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A level RS --> philosophy > ancient philosophical influences > Flashcards

ancient philosophical influences Flashcards

1
Q

why is the form of the good necessary for knowledge

A
  • true knowledge only occurs when you know the form of the good beecause you can only know the forms are truly perfect if you know what these are (which the form of the good gives you)
  • enables you to see how theyre united together
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2
Q

why does aristotle think the unmoved mover is necessary?

A
  • without it there would be no movement and so without understanding the role it plays in the universe, you cant truly and fully understand all the things in this universe- this is why it is necessary for knowledge
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3
Q

what is the form of the good?

A
  • superior form
  • “the highest Form of knowledge is the Form of the Good, from which things that are just and so on derive their usefulness and value”
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4
Q

what is Plato’s theory of the forms?

A

Plato’s belief that there was a demiurge which created this physical world out of imperfect matter, shaping it into imperfect copies of the forms. The forms are perfect, absolute and universal ideas that have not been created and exist spiritually as ideas. All particular things in this world are modelled on a form, e.g. idea of a horse: in this world we see examples of horses that are all diff but despite this we can identify them as a horse due to their common essence (we know this in the mind). This essence is the Form which exists singularly as an unchanging perfect idea (which unlike all physical horses, does not decay or die…).
The forms exist in the realm of the forms and knowledge is only found here, which is only known rationally when we recall our innate memories of the forms within our mind/soul which used to exist in the realm of the forms until it was trapped in the physical world within our bodies.

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5
Q

what is plato’s dualism?

A

two realities:
1. intelligible world: world of the forms
2. physical finite world: world of appearance

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6
Q

what is plato’s analogy of the form of the good

A

the simile of the sun:
- FoG is like the sun bc it is above all creation (above all the forms) and provides light so everything is visible and we can experience them (illuminates all of the other forms in the mind so humans can recall and know them)

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7
Q

what is aristotle’s ontology

A
  • monism and so only one reality, and knowledge is found in this world/reality
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8
Q

what does plato think opinion is

A

has no being and has no attributes - not real or true

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9
Q

what does plato think about our souls?

A
  • They used to exist in the realm of the forms before getting trapped in this world.
  • it is the soul that remembers the forms they experience when they were there
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10
Q

what does aristotle think about this universe?

A
  • all things in this universe are constantly moving to their telos in an orderly manner
  • must be a reason why the universe is constantly changing –> must be a final causewhich sustains this movement –> believe in a unmoved mover which he calls God (not religious)–> Aristotle believes full knowledge only occurs when the final cause of the universe is known
  • things in the physical universe are attracted by the unmoved mover –> they want to become perfect and this causes them to move towards their telos – therefore the unmoved mover causes other things to move, not deliberately, but just because it is excellent: “it has the capacity of moving something else [but] is itself unmoved”
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11
Q

what does aristotle think about epistemology?

A
  • knowledge is gained if we reason carefully about our repeated experience of this world (a posteriori)- so knowledge is gained via experience as well as through reasoning
  • we create a priori knowledge through experiences because we look at our experiences and compare them to remove sensory errors and find out what is knowledge(what is objective and universal)
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12
Q

what did Plato think knowledge is?

A

Knowledge is timeless, objective, has full being and is perfectly good

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13
Q

what did Plato think belief is?

A

Has some being and can be improved upon

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14
Q

what did Plato believe the role of philosophy was?

A

To show what is knowledge- the fundamental truths of reality, which is immutable, universal and objective

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15
Q

what are the 4 causes?

A
  • aristotle argues that through his method of critically analysing our experience, we can find that all things can be explained through the 4 causes
  • no matter how much a thing changes it can always be expkained by the 4 causes
  • 1st cause: material: what type of matter/substance something is made out of - without this nothing would be
  • 2nd cause: formal: the shape of a thing- this gives the matter characteristics so it can gain its telos
  • 3rd cause: efficient: motion of action that caused something to be/come into existence- can be a person or natural thing- this is how we use the word cause today
  • 4th cause: final: ultimate purpose/function of something (telos)- determines a things characteristics and causes something to move from its curreent state to its potential one (which is good) - all things have this
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16
Q

what are our memories of the forms?

A
  • This is a mental concept which is universal and perfect, and exist as ideas (eidos) and are singular (eg we have one concept of a pen).
  • These memories are always what they are perfectly and without qualification (they are immutable), therefore they are the same regardless of who contemplates them.
  • they enable us to understand what we experience in this world as we know what something is (ie a pen) because it participates in the form\
  • they are known a priori and plato thinks they are innate
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17
Q

simile of the cave

A

people in chains/tied to walll: ignorant people who accept what other people say and so only have opinions based on illusion (not even belief). they can only see shadows cast by objects held above a fire

shadows on the cave wall: represent opinions and ideas that leaders feed to the masses (second hand info). people holding statues represent the leaders of people who dont know the truth, but do this to maintain their position of power

objects/statues help up over fire: represent particular objects in the world which are copies of the forms and we thinka re true but are actually belief/opinion rather than knowledge

prisoner who is forced to leave: represents philosopher trying to recollect the forms

physical objects outside the cave: the different forms

the sun: the form of the good

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18
Q

how does the form of the good relate to the other forms

A
  • form of the good sustains and exists in all the other forms as they perfectly are what they are which means they are good
  • form of the good links all the forms together so they don’t exist as isolated essences or ideas:
    “The good…[is] the source not only of the intelligibility of the objects of knowledge, but also of their being and reality”
19
Q

