Philosophy Exam One

Front 1

What is siddhartha's critique of the self?

Back 1

no permanent self-if bundles that create the self are always changing then the self cannot be permanent, no control over bundles therefore no self:
no self doctrine is key to attain nirvana

Front 2

What is the self made up of according to Siddhartha?

Back 2

five bundles/skandhas:
form (material shape, our body)
feelings
formations (acts of the will)
perceptions (sensations)
consciousness

Front 3

Explain why some thinkers have claimed Siddhartha's view is inconsistent with the belief of reincarnation

Back 3

there is nothing to be reincarnated
there is no self meaning no soul, meaning after death nothing is left

Front 4

Why might one interpret Plato’s theory of forms as a response to Heraclitus?

Back 4

He was trying to prove that not everything is in flux because forms never change

Front 5

What are Heraclitus’s positions?

Back 5

Everything is in constant flux

Front 6

What is Plato’s theory of forms?

Back 6

The intelligible world
• Outside time and space
• Consists of forms such as a tree (treeness)
• One gathers the idea of what a tree is
• Can therefore determine what objects are trees because they have treeness
• Sensible things are only partly real because they only resemble its corresponding form
• Things in intelligible world are unchanging and perfect

Front 7

Address the ontological and epistemological significance of Plato’s forms

Back 7

Ontological
• Mathematics only see representations
• Exist in form land
• Number two
• Triangles
Epistemological
• Things are not invented yet, therefore we could not have seen them in form land
• Must have forms in order to know mathematics
• Know about pairs yet the number two does not actually exist in real land

Front 8

Describe the steps of the Socratic method

Back 8

Profess ignorance
Ask questions
Aim at truth

Front 9

What does the Socratic method aim at doing?

Back 9

Help the other person think more deeply and systematically about some significant issue

Front 10

How does Socrates specifically show Euthyphro that Euthyphro’s initial definition of impiety is incoherent?

Back 10

He tells him that if what is dear to the gods is pious then some things are both pious and impious because what is loved by one god may not be loved by all

Front 11

What is the first definition Euthyphro provides of impiety?

Back 11

What is dear to the gods

Front 12

How does Socrates demonstrate that Euthyphro’s definition of impiety is insufficient?

Back 12

Some things are dear to certain gods and not to others
•The same thing could be both pious and impious

Front 13

Explain Plato and Aristotle’s evaluation of Greek tragedy

Back 13

Aristotle
• Defends it
• Artists give us a greater understanding of the universal that lies within the particular
Plato
• Hates it
• Says they are horrible imitations and are nothing compared to forms

Front 14

Do Plato and Aristotle welcome all poets to the ideal political state?

Back 14

Aristotle welcomes poets, plato does not

Front 15

Why does Aristotle write about catharsis?

Back 15

To defend his position on artists
• It allows people to release their dark sides

Front 16

Do you agree with either thinker?

Back 16

I agree with Aristotle
• Although art is not perfect it gives us knowledge in another form that is sometimes easier to grasp
• It also allows people to show their dark side in a manner that is not harmful

Front 17

In the Nichomachean Ethics, what is Aristotle’s Golden Mean?

Back 17

The middle between excess and deficiency for oneself
Not giving or taking too little or too much

Front 18

What does the golden mean have to do with virtue?

Back 18

Only good virtues
Not bad such as murder, theft, or adultery

Front 19

Examples of the Golden Mean

Back 19

Giving-don’t give all you have, but give some
Don’t eat too much, but don’t starve yourself
Don’t be a coward, but don’t be foolish w confidence

Front 20

How does Epicurus understand phronesis (prudence, practical wisdom) and the nature of the good life?

Back 20

Good life is accessible
Will the pleasures you choose add up to greater pain?
Will the minor pains add up to greater pleasure?
All things are done with the goal of happiness/pleasure
To be good is to be like gods

Front 21

What specific advise does Epicurus endorse?

Back 21

Seek wisdom
Do not fear death
Seek most pleasant life not the longest
If pain eventually brings a greater pleasure, deal with it
Secure health of body and tranquility of mind

Front 22

How does Democritus differ in his philosophy from Epicurus

Back 22

Epicurus believes in free will
Democritus believes all things are governed by necessity

Front 23

According to Epictetus the Stoic, what specific things are within our control?

Back 23

Opinion
Desire
Pursuit
Aversion
Our own actions
Things that bring blame or praise

Front 24

According to Epictetus what are outside of our control?

Back 24

Body
Property
Reputation
Command
Things that are not our own actions

Front 25

What specific advice does Epictetus endorse?

Back 25

-Worry only about things in your control
-Only avoid things in your control, so that you will never come upon something you wish to avoid
-Only desire things in your control, you will never be disappointed
-Find delight in general things, such as kissing humans, not a wife
-Don’t find pride in what is not yours
-Don’t demand wishes to come true wish things to happen as they happen

Front 26

Compare Epictetus's ethics with Aristotle

Back 26

Differences
• Aristotle says emotions are rational, while Epictetus says people should detach themselves from emotions
Similarities
• Both believe the goal of all actions is happiness/pleasure

Front 27

What are arguments?

Back 27

Passages which purport to support or prove a statement

Front 28

What are two components in every argument, explain the functions of these components

Back 28

Premises-support evidence
Conclusion-statement to be proved

Front 29

Provide four conclusion indicator words

Back 29

Therefore
Consequently
As a result
Accordingly

Front 30

Provide four premise indicator words

Back 30

Since
Because
Given that
As indicated by

Front 31

What is the difference between inductive and deductive arguments?

Back 31

Inductive
• 1-99%, probability, degrees of support, predictions
Deductive
• 0% or 100% support or proof
• Math, necessity

Front 32

What is ethical relativism?

Back 32

Moral right or wrong may differ from person to person or culture to culture

Front 33

Define and explain what position ethical relativism holds in precise detail

Back 33

-Right and wrong cannot be judged by comparing one’s actions to another’s beliefs
-Wife beating is wrong in US but accepted in other countries

Front 34

State the chronological order in which the following world religions appeared: judaism, chrisianity, buddhism, islam, hinduism

Back 34

Hinduism
Judaism
Buddhism
Christianity
Islam

Front 35

What charges does Socrates defend himself against in Plato’s apology?

Back 35

Corrupting youth
Making up gods

Front 36

What does Socrates suggest they do with him?

Back 36

Give him a meal (jokingly)
Pay a fine

Front 37

What do they do with Socrates?

Back 37

Sentence him to death