Quiz 1

Question 1

Philosophy

Answer 1

the rational attempt to formulate, understand, and answer fundamental questions

Question 2

Fundamental questions

Answer 2

“basic” questions; has to do with what is primary; radical and abstract questions

• Based on definition
• Based on model

Question 3

To problematize what we think we know

Answer 3

Take our knowledge and not just accept it, but find an alternative story (critical approach)
-Critiquing and rethinking what we think we know

Question 4

Speculative approach to philosophy

Answer 4

more traditional; to generate knowledge

Question 5

4 main branches of Philosophy (Western)

Answer 5

1. Metaphysics
2. Epistemology
3. Axiology
4. Logic

Question 6

Metaphysics

Answer 6

• purpose: to develop a theory of reality or a theory of what is genuinely real
• Distinction between appearance and reality
• “Why is there something rather than nothing?”

Question 7

Epistemology

Answer 7

• study of knowledge and truth
• Distinction between knowledge and opinion
• Look for a definition of truth and wonder and how we can distinguish truth from error
• True for everyone? Or is truth subjective? Only to some communities?

Question 8

Axiology (Value Theory)

Answer 8

study of value and distinction between value and fact

1. Ethics
2. Aesthetics

Question 9

Ethics

Answer 9

-questions about how to lead a morally good life
-Rules or standards vs. human virtues (qualities)
-Applied ethics
Attempts to decide what values and principles we should use to judge human action as morally right or wrong

Question 10

Aesthetics

Answer 10

• deals with values we associate with art and beauty

- Different aesthetic judgements and vocab

Question 11

Logic

Answer 11

• the study of principles of correct reasoning

- Principles to guide the reasoning process

Question 12

Rationality

Answer 12

has to do with the way we proceed to investigate matters, settle disputes, evaluate evidence, and assess peoples’ behaviors, practices, and beliefs

Question 13

Rationalists

Answer 13

get knowledge through exercising reason
-claim that foundational principles of rationality amount to “clear and distinct ideas” that are innate in the human mind or can be discovered by a careful and critical analysis of our beliefs

Question 14

Foundationalism

Answer 14

there are standards we can appeal to in order to determine if a belief, view or action is rational
Standards are:
1. Objective
2. Universal
3. Infallible
4. Self-evident
-There is only ONE set of correct standards (only one form of rationality)

Question 15

Rationalist Foundationalists

Answer 15

believe the standards are certain forms/ structures of reasoning (logical laws and rules of inference) and/or a privileged set of ideas (standards come from reasoning)

• Laws of Logic: Law of noncontradiction, Law of excluded middle, Law of identity
• Rules of Inference
• Clear and distinct ideas: ideas that are so evident that all grounds for doubt are excluded

Question 16

Laws of Logic

Answer 16

Law of noncontradiction
Law of excluded middle
Law of identity

Question 17

Law of noncontradiction

Answer 17

no statement can be both true and false

Question 18

Law of excluded middle

Answer 18

every statement is either true or it is false; there is no third position

Question 19

Law of identity

Answer 19

A=A. A thing is what it is and is identical with itself. It is not another thing.

Question 20

Rules of Inference

Answer 20

rules about how we infer things from previous things
If a, then b
(If santa is believed to be jolly, then santa exists
Santa is believed to be jolly, therefore santa exists)

Question 21

Empiricist Foundationalists

Answer 21

• believe the standards are sense impressions
• “Seeing is believing”
• Making observations through the senses → sense data
• Empiricism is an epistemological position

Question 22

Constructivism

Answer 22

-there are no standards that are not conditioned in important ways by culture, history, language, community, etc., so there are no objective and universal standards.
-Can take the form of relativism
Rationality is a social construction

Question 23

Relativism

Answer 23

holds the standards of rationality (cognitive relativism) and/or ethics (ethical relativism) are relative to a community, culture, language group, etc.
-Consistent relativist can accept that from some (relative) point of view, the theory is false, irrational

Question 24

Pluralism

Answer 24

• there may be more than one set of standards and/or truths
• Convinced that we can learn from one another and that it’s good to try to discover common ground among different sets of standards
• Willing to appeal to a variety of standards in order to reach a conclusion, but does not assume that all standards are equally valuable
• Accepts fallibility, and admits that we cannot reach a clear answer
• Underlying value: understanding one another

Question 25

Socrates

Answer 25

“Father of Western Philosophy”
Interested in ethical and political problems
Chaerephon visits the Delphic Oracle
- concludes: Socrates was ignorant, but at least he knew it (he knew what he did not know), so he could accept the Oracle’s statement because he’s aware of his ignorance

Question 26

Socrates’ Agenda for Philosophy

Answer 26

Focus: the human soul (psyche)
-Most important thing: to take care of the soul by doing Philosophy
-People should pursue truth (*objective and universal truth)- Rationalist Foundationalist
-Truthfulness (truth as a value)
-Important connection between knowing and doing
—“One who knows the good will do the good”
—Ignorance is the root of all evil
VALUES** (Counter-cultural)

Question 27

Socrates’ Method

Answer 27

• Elenchus (cross-examination)
• “What is X?” (x would be a general concept such as “justice”, “beauty”)
• The essence or nature of X
• Single characteristic that is X itself and which makes something the kind of thing it is
• Looking for definitions of the essence
• NOT looking for examples of X