How does Plato think we can fully remember the forms

A
  • You need to go to the academy where you can develop the truly rationalist approach that he advocates.
  • enables a person to go beyond the world of the senses and recall the innate forms
20
Q

heirarchy of the forms

A
  • form of the good is superior
  • the more abstract (i.e. beauty) the more important
  • less important forms are the more physical ones
21
Q

evaluation of plato:

A

+ we do have universal objective ideas known via reason
- problems w/ his understanding of these objective universal ideas

+ knowledge can be known a priori and innate
- knowledge can come from the senses

+ removes relativism
- he cannot prove his standard of morality is objective

+ support from other rationalists
+ support from religion for his dualism
- forms are not innate but acquired by experience
- he derives his epistemology from his ontology
- problem’s with plato’s understanding of these objective universal ideas

22
Q

evaluation of Aristotle:

A

+ his causes are still used today
- problems with his 4 causes

+ many agree with his empiricism
- some reject his empiricism

+ many agree with his monism
- not everyone will agree with his monism

+ universe is rational and has a telos as well as things within this
- universe is not rational and doesnt have a telos and nor do things within it

+ people agree that things on this earth (including humans) have a purpose
- no such thing as individual purposes or things

23
Q

+ of plato:
we do have universal objective ideas known via reason

A
  • most agree we have universal ideas/concepts in our minds that are objective and used to understand/explain our experience
  • Kant: argued that the categories which we organise experience into are mental and objective to humans being part of the phenomena
24
Q

-ve of plato: problems with plato’s understanding of these objective universal ideas

A
  • lack of clarity: doesn’t specify what does and doesn’t have a form–> e.g. does dirt or jealousy have a Form? what about elements, like atoms? - this is supported by Russell who thinks this is a “bottomless pit of nonesense”
  • Wittgenstein argues Forms do not have one fixed meaning. For example, ‘game’ has many meanings such as something that involves teams, bats and balls… A singular definition would leave some of these meanings out so it is not possible to create a Form for game. therefore words do not have one singualr meaning
  • problem with the relationship between the form and physical objects which ‘participate in’ this –> Plato suggests the form is like a blueprint which physical things somehow resemble them- but Aristotle criticises this with his argument of a third man. If a particular physical thing and a form are similar because they resemble each other, then there must be a third form showing how the new form and original form and physical thing resemble each other- and then another form representing this and so on, for an infinite regress of resemblances whick make it meaningless.
25
Q

-ve of plato: knowledge can come from the senses

A
  • Plato’s definition of knowledge is too narrow- knowledge can be something that requires experience (e.g. I know my parents and I know how to ride a bike)
  • Plato doesnt consider that knowledge can change: e.g. London is the current capital city but this could change in the future
  • Aristotle questions if knowledge is purely rational and claims it isnt: knowledge is based on what we sense- concepts are derived from repeated experience
26
Q

-ve of Plato: he derives his epistemology from his ontology

A
  • plato begins his theory with the assumption of another realm (realm of forms) which is ontology.
  • then he uses this to prove why knowledge (epistemology: theory of knowledge) is only found there not here
  • INSTEAD: should have proved why his definition of knowledge is correct and also proved the realm of the forms is correct
  • Descartes said you should start with what can be known and then use this to establish what reality is like as this knowledge will validate the view of reality, showing it is true
  • also this is NOT the simplest version–> monism is
27
Q

-ve of plato: he cannot prove his standard of morality is objective

A
  • plato cannot prove the realm of the forms and so cant prove the form of the good
  • standards of goodness are either relative (eg arising from particular cultures which is why standard of goodness does change over time- like how people view homosexuality) OR there is an objective standard (eg what brings most amount of happiness in Utilitarianism) BUT this is not the form of the good
28
Q

-ve of Plato: forms are not innate but acquired by experience

A
  • no evidence for innate knowledge by neuroscience
  • Locke argues we are blank slates at birth
  • Aristotle argues universals or forms arise from reflecting on our repeated experiences
  • THEREFORE forms/knowledge are created mental constructs that are based on our experience
29
Q

-ve of aristotle: universe is not rational and it doesnt have a telos and nor do things within it

A
  • some peple q if the universal is rational: Russell argues it is a “brute fact”
  • existentialist philos (Camus and Sartre): there is no such thing as a purpose-this is just somethung we create –> signif bc if the universal is not rational, his theory is not true
  • no evience to support an unmoved mover –> Hume: ultimate explanation must be proportionate to the evidence- could it be a lesser being instead? (this could explain evil)
  • if there is an unmoved mover that is perfect, how does it cause change within non-perfect physical stuff?
30
Q

