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Question 1

Who was Heraclitus?

Answer 1

An ancient Greek philosopher who believed in constant change, termed ‘flux’.

Question 2

What did Heraclitus famously state about rivers?

Answer 2

A person never steps in the same river twice, as both the river and the person change.

Question 3

How did Plato interpret Heraclitus’ challenge?

Answer 3

He believed that if everything is constantly changing, we cannot gain true knowledge.

Question 4

What is Plato’s conclusion regarding knowledge?

Answer 4

True eternal unchanging knowledge cannot be gained empirically; it must come from a priori reason.

Question 5

What is Aristotle’s view on gaining knowledge?

Answer 5

We can understand the causal mechanisms responsible for change and gain true knowledge from experience.

Question 6

What is the world of forms according to Plato?

Answer 6

The true reality that is perfect, eternal, and unchanging.

Question 7

What are particulars in Plato’s philosophy?

Answer 7

Imperfect representations of the forms that we experience in the world of appearance.

Question 8

What did Plato use to illustrate his theory of forms?

Answer 8

The allegory of the cave.

Question 9

In Plato’s allegory of the cave, what do the shadows represent?

Answer 9

The objects we experience in the world.

Question 10

What is Aristotle’s main criticism of Plato’s theory of forms?

Answer 10

It lacks empirical evidence and explanatory power regarding our experiences.

Question 11

What are the four causes according to Aristotle?

Answer 11

• Material cause
• Formal cause
• Efficient cause
• Final cause (telos)

Question 12

What does the material cause refer to?

Answer 12

What a thing is made of.

Question 13

What does the formal cause refer to?

Answer 13

The essence or defining characteristic of a thing.

Question 14

What does the efficient cause refer to?

Answer 14

What brings a being into existence.

Question 15

What does the final cause refer to?

Answer 15

The end goal or purpose of a thing.

Question 16

What is the form of the Good in Plato’s philosophy?

Answer 16

The highest form that illuminates and nourishes all existence.

Question 17

Who should rule according to Plato’s understanding of the form of the Good?

Answer 17

A philosopher king.

Question 18

What is Aristotle’s view on the relationship between knowledge and virtue?

Answer 18

Cultivating virtue is required to do good; mere knowledge of the good is not sufficient.

Question 19

What is the third man argument?

Answer 19

A critique of Plato’s theory of forms that suggests an infinite regress of forms.

Question 20

What is Plato’s argument from recollection?

Answer 20

We have innate knowledge of perfect forms because our souls existed in a realm of forms before birth.

Question 21

What is anamnesis in Plato’s philosophy?

Answer 21

The process of re-remembering the forms through experience.

Question 22

What is the implication of Plato’s rationalism?

Answer 22

Knowledge must be a priori, originating from the world of forms.

Question 23

What does Aristotle conclude about the nature of change?

Answer 23

All change can be explained through the four causes.

Question 24

What is the potentiality of a thing?

Answer 24

The way actual things could become given certain conditions.

Question 25

What did Francis Bacon argue regarding final causation?

Answer 25

It has no place in empirical science and is a metaphysical issue.

Question 26

According to modern science, how is purpose viewed?

Answer 26

As a non-teleological concept, reducing to material structure.

Question 27

What did Aristotle think about the relationship between form and matter?

Answer 27

He believed that form cannot be separated from the material things.

Question 28

What is the essence of Aristotle's empirical method?

Answer 28

Gaining knowledge through experience and analysis of causal processes.

Question 29

What does the concept of telos refer to?

Answer 29

Purpose or end goal of an object or being ## Footnote In philosophy, telos often relates to the ultimate purpose or aim of something, especially in Aristotelian thought.

Question 30

How does modern science view the concept of telos?

Answer 30

It explains change and apparent purpose without telos ## Footnote Modern science focuses on material and efficient causation rather than teleological explanations.

Question 31

Who are some modern Christian philosophers mentioned that argue science is limited?

Answer 31

* Swinburne * Polkinghorne ## Footnote These philosophers argue that science cannot answer all existential questions.

Question 32

What does Dawkins claim about the validity of 'why' questions regarding purpose?

Answer 32

'Why' questions about purpose are 'silly' ## Footnote Dawkins argues that such questions assume a purpose that may not exist.

Question 33

What is Sartre's view on objective telos or purpose?

Answer 33

There is no objective telos; humans must create their own purpose ## Footnote Sartre believes that existence precedes essence, implying freedom to define purpose.

Question 34

What psychological aspects does Sartre associate with the need for objective purpose?

Answer 34

* Fear of abandonment * Anguish over responsibility * Despair over constraints ## Footnote Sartre argues that people create notions of purpose to cope with existential angst.

Question 35

What is a criticism of Sartre's argument against telos?

Answer 35

It commits the genetic fallacy ## Footnote This fallacy assumes that the origin of a belief affects its truth.

Question 36

What does Aristotle claim is the defining feature of a human being?

Answer 36

The ability to reason ## Footnote Aristotle's view contrasts with modern scientific perspectives on human essence.

Question 37

What does formal causation refer to in Aristotle's philosophy?

Answer 37

The essence or defining characteristic of a thing ## Footnote For example, the shape of a chair is its formal cause.

Question 38

How did F. Bacon view formal causation?

Answer 38

As a metaphysical matter beyond empirical study ## Footnote Bacon argued that science can only investigate efficient causes.

Question 39

What is Aristotle's theory of the Prime Mover?

Answer 39

An unmoved mover that maintains motion in the universe ## Footnote Aristotle inferred this to explain the existence of change and motion.

Question 40

What is the efficient cause in Aristotle's view of the universe?

Answer 40

The motion of stars affecting the ether and planets ## Footnote Aristotle had a geocentric view of the universe.

Question 41

What did Newton challenge about Aristotle's beliefs on motion?

Answer 41

That objects stop moving by themselves ## Footnote Newton proposed that objects continue moving until acted upon by another force.

Question 42

What is Plato's One Over Many argument about?

Answer 42

The existence of abstract qualities shared by categories ## Footnote Plato argues that categories like 'tree' imply an ideal form of 'treeness'.

Question 43

What is Aristotle's response to Plato's One Over Many argