Lindland Philosophy 102 Test #1

Front 1

Define: philosophy

Back 1

The love of wisdom. Philo=love, sophia=wisdom

Front 2

What are the preconditions for wisdom?

Back 2

1. Get clear on what you believe
2. Get clear on why you believe it
3. Ask yourself if the reasons given in #2 justify the belief in #1. Essentially, would any unbiased, rational person agree that the reason in #2, at the very least, is relevant to the belief in #1?

Front 3

Define: metaphysics

Back 3

The study of what exists, and the way or manner in which it exists

Front 4

Define and relate: ontology

Back 4

Definition: the list of entities one is claiming exists
Relation: product of metaphysics

Front 5

Define: epistemology

Back 5

The study of knowledge; justification for why you believe what you believe

Front 6

Define: knowledge

Back 6

Justified true belief

Front 7

Define: external world skepticism

Back 7

Rational doubt (what if we wake up?)

Front 8

What is Descartes' conclusion on reality, concerning external world skepticism?

Back 8

The only thing I can be certain of is that I am a thinking thing, and that I exist at this very moment. I am a (potentially uncaused) thinking momentary blip of consciousness

Front 9

Define: ethics

Back 9

The study of morality, or morally correct action

Front 10

Concerning external world skepticism, what is the only field that is unaffected even by dreams?

Back 10

The laws and truths of mathematics is the only field that is unaffected even by dreams

Front 11

What are the two types of ethics?

Back 11

Theoretical ethics and practical (applied) ethics

Front 12

Define: theoretical ethics

Back 12

Broad, general questions concerning what is moral

Front 13

Define: practical (applied) ethics

Back 13

How morals are applied to specific situations

Front 14

Are ethical claims objective or subjective?

Back 14

Ethical claims are objective, as they are matters of fact

Front 15

Define: ethical conflicts of interest

Back 15

A situation where both options are immoral. For example, a Nazi asks if you are harboring Jews. Lying is immoral, but justifiable because it saves lives.

Front 16

Do ethicists make general, blanket statements? Why or why not?

Back 16

No, ethicists do not make general, blanket statements because as shown with ethical conflicts of interest, lying is not always bad if it can save a life. There are always exceptions

Front 17

Define: thought experiments

Back 17

Mental concepts used by philosophers used to more simply illustrate complex ideas. Recall the train example with 3 people on one track and 1 baby on the other

Front 18

According to Kant, what makes an action moral?

Back 18

According to Kant, the reason behind the action is what makes an action moral

Front 19

According to Aristotle, what makes an action moral?

Back 19

According to Aristotle, for an action to be moral it must be done to the right person, at the right time, in the right way, for the right reason, and in a steady state

Front 20

A boy only carries groceries for a woman because his girlfriend is watching. This action is devoid of any __________

Back 20

A boy only carries groceries for a woman because his girlfriend is watching. This action is devoid of any MORAL WORTH

Front 21

A boy only carries groceries for a woman because he wants a place in her will. This action is ___________

Back 21

A boy only carries groceries for a woman because he wants a place in her will. This action is MORALLY EVIL

Front 22

Define: "ought implies can"

Back 22

If something is a moral obligation, then you must be able to do it. By the same coin, if you can't do something, then you are not morally obligated to do it. Recall seeing someone get jumped by a gang of people. You're not obligated to fight them all off, because you can't. But you must call the police, because you can do that

Front 23

Give 3 examples of practical (applied) ethics

Back 23

Ford selling exploding Pinto's is unethical. Bayer selling HIV-infected blood is unethical. A salesman selling soap that is overpriced is not unethical, but one selling soap that burns babies is unethical.

Front 24

Define: logic

Back 24

The study or art of correct reasoning

Front 25

Define: argument

Back 25

A reason or set of reasons for thinking some claim is true

Front 26

What is an argument NOT?

Back 26

An argument is NOT a verbal fight, and it is NOT mere contradiction or disagreement

Front 27

Define and relate: claim

Back 27

Definition: a simple declarative sentence
Relation: they are the building blocks of arguments. Arguments consist only of claims

Front 28

Define and relate: premise

Back 28

Definition: the reason or reasons for thinking some other claim is true
Relation: they are the supportING part of an argument

Front 29

Define and relate: conclusion

Back 29

Definition: the claim being supported by the premises
Relation: its is the supportED part of the argument.

Front 30

All arguments must contain ____________ premise

Back 30

All arguments must contain AT LEAST ONE premise

Front 31

All arguments must contain __________ conclusion

Back 31

All arguments must contain ONLY ONE conclusion

Front 32

What are the 4 branches of philosophy?

Back 32

The 4 branches of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic

Front 33

Define: critical thinking

Back 33

Screening your ideas to see if they make sense

Front 34

Define: objective claim

Back 34

Objective claims are matters of fact. When 2 people disagree, either one or both of them are incorrect. The claim is capable of being false for everyone

Front 35

Define: subjective claim

Back 35

Subjective claims are matters of opinion. When 2 people disagree, both are correct. The claim is NOT capable of being false for everyone

Front 36

Define: precising definition

Back 36

Definitions that make a claim more precise, and can turn a matter of opinion into a matter of fact

Front 37

________ always pass the "therefore test". Define the "therefore test"

Back 37

ARGUMENTS always pass the "therefore test". The therefore test states that the word 'therefore" can be inserted between the premise and conclusion, and the sentence will make sense

Front 38

___________ can have a single claim or a string of claims

Back 38

NON-ARGUMENTS can have a single claim or a string of claims

Front 39

What is the difference between an argument and an explanation?

Back 39

Arguments try to convince someone of something, while explanations simply provide facts