-ve of Aristotle: some reject his empiricism

A
  • rationalist philosophers argue our senses could be wrong - Descartes supports this as he argues knowledge is something indubitable and beyond doubt
  • therefore we cant trust sense information –> palto argues sense info tells us what is imperfect in this world, and what is imperfect is not knowledge
  • rationalists argue the only thier way of acquiring knowledge can truly account for a priori truths (eg idea that prime numebrs are universally true) - empiricism cant expain this becayse we dont experience it
31
Q

-ve of aristotle: problems with his 4 causes

A
  • do all things have 4 causes? like emotions?
  • evolution shows there is no final cause, all is random chance
  • do you really know something if you now the 4 causes? eg knowing the efficient cause of the oak tree is the acorn does not explain how the tree came to be
  • Hume: causation is questinable: we dont experience a cause, but a conjuction of events that we label –> Ryle supports this arguing we should be careful not to be making a category mistake
32
Q

-ve of Aristotle: not everyone will agree with his monism

A
  • some argue there is another reality beyond this world, which is more real, being the source of knowledge
  • seen in lots of religions: Christians argue there is a supernatural realm of God which is necessary for us to have true knowledge
33
Q

-ve of aristotle: no such thing as individual purposes or things:

A
  • no evidence that things have a purpose- could just be human constructs
  • fallacy of compostion: even if some individual things have a purpose, does not mean this is working towards the purpose of the whole- Hume agrees: no evidence for their being only one telos, there could be multiple teloses for inividuals
34
Q
  • of plato:
    problem w/ his understanding of these objective universal ideas
A
  • lack of clarity on what has a form- does dirt have a form? Russell argues that this shows his theory is a “bottomless pit of nonsense”
  • Wittgenstein: argues the Forms don’t have one fixed meaning and so it is not possible to create a form for them- e.g. a table: this has several meanings such as a table for a game or the ten times tables. SO words dont have one singuar meaning that remains fixed and static
  • criticism w/ plato’s
35
Q

+ve of Plato: support from religion for dualism

A
  • many religions support dualism (agreeing there is another realm beyond this physical realm, that is more perfect)
  • referred to in different ways: heaven or Moksha
  • support by Buddhists who believe this world is an illusion in comparison to another perfect world (i.e. a similar view)
  • many argue knowledge of this place is needed to make sense of this world and can’t be known through the senses
36
Q

+ve of Plato: support from other ratinalists

A
  • Descartes: has a strict view that knowledge is something indubitable and beyond doubt + says they cannot be gained through the senses as these are not always trustworthy
  • advances in quantum physics: idea that we cant be truly certain of our experiences of the physical world
37
Q

+ve of Plato: removes relativism

A
  • provides a universal standard of morality by his theory of the forms
  • this idea of moral objectivity is seen in the nuremburg trials and formation of declaration of universal human rights
  • Popper argues Plato’s theory is a good way of trying to cope in a world that is contantly changing
38
Q

+ve of Plato: knowledge can be a priori and innate

A
  • true that some knowledge is known a priori: 2+2=4, supported by Meno’s slave boy
  • Descartes agrees that knowledge is a priori: “I think therefore I am”
  • Buddhism believes that truth is a priori and innate
39
Q

+ve of Aristotle: the universe is rational and has a telos aswell as all things within this

A
  • most people agree the universe can be rationally explained and that things do move towards thier telos and has been adopted by Christianity (god is the ultimate purpose of this universe)
  • also seen in aquinas: incorporates a lot of aristotle in his arguemtns for God claiming that the unmoved moved in this christian god
40
Q

+ve of Aristotle: people agree that things on this earth (inlcuding humans) have a purpose

A
  • heart has a purpose
  • the acorn has the purpose of being an adult oak tree
  • humans have a purpose to be rational animals who reason excellently
  • things move towards their telos in an ordelry fashion- so most agree the universe is orderly, not random
41
Q

+ve of aristotle: most agree with his monism

A
  • this is the only reality that exists and it is what is real and true
  • this is the simplest explanation bc it doesnt require one to posit the existence of another universe
  • supported by Ockham’s razor: simplest explanation is the most likely to be true
42
Q

+ve of Aristotle: many agree with his empiricism

A
  • most agree knowledge is empirically based (reasoning about our experiences of the world) - most see this as the simplest explanation: Ockham’s razor
  • supported by neuroscience, which says there is no innate knowledge
  • we can compare experiences and repeatedy test things and subject them to logical and critical scrutiny (as occurs in science) : in science something is seen as true or knowledge if it is repeatedly seen in different settings
43
Q

+ve of aristotle: his causes are still used today

A
  • many agree that to know something is knowing its cause (a sky scraper can be explained by its matter, form, its efficient and its final/formal)
  • efficient cause is the main thing focused upon in science today: eg psych looks at the efficient cause of human behaviour

A level RS --> philosophy (3 decks)

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