Phil 1301 Introduction To Philosophy: Midterm

Front 1

metaphysics

Back 1

The investigation of the fundamental features of reality.

Front 2

epistemology

Back 2

The study of knowledge and justified belief.

Front 3

pragmatic argument

Back 3

An argument showing that a piece of behavior is rational

Front 4

epistemic argument

Back 4

Meant to demonstrate that we can know a particular claim is true.

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physicalism

Back 5

The view that all objects and events are purely material.

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dualism

Back 6

Belief that all in existence is mind or matter

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teleology

Back 7

The study of a given phenomenon in terms of its end or purpose.

Front 8

Explain in your own words the logical problem of evil. In order to get full credit you must use and define all three omnis in your answer. How is the free will defense a response to the logical problem of evil?

Back 8

Most believers identify God as being omnipotent(all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omni-benevolent (all good, morally perfect). The problem with this stance is that evil still exists. The free will defense attempts to put the burden of evil onto mankind thus freeing God of fallibility.

Front 9

Define the terms 'natural selection' and 'struggle for existence' and describe how apparent design can be explained without appeal to an intelligent designer.

Back 9

Natural selection is any adaptation that is profitable for survival and may be passed on to future generations thus increasing their likelihood of survival. Struggle for Existence is the thought that organisms often multiply at a geometric rate, and resources often do not, resulting in competition. Apparent design is the necessity for an organism to adapt to it's environment. In this, not all organisms present an "intelligent" or "human" styled purpose for their evolution.

Front 10

On Pascal's view, is it possible to be a practicing agnostic? Why or why not? You must offer a brief summary of Pascal’s wager (do not simply draw the matrix that was on the board).

Back 10

No. Pascal states that we are heading one way or another. In his wager, Pascal states that if you are a believer and god exists, then you have a tremendous gain. If however you are a believer and there is no god then you have not lost much. On the flip side of this, if you are a non believer and god exists then you have a tremendous loss. If you are a nonbeliever and god does not exists then you have not gained much.

Front 11

Explain Plato’s view of the human person using the word ‘dualist.’ Explain two criticisms of this view.

Back 11

Plato's view of "dualist" or "what is the human" comes down to consisting of a mind and body, and that we are identical to our minds. One criticism of this is a reductio ad absurdum. If dualism is true, then many common sense statements become literally false. A second criticism of Plato's "dualist" is that it does not answer the question of a soul or it's independence from the physical body.

Front 12

Explain the difference between an anthropomorphic and a mystic conception of the divine. Explain the question of whether or not God is a member of our moral community given these two approaches and how this question relates to the problem of evil.

Back 12

An anthropomorphic concept of the divine projects human traits and characteristics onto the divine. A mystic conception of the divine basically states that humans are unable to comprehend the divine and that the divine exist beyond our understanding outside of exceptional circumstances. This then leads to the question whether or not god is a member of our moral community. If god is to have anthropomorphic qualities then he is subject to human morality. However, if god truly is mystic then it could be explained that he is beyond human morality. This question relates to the problem of evil in that if god is subject to human morality then god is fallible as a god in the sense he is either unwilling, unable, or unknowing to stop the evil that persists in this world. On the other hand, if god is beyond human morality then evil is beyond our complete understanding.

Front 13

Explain what 'false virtue' is and give an example. Be sure to define the term ‘ licentiousness’ in your answer. According to Plato, what should guide virtuous action?

Back 13

False virtue is doing something right for a worldly reward. An example of someone that is driven by licentiousness (Mastered by the desire for pleasure) might be a public servant or politician. They state that their intentions are pure and selfless, but in reality many are doing the things they do for power, money, sex, drugs, etc. Actions for the sake of others is what should drive virtuous action according to Plato.

Front 14

Identify and define the main meta-ethical theory the Euthyphro Dilemma is meant to be a response to. What are the two horns of the dilemma, and how is this dilemma a response to the meta-ethical theory you identified in the first part of this question?

Back 14

The Euthyphro dilemma is meant as a response to basically anything where a statement of right or wrong can be applied. The two horns of the dilemma are "Bite the bullet" or "God is unnecessary". It is a response in the fact that you are forced with a choice of undesirable options.

Front 15

What is the main question that Socrates is trying to find an answer to in the Euthyphro? Does he get a good answer? What is the etymology of the word ‘philosophy’? Using this etymology, explain whether Socrates and Euthyphro are philosophers.

Back 15

The main question he asks is "what is piety". Euthyphro is unable to clearly answer Socrates as well as he first insured Socrates he would. The etymology of philosophy is Philo = Love and sophia = wisdom. Using this etymology, both Socrates and Euthyphro are philosophers, as they engage in the pursuit of knowledge and seemingly enjoy doing so.

Front 16

Thoroughly explain the analogy between misology and misanthropy as it appears in the Phaedo (89b-91a). Why does Socrates think that misology is a grave evil? (20 points)

Back 16

misology- The hatred of reasoning; the revulsion or distrust of logical debate, argumentation.
misanthropy- The general hatred, distrust or disdain of the human species or human nature
To descend into misology is to no longer trust that there is logic in the world worth trusting. This in turn keeps one from seeing a truth in any matter due to being solely focused on the argument and the need to be right instead of engaging willfully in argument that may lead to other conclusions than ones own. Losing out on truth due to misology is considered by Socrates as the greatest danger and one to be highly guarded against.