Flashcards in Final Deck (73)
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1
valid argument
if and only if whenever the premises are all true, then conclusion is true
2
sound argument
if and only if it is valid and all its premises are true.
3
a "criterion" or practical test for X (the epistemology of X) vs. a definition or analysis of what we mean by X (the metaphysics of X) vs. a stipulative definition of X
metaphysics of x: what is a thing?; relationship to physical world; what makes x a thing?; what's the nature of x
epistemology of x: How can you tell?; When do you know? when do you have reason to believe?
4
thought experiment
an experiment carried out only in the imagination.
5
equivocation
the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication
6
substance v. property
Substance dualism claims that the the mind (soul) is a separate identity than the physical human being that will live on past their deterioration of our bodies, while Property dualism claims that the mind, although different than the physical human frame, is still linked and thus will end with our death.
7
process-based definitions of life vs. ingredient-based definitions
being alive is about being able to do things/ functions
vs.
x is alive at t iff x produces vital fluid continually
8
Begging the question
Flaw in argument where you assume the conclusion is true and/or have it in premise and the conclusion proves it.
9
"the mind is the brain" vs "the mind is the brain's software"
Physicalism which states that all mental states only happens in physical brain vs mental states can happen by a specific program or process
10
Privileged access
Having special access to your mind, where only you are able to access the mind
11
What is a functional state? For instance, what makes something the ZERO state of a Coke machine
functionalism is the doctrine that what makes something a thought, desire, pain (or any other type of mental state) depends not on its internal constitution but solely on its function, or the role it plays, in the cognitive system of which it is a part
if something acts likke a particular mental state, then it is that mental state
mental states can be "realized" by different physical states"
12
Causal Theory of Mind, functionalism
mind = "brain software"
mind is composed of programs that operate mental states
13
examples of using Leibniz's Law to argue for dualism; examples using it to argue against dualism
If A & B are one + the same thing --> have all the same properties
The brain/body can come in different degrees, but the mind does not. Therefore the mind is not the brain
14
The "epistemic objections" to various proposals about personal identity
Argument against soul theory of personal identity. We can't see the soul, how do you know you are the same person as the same soul (soul could change, could have many souls, or no soul at all)
15
Hedonism
theory that what is valuable (pleasure) and not valuable (pain) are what is important
16
Psychological Continuity
Concept that our memories, behavior, characteristics, and thoughts continue throughout one's existence, a key concept in personal identity
17
Reductio
An argument whose conclusions seem too absurd to be true
18
Examples of claims which are necessary but such that someone might be able to conceive or imagine them false
A right triangle has to be a2 + b2 = c2, but you can conceive of a triangle where this isn't true even though the Pythagorean theorem has to be metaphysically possible; the amnesiac professor wanting to kill the professor
19
the "psychological continuity + no competitors" view of personal identity
The theory that if you are psychologically continuous with yourself and no one else is, then you are yourself. Meant to avoid the problem that in a fission case if two duplicates arise
20
Mediation 6 argument that my mind is separate from my body
I can imagine my mind being possibly separate from my body, thus my mind has to be separate. Thus I am "metaphysically" distinct
21
Surviving in the strict philosophical sense vs. surviving in Parfit's sense (that is, having someone around who is psychologically continuous with you)
Surviving in the strict philosophical sense usually involves just myself, and when I die, I no longer survive. For Parfit, surviving can happen after my own physical death. If someone else is psychologically continuous with myself, I will continue to survive.
22
Representational states, intentionality
All mental states are "about" something. Mental states are intentional and are a thought or something about an object or something
23
Acting for your own purposes vs. acting for selfish purposes
?
24
the Deprivation Account of the badness of death
According to the deprivation account, what is bad about death is the fact that because one ceases to exist, one becomes deprived of the good things in life. Being dead is not intrinsically bad; it is comparatively bad and one is worse off only by virtue of not being able to enjoy the things one enjoyed while alive, such as watching the sunset, listening to music, and discussing philosophy.
25
Dispositions
related notion
properties like being crushable, fragile, soluble
"would be"
26
The "soul theory" of personal identity
Theory that you are the same soul.
27
Difference between the process of dying, the event of death, the state of being dead
?
28
Behaviorism
All there is to having some mental state is being disposed to believe a certain way
29
Numerical identity vs qualitative identity
being one and the same thing as x
vs
sharing intrinsic features
30
