Lecture 2

Question 1

Name some of Descartes’ contributions to thought

Answer 1

unification of algebra
Cartesian coordinate system/method
reflex theory
mind-body relationship

Question 2

What philosopher’s empiricist theory of the mind and writings on the function of the psyche (soul) influenced Western writings?

Answer 2

Aristotle

Question 3

Who were the scholastic philosophers?

Answer 3

Group of medieval philosophers who supported the doctrine that the components of a thing corresponded to the perceptible properties of that thing.

Question 4

Who was Nicolaus Copernicus

Answer 4

Posited the idea of a heliocentric solar system

Question 5

Define the Aristotelian concept of soul

Answer 5

Essential ingredient differentiating the living from nonliving

Question 6

_____________ is the belief that all organisms, even plants, had the ability to nourish themselves and reproduce.

Answer 6

Vegetative soul

Question 7

Define Animal soul

Answer 7

Animals were said to have sensitive souls which provided the more complex functions of locomotion, sensation and memory.

Question 8

What is the rational soul?

Answer 8

Human beings were thought to be unique in that they have rational souls, the ability to reason and be moral

Question 9

What contributions did Marsenne do?

Answer 9

mentor of Descartes

Question 10

What are the contributions of Beeckman?

Answer 10

revitalized support to Descartes

Question 11

___________ is distinguishing true from false, and good ideas from bad, by calling into question any aspects of those facts or ideas that are not known for certain. Process of systematic doubt.

Answer 11

Skepticism

Question 12

What was Descartes’ 4 prong method towards skepticism?

Answer 12

1) Never accept things as true unless it can be clearly shown to be.
2) Separate each complex problem into many parts before you solve.
3) Rank problems in order of difficulty
4) Make a thorough review

Question 13

__________ ___________ systematically calls into question and challenges all assumptions and ideas so that what is left is unquestionable.

Answer 13

Cartesian doubt

Question 14

The __________ argument is that something must exist in order to do the thinking and doubting

Answer 14

Cogito

Question 15

What is the “clockwork universe”?

Answer 15

Descartes’ mechanistic view of the physical world. Physical things explain the workings of the physical world. But the human mind lies outside the realm of the physical.

Question 16

What is rationalism?

Answer 16

View that true knowledge is ultimately derived from a process of rational thought.

Question 17

__________ is the view that some ideas are not invented or discovered, but inherent or innate.

Answer 17

Nativism

Question 18

Describe interactionist dualism.

Answer 18

Rational decisions can lead to physical actions
Events in the physical world are perceived by the mind
Mind and body are interact through a single pathway.
Special role of the pineal gland,

Question 19

What was Descartes’ book called?

Answer 19

Le Monde

Question 20

What are animal spirits?

Answer 20

Descartes’ term for the yellowish clear liquid in the brain, aka CSF

Question 21

The primary sense receptors of animals and humans were like pressure plates that started the flow of _______ ______ through a series of pipes.

Answer 21

animal spirits

Question 22

Self awareness is a _________ state.

Answer 22

private

Question 23

What is the phrase given to the points that the mental and physical worlds are distinct, the body is constrained by physical laws of space and time while the mind is an abstract and non-material entity?

Answer 23

The “ghost in the machine”