational structure was strong and consistent. Message was for regular people. Martyrs were witness to the fact that Jesus was worth people not renouncing their faith to support. Peace brought about by the Romans. |
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Term
| What was the key theological issue at the Councel of Nicaea? |
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Definition
| To answer the question, "What is the relationship between the God, Jesus & Holy Spirit?" |
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Term
| Explain the difference between the Creed of Arius and the Nicene Creed. |
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Definition
Arias = Uncreated father, created the son, the son doesn't share the same substance as God.
Nicene = They are all equally God. |
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Term
| What was the key theological issue at the Counsel of Chalcedon? |
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Definition
| Being that Jesus is God, how can he be human? |
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Term
| Explain how the three threads of medival synthesis were dominant or in decline in the early and late Middle Ages. (In other words: discuss the three groups that wer influential durin gthe early and late Middle ages. Discuss the relative degree of influence among these groups during the different periods.) |
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Definition
Greco-Roman: Virtually disapeared, in Western Culture (early). Started to come back. Muslims started returning philosophical readings. Christianizing philosophical readings. People understanding need of Aristotle's scientific writings. (late)
Christian: Ran for the hills & created monistaries (early). Grew more powerful. Gained tithes and land. Tithes were tax free. Built schools, churches being built inside city walls. (late).
Barbarians: Raped & Pillaged (early), Begun to be tied to the land, developed into liege lords (late). |
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Term
| How do the different styles of architecture from the Middle Ages reflect the cultural position of the church? |
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Definition
| In the early ages the structures were rounded arches with thick walls and few windows. Basically they were set up like fortresses against the Barbarians. In the middle ages they changed to pointed arches with flying buttresses that allowed for taller structures with thinner walls and more windows. The structures were built inside city limits, instead of in the boonies. This reflected that there was no longer a need to fear the Barbarians. |
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Term
| Contrast Avicenna, Al-Ghazali, and Averroes on the topic of faith and reason. |
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Definition
Avicenna (was a sinna): Believed in reading the Quran metaphorically - Reason wins.
Al-Gazali (all the time): believed in reading the Quran literally, that God knows best in what he chose to write. Faith wins.
Averroes (double R): believed it was possible to read the Quran both ways, dependent upon your level of understanding. If you were knowledgeable you should read it literally. If you were a commoner you would read it metaphorically.
Faith and Reason. |
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Term
| Explain Augustine's view about the process of moving from faith to understanding. |
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Definition
| Start by belief based on authority. Understand by learning. Grasp the truth thru reason. It is all a journey to be transformed (Been there done that kind of guy). |
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Term
| State the dilemma about evil that Augustine encountered. Explain his response to this problem. |
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Definition
| The question was, "Did God create evil?" The argument was that if God created evil than God is evil. A problem because Christians believe God created all and didn't create evil. If God didn't create evil then he didn't create everything. Augustine said neither was right. Evil is really a privation, the "lack of" something. Evil is a lack of goodness. God didn't create evil, he gave us free will, because it was truly important in order to have real love. |
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Term
| Does Aquinas think that certain doctrines of the Faith can be proved by reason? Does he think these same doctrines must be proved in order to be reasonably believed? Explain his views. |
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Definition
| 1) Yes, 2) No, because he believed some people don't have all the knowledge and can follow what the church teaches. |
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Term
| What does "Renaissance" mean? What was being reborn at the time of the Renaissance? |
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Definition
| Rebirth, the classic culture of Athens & Rome. |
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Term
| What is the basic definition of humanism? What varieties does humanism come in? |
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Definition
| Celebration of humanity, dignity, achievement and potential. Secular and Christian. |
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Term
| Explain syncretism as defended by Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola. |
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Definition
| All systems have some truth (religions & philosophies) and some falsehoods. Combine all the best truths to obtain the best system. |
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Term
| Explain the indulgences are, and explain some of Luther's problems with them. |
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Definition
| Indulgences were documents you could purchase in lieu of penance or purgatory. They could also be used to get your loved ones out of purgatory. Luther didn't like they way they were being sold and didn't agree that they applied to purgatory. He felt they were being sold cheapened the church and put people's souls in danger. |
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Term
| Explain why the thinkers of the Scientific Revolution reject Aristotle's notion of a final cause (in explaining this, you will need to provide a brief explanation of final causes). |
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Definition
1) You can't measure the final cause of a thing. The earth is the center of the universe, all heavenly bodies revolve around the earth.
2) New science is much simpler, explains everything. We see in a simpler fashion. The "heavens ARE imperfect, based on pock marks on the moon. The earth is not the center of the universe. |
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