Philosophy 101 Final

Front 1

Understanding

Back 1

recognition of the intension (meaning) of a concept (idea) in its extension (instances)

Front 2

Abstraction

Back 2

a process by which higher concepts are derived from the usage and classification of literal ("real" or "concrete") concepts, first principles, or other methods. A concept that acts as super-categorical noun for all subordinate concepts, and connects any related concepts as a group, field, or category.

Front 3

Unity of Thought

Back 3

conceptual hierarchy, trying to unit ideas under one main topic, related to one super concept or over all concept that relates to multiple things. (similar to abstraction)

Front 4

Epistemology

Back 4

the study of knowledge, identifying and developing criteria and methodologies for what we know and why we know it

Front 5

Metaphysics

Back 5

the study of the ultimate characteristics of reality or existence

Front 6

Axiology

Back 6

Theory of Value

Front 7

monism

Back 7

belief that there is only one basic thing (metaphysics)

Front 8

dualism

Back 8

belief that there are only two kinds of things in the world (Ex: Descartes believe that there's the mind and the body)

Front 9

Rationalism

Back 9

the belief that the primary source of human knowledge is reason (Ex: Descartes)

Front 10

Empiricism

Back 10

the belief that the primary source of human knowledge is sensation (Ex: Locke, Humes)

Front 11

Plato's "comfort" argument for immortality

Back 11

in perception (the realm of the body), the soul is uncomfortable because it is stressed and confused. When the soul reflects upon itself (turns away from the body), it is in the realm of wisdom which is a realm of ideas. Ideas are immortal and unchanging. In the realm of wisdom, the soul is at peace. Therefore, the soul is akin to an idea. Ideas are unchanging and eternal so the soul is unchanging and immortal

Front 12

Plato's "ruler" argument for immortality

Back 12

by nature, the soul rules the body-soul unit. It's unnatural for the body to rule the body-soul unity. When you make decisions, you think instead of act. Things that rule are divine (connection between ruling and divinity). Deities rule and they are immortal. The soul rules so it must be immortal too.

Front 13

Diotima's argument for mortality

Back 13

The soul is not immortal. Just as the body changes over time, our soul (mind) changes as well. Our thoughts, manners, dispositions, desires, pleasures, sufferings, and fears are not the same throughout our entire life. Thus, unlike the Gods, a mortal creature cannot remain the same throughout eternity. Therefore, the soul is not unchanging and thus not immortal.

Front 14

The Cogito

Back 14

I think (Cogito ergo sum from Descartes meaning I think, therefore I am)

Front 15

The Pure Rational Subject; separability argument for

Back 15

(Descartes) To be able to determine what is purely true, one must doubt everything. When you are able to not prove something wrong, then it must be the truth.
The divisibility argument: the body can be divided in ways that the mind cannot be. Therefore, the body and the mind must be two separate things.

Front 16

a priori and a posteriori

Back 16

a priori =internal organizing principles.
a posteriori = external sense "data", "content," impressions

Ex. used to describe Kant's idea for human experience in what is the self

Front 17

The Categorical imperatives

Back 17

Kant believes them to be universally moral because they are good in themselves. They command good all the time and are unconditional.

Front 18

Teleology

Back 18

the theory according to which a given thing is defined by its end or goal. Ex: Aristotle

Front 19

Eudaimonia

Back 19

Greek word for happiness. It's Aristotle's understanding of the good life. The god life is happiness and happiness is attained when a person follows values.

Front 20

Categorical v. Hypothetical imperatives

Back 20

Hypothetical - occurs only when a given condition is meet (good as a means to something).
Ex: If I want the reward, then I should return the wallet.
Categorical - command good all the time (good in itself).
Ex: Telling the truth is the right things to do.
Used in Kant's idea of good will.

Front 21

Telos, Ergon, Eidos, Arete

Back 21

Telos = goal or end
Ergon = function (what is it for or what is its purpose?)
Eidos = form (what form must something have in order to fulfill its purpose?)
Arete = virtue (What qualities a thing has that will produce and ideal End, aka: optimal qualities).
Ex: Aristotle's good life

Front 22

Deontology

Back 22

The ethical view that moral value is determined by fulfilling one's duty (Kant)

Front 23

The Hedonistic Calculus

Back 23

By Bentham in order to determine that the morally right thing to do is the one that causes the least amount of pain and therefore has the smallest number. The morally right thing to do will also be the one that provides the most amount of pleasure. Pleasure and Pain are the ends where value is given to them and then calculated by its intensity, duration, certainty or uncertainty, and the number of people it will affect.

Front 24

Rationality, Pragmatic and Epistemic

Back 24

Rational belief - for a, belief P is rational if and only if it is either epistemically or pragmatically rational for a.
Pragmatic rationality - for agent a, belief P is pragmatically rational if and only if believing in P is beneficial to a.
Epistemic rationality - for agent a, belief P is epistemically rational if and only if a has good evidence for the truth of P. (evidence)
Ex: Used to evaluate all religion theories

Front 25

Un/Qualified goods

Back 25

unqualified goods - it is good on its own, no circumstances need to be meet, unconditional.
qualified gods - it is not good on its own, conditions need to be meet.
Ex: Used in Kant's theory of good will

Front 26

Consequentialism

Back 26

the belief that moral value is a function of an act's consequences

Front 27

Utility and Utilitarianism

Back 27

Utility - pleasure, avoidance of pain ("Happiness")
Principle of Utility - the moral quality of an act is determined by the utility that is a consequence of the act
Utilitarianism - the belief that the right thing to do is the principle of utility

Front 28

the good will

Back 28

Kant. The only unqualified is the good will. Reason should rule the good will and not inclinations because inclinations deal with qualified goods. Good will for humans is them doing something out of obligation. Good will should be influenced by categorical imperatives because they command universal actions that intrinsically good.

Front 29

Ontological Argument; Gaunilo's objection

Back 29

that than which none greater can be conceived = TTWNGCBC
Anselm
1. The idea of God is the idea of TTWNGCBC because nothing is greater than God.
2. If the idea of TTWNGCBC exists only in the understanding (and not in reality), then the idea of TTWNGCBC is not the idea of TTWNGCBC. This is because the idea of a God that does not exist is a lesser being compared to a God that does exist.
3. It is impossible for the idea of TTWNGCBC not to be the idea of TTWNGCBC. The idea of blue can not be the idea of red.
4. Therefore, TTWNGCBC exists.
Guanilo's objection: the idea of the perfect island is TTWNGCBC. There is no perfect island therefore reasoning is flawed.

Front 30

Cosmological Argument

Back 30

(Thomas Aqonias)
1. The universe exhibits order.
2. If so, God exists.
3. Therefore, God exists.
Order only occurs because something/someone put it there. Every effect must have a cause that comes from a prior status. Universal causation because if things didn't come from something then it's chaos instead of order. There must be a first cause (God) that caused everything and without the cause and effect link would be infinite. This is an exception to the rule because an uncaused cause must exist in order to have a sequence.

Front 31

Cosmos, Chaos, and Logos

Back 31

Cosmos - being with order, being with order is agreeable (rational)
Chaos - being without order, does not help us to make connections or to understand (if you can't make sense of something then you can't do anything with it)
Logos - world, principle

Front 32

The Design Argument

Back 32

(Thomas Aqoinas) The Universe, like a watch, has a purpose. Because it has a purpose, it must have a maker. The person who made it must have created the purpose.

Front 33

The Problem of Evil

Back 33

(John Hick)
1. The existence of evil is incompatible with the existence of God. (God is a "supreme being" that is omnipotence or all powerful, omniscience or all knowing, and has perfect benevolence).
2. Evil exists.
3. Therefore, God does not exist.
Ex. it's an atheist argument that Hick addresses in order to create his leap of faith theory.

Front 34

Natural v. Moral Evils

Back 34

(Hick) natural evil - harm resulting from natural process
moral evils - harm resulting from malicious intent

Front 35

Hick's theodicy

Back 35

1. It is possible that in order to create "Children of God," God must first create and provide for the development of Bios. (Bios - a creature capable of making choices. If it is making the right choices then it's becoming more able to be in the presence of God).
2. It is possible that in order for Bios to become children of God, natural and moral evils must be possible.
3. It is possible that the value of Children of God outweighs the negative value of evils.
4. It is possible that the existence of evil is compatible with that of God.
5. It is possible that the belief in God is not epistemically irrational.

Front 36

Kierkegaard on proof, faith

Back 36

The Leap of Faith argument:It is folly (foolishness) to even attempt to prove the existence of God because he either exists or he doesn't. Why try to prove his existence if you already believe that he exists? Argues that belief should not depend upon proof and that it takes too long to prove God's existence. It's a leap of faith in order to bypass objective knowing of God and turn to subjective knowing of God. Even with proof, you still have to believe. Proof doesn't get you to the ending goal of belief. Believing in God is not like believing in other things because true belief contain the risk factor for being wrong. It leads to faith and passion. Not epistimicaly rational to prove God's existence but it is pragmatic to believe in Him.

Front 37

Objective v. Subjective Knowing

Back 37

Objective - wanting proof, deals with the object (Kierkegaard: wanting to know if God exists)
Subjective - belief, dealing with the subject (faith)

Front 38

Descarte's Mind/Body problem

Back 38

If the mind and the body are two separate things, then how can they exist as one?

Front 39

Locke on Self-Consciousness

Back 39

Empiricism. A person is a thinking, intelligent thing that has reason despite different locations and forms. This is due to awareness. Awareness is being able to see an object and then realize that you are able to see it. The same is applied to self-consciousness. It is revealed in the rational judgment that the subject (the thought of you) and the object (seeing you) of a conscious perception are identical

Front 40

Locke on personal identity

Back 40

consciousness makes personal identity. It's the ability to recognize yourself regardless of change and capacity to judge and consciously know who I am stays the same over time.

Front 41

Hume's impression/idea distinction

Back 41

There is no idea of the self because ideas come from impressions (senses) and I can't have an impression of self. I can't taste self, I can't touch self, etc. . .

Front 42

Hume's argument for lacking the idea of self

Back 42

It is because of his argument that there is not idea of the self that when we refer to the self, we are referring to either nothing or changing ongoing experiences and impressions. The human mind consists in a succession of disordered, unrelated experiences. Although we try to make order to it, it is still disordered.

Front 43

moral realism

Back 43

the meta-ethical view which claims that:
Ethical sentences express propositions. Some such propositions are true. Those propositions are made true by objective features of the world, independent of subjective opinion.

Front 44

moral skepticism

Back 44

denotes a class of metaethical theories all members of which entail that no one has any moral knowledge.