Intro to Philosophy - OpenStax Textbook

Question 1

In Hinduism, what is Manu?

Answer 1

Manu is the first human being in Hindu mythology.
He is associated with a great flood.
Regarded as the first lawgiver.

In Hindu cosmology, each era is called a ‘‘Manu’’

Question 2

What does it mean to say that a set of beliefs or statements is coherent?

Answer 2

It means that all of the statements or beliefs can be true at the same time. This is also what is termed ‘‘logically consistent.’’

Question 3

What could Socrates mean by ‘‘the unexamined life is not worth living?’’

Answer 3

1. Examination of the self. At the temple of the oracle of Delphi, one of the three maxims engraved is the phrase ‘‘Know Thyself.’’ (Plato suggests that it is a warning: know your position in relation to the gods. Socrates wants peoples beliefs to be consistent.
2. Examination of Nature. Seeking to understand the nature of the world we live in.
3. Understanding human limits (especially with knowledge).

Question 4

What is an apt metaphor for the Socratic Method?

Answer 4

The questioner plays the role of a midwife during childbirth. They are there to assist the person being questioned in discovering the truth on their own.

Question 5

What is a representation for philosophers and cognitive scientists?

Answer 5

A information bearing unit of thought. Representations are the objects that minds consider when they think.

(similar to Tasawur)

Question 6

What is anchoring bias

Answer 6

It is the tendency to overly rely on the first piece of information (the anchor) when making decisions or judgements.

Question 7

Where were the oldest human writings found?

Answer 7

Sumer, around 5,500 years old.

Question 8

What marks the transition from ‘‘prehistory’’ to ‘‘history’’

Answer 8

The use of writing.

Question 9

Who coined the term ‘‘the Axial Age’’ and what does it refer to?

Answer 9

Karl Jaspers

a period (800-200bc) when major religious, philsophical and intellectual traditions emerged across different parts of the world. A focus on existential questions about life, death and nature of the universe in major regions.

Question 10

Who are the Yoruba?

Answer 10

An ethnic group in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Question 11

What is the religion of the Yuruba people called?

Answer 11

Ifá (ee-FAH)

Believe in a single, supreme God known as Olorun. Creator and sustainer. Beyond comprehension.

Pantheon of other dieties known as Orisha.

Ifá is a system of divination.

Question 12

What does Bhagavad Gita mean?

Answer 12

The Song of the Lord.

Question 13

What is the metaphysical principle underlying the Vedic texts?

Answer 13

Through reflection on the self, one can come to understand the cosmos (Brahman).

Question 14

What story best illustrates the Dao concept of Wuweu?

Answer 14

The Cook Ding:

Cook Ding is a master butcher, cutting up an ox. He was so skillful that he had used the same knife for 19 years without sharpening it. His movements were like a dance and effortless, without making any mistakes. He was asked how he attained such a skill. He says:

When he first started carving, he could only see the whole ox and struggled. After 3 years, he could no longer see the whole carcass, only the spaces and natural composition. He follows the natural composition and seams, allowing his knife to move freely without resistance…

Question 15

Who was Akhenaton’s wife?

Answer 15

Nefertiti.

Question 16

How long did Plato spend in Egypt?

Answer 16

Around 13 years.

Question 17

When did Akhenaton live?

Answer 17

14th century BC

Question 18

Who did Akhenaton worship?

Answer 18

Aten, the sun god.
Akhenaton held that solar energy was the element out of which all other elements emenated (unseen divinity responsible for creation)

(potential link to Plato’s metaphysics)

Question 19

What is Monism?

Answer 19

The belief that the universe is made up of one substance.

Question 20

What is Plurism?

Answer 20

The belief that the universe is made up of more than one substance.

Question 21

Who said ‘‘it is not possible to step into the same river twice’’

Answer 21

Heraclitus

Question 22

Aristotle’s four causes:

Answer 22

1. What is it made of? (material)
2. What shape is it (formal)
3. What agent gave it this form? (Efficient)
4. What is it for? (Final)

Question 23

What was the key metaphysical problem for the Neoplatonists?

Answer 23

They sought an account for how a perfect God could create a seemingly imperfect world.

God, timeless and eternal, is perfect. He exists in the ‘‘unchanging’’ realm.
The craetion, time-bound and not eternal, is imperfect, and exists in the changing realm.

Creation emenates from God, but the further one is from the source, the less perfect a thing becomes.

Question 24

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 24

A proposed explanation for an observed phenomenon or process.

Question 25

What is the Law of the Excluded middle?

Answer 25

That for any statement, either that statement is true, or its negation is true. It is called the excluded middle because it excludes the possibility of a ''middle'' or intermediate state between truth and falsehood.

