Intro To Philosophy

Question 1

Greek definition

Answer 1

Love of wisdom

Question 2

Modern definition

Answer 2

The study of fundamental values of knowledge, reality and existence, academic discipline

Question 3

The methods of philosophy include:

Answer 3

•Questioning
•Critical discussion
•Rational argument
•Systematic presentation / argument

Question 4

Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy helps explaining theoretical concepts and approaches

Question 5

What are the 3 C’s of Philosophy

Answer 5

• Constructing
• Clarifying
• Criticizing

Question 6

Philosophers try to construct _______ __________ for their views, showing they follow ____ from more basic principles

Answer 6

Rational arguments

Logically

Question 7

What is a useful way of dealing with dogmatism

Answer 7

Trying to construct arguments against opponents which will move the DEBATE forward helping everyone understand the STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES of the different positions and the relations between them

Question 8

What are the 4 era’s in philosophy?

Answer 8

1. Ancient
2. Medieval
3. Modern
4. Contemporary

Question 9

Name 3 ancient philosophers

Answer 9

Socrates
Plato
Aristotle

Question 10

Name 3 medieval philosophers

Answer 10

Thomas Aquinas
Augustine of Hippo
Anselm

Question 11

Name 3 modern philosophers

Answer 11

Thomas Hobbes
Rene Descartes
John Locke
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Kant
Hegel
Nietzsche
Marx

Question 12

Name 3 contemporary philosophers

Answer 12

Jean-Paul Sartre
Bertrand Russell
Juergen Habermas
Elizabeth Anscombe
John Rawls
Robert Nozick
Peter Singer

Question 13

By questioning beliefs and testing them out in a rigorous way you can identify:

Answer 13

1. Personal prejudices
2. Wishful thoughts
3. Lazy assumptions

Question 14

In Greek philosophy 2000+ years ago, what branch of philosophy was developed?

Answer 14

Moral philosophy

Question 15

The relationship of morals and ethics are interdependent in society, the workplace and individuals in a way that contributes to:

Answer 15

Order
Harmony
Expectations

Question 16

Ethics comes from the Greek word ‘ETHIKOS’ and relates to ethos or character. It concerns judgements such as:

Answer 16

• Good/bad
• Praise/blame
• Fair/unfair
• Better/worse

CAN BE CONSIDERED RELATIVE/CONDITIONAL

Question 17

Ethics = Values
It is proposed that values are deeper than attitudes and more embedded into our character, thus longer lasting

Answer 17

Developed over time and subject to relative forces

Values —> Attitudes—> Behavior

Question 18

Remember, NOBODY IS VALUE FREE

Answer 18

Values are learned

Question 19

“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them” - (whom?)

Answer 19

Epictetus

Question 20

What are morals?

Answer 20

Morals = Norms

Morality comes from the Latin term MORALIS, and is concerned with ACTIONS and not human character.

Question 21

Morals concern issues of:

Answer 21

• Just/Unjust
• Punishment/Clemency
• Guilt/Innocence
• Right/Wrong

Can be considered ABSOLUTE/UNCONDITIONAL (UNIVERSAL)

Question 22

Name the 3 Categories of Action and briefly describe them

Answer 22

Moral - if they reflect a person’s values or those of society

Immoral - if they go against or are the opposite to a person’s or society’s values. (Knowing the difference between right and wrong) - know it’s wrong but choose to do it anyway

Amoral - if they do not reflect choices based on values or norms of a person or society (have no sense of right and wrong) - children are amoral, they don’t know

Question 23

“Morality is ultimately practical: though it matters morally what we think and feel, morality is, at heart, about what we do” -

Answer 23

Kwame Appiah

Question 24

“There has been a shift of emphasis in philosophical discussion of ethics, away from the purely abstract questions to more practical ones…. This shift of concern towards ‘applied ethics’ has been beneficial” -

Answer 24

Jonathan Glover

Question 25

“To be interested in ethics is to be interested in life!… Faced with two equally convincing arguments, how do you decide which is ‘right’?” -

Answer 25

Mel Thomson

Question 26

What are the goals of successful ethics and morals?

Answer 26

Authenticity Relevance Practicality

Question 27

How are these goals achieved/applied?

Answer 27

Organic - adapt over time or as situations demand Easily implemented Recognised means

Question 28

What shapes ethics and morals?

Answer 28

Are ethics and morals stagnant? Do your ethics and morals coincide with those of your parents, friends, associates, etc? Affected by extrinsic forces? (Outside forces that have a direct bearing on outcomes)

Question 29

Name 7 extrinsic forces

Answer 29

Economics Politics History Culture/tradition Religion Law/rules Media

Question 30

MODERN MEDIA is intrusive and tries to create a modern day ethic and morality through the means of:

Answer 30

Journalism: new, investigative and forensic reporting Social media: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Entertainment: reality TV, talk shows, documentaries

Question 31

Moral / ethical changes that were influenced by extrinsics (supported by legal but changed regardless):

Answer 31

•Slavery •Apartheid •Universal suffrage •Homosexuality •Abortion •OTC sale of contraceptives and the morning after pill •Child labour •Basic education •Animal experimentation

Question 32

How do we know what is ethical/moral?

Answer 32

By knowing and understanding what is ethical we get a sense of what is unethical. If it prohibits or IMPEDES FLOURISHING (well-being) it can be judged to be unethical

Question 33

Briefly describe personal and professional ethics

Answer 33

Personal ethics are a set of values that a person holds. Example, they do not believe in child labor but have a collection of Persian rugs at home. Professional ethics are a set of standards adopted by professions, e.g. integrity, transparency, accountability, etc. - an example of this is personal belief in gender equality, yet no female board member.

Question 34

What is the existing definition of engineering ethics?

Answer 34

“Engineering ethics is a body of philosophy indicating the ways engineers should conduct themselves in their professional capacity” - Fledderman, C.B.

Question 35

The existing definition sucks. Provide the new working definition by Doherty:

Answer 35

“Engineering ethics is a body of applied philosophy that has a practical use on the workplace by engineers. It can assist in the understanding and refining of a sense of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in a way consistent with the other professional responsibilities and duties of an engineer”.