Question 26

What do deductive inferences focus on?

Answer 26

The structure of arguments.

Question 27

Another name for Abductive Reasoning is...

Answer 27

Inference to the best explanation. The conclusion is meant to explain the evidence offered in the premises.

Question 28

Occam's razor says that...

Answer 28

The simplest explanation is the best explanation.

Question 29

When the **form** of an argument is problematic, it is called...

Answer 29

A FORMAL fallacy.

Question 30

An informal fallacy is when...

Answer 30

The reasons offered as support for the conclusion are not adequate.

Question 31

What are the 4 general categories that informal fallacies can fall into?

Answer 31

1. Fallacies of relevance 2. Fallacies of weak induction 3. Fallacies of unwarranted assumptions 4. fallacies of diversion

Question 32

Fallacies of relevance are when...

Answer 32

The arguer gives evidence that isn't relevant for logically establishing the conclusion. (appeal to emotion, ad hominem)

Question 33

Fallacies of weak induction occur when...

Answer 33

a conclusion is based on weak or insufficient evidence (hasty generalisations, appeal to ignorance, false cause etc)

Question 34

Fallacies of unwarranted assumptions occur when...

Answer 34

an argument relies on a piece of information that requires further justification... (False dichotomies, begging the question)

Question 35

Begging the question is when...

Answer 35

the arguer assumes the truth of the conclusion they are trying to prove, instead of providing evidence for it. e.g: 1. i'm trustworthy because i always tell the truth.

Question 36

Fallacies of Diversion occur when..

Answer 36

the arguer attempts to distract attention away from the argument at hand (straw mans, red herring,

Question 37

in Arisistotilian thought, potentiality is...

Answer 37

The level to which a beings purpose might reach. E.g - acorn has the potential to become an oak but hasn't become one yet.

Question 38

In Aristotilian thought, actuality is...

Answer 38

The level to which a being has realised its purpose. i.e: the fulfilment or realisation of potential... when an acorn becomes an oak tree.

Question 39

Define the assumption of naturalism in metaphysics:

Answer 39

meaningful inquiry includes only the physical and the laws governing physical entities. It rejects the priority placed on reason assumed within metaphysics. A naturalists inventory only includes those things found in the physical realm.

Question 40

What is the main difference between theistic conceptions of the soul and hindu/buddhist conceptions?

Answer 40

Theistic: Soul is created and ever lasting. Buddhist/Hindu: Atman (soul/self) is eternal and reincarnates until moksha (liberation from reincarnation) occurs.

Question 41

What is bundle theory?

Answer 41

An object is nothing more than a collection of properties. there is no ''essence'' or ''substance'' to things. It is primacy of properties.

Question 42

Teleological arguments...

Answer 42

examine the inherent design within the universe and attempt to infer the existence of a wise entity responsible for that design.

Question 43

Who first outlined the ''watch'' argument?

Answer 43

William Paley.

Question 44

How does Anselm define God in his ontological argument?

Answer 44

"a being than which nothing greater can be conceived"

Question 45

What is a posteriori knowledge?

Answer 45

Knowledge gained through experience.

Question 46

what is A Priori knowledge?

Answer 46

Knowledge that can be gained prior to or independent of experience.

Question 47

What is knowledge by acquaintance?

Answer 47

knowledge gained from direct experience. (pain).

Question 48

What is global scepticism?

Answer 48

A view that questions the possibility of all knowledge.

Question 49

What are Aristotle's three types of friendship?

Answer 49

Friendships of pleasure Friendships of utility Friendships of character

Question 50

Consequentialism looks at...

Answer 50

An action's outcome or consequences to determine whether it is morally right.

Question 51

Deontology focuses on...

Answer 51

duties or rules to determine rightness of an action.

Question 52

Virtue ethics focuses on...

Answer 52

character and the development of the right habits or traits.

Question 53

The history of political philosophy in the west can be traced back to...

Answer 53

Ancient Greece.

Question 54

The word polis refers to...

Answer 54

The city state - the basic unit of government in Ancient Greece

Question 55

What is conservatism?

Answer 55

A political theory that favours instittions and practices that have demonstrated their value over time, and are hence worth preserving. Government serves society, and change should be gradual.

Question 56

When is the Enlightenment commonly dated ?

Answer 56

1685-1815

Question 57

What did the enlightenment inspire?

Answer 57

A 'turn' to reason, science and technology to achieve better lives for individuals and produce steady progress for human race.

Question 58

In short, what was the goal of the enlightenment?

Answer 58

The use of reason and the emperical study of the world would ultimately lead to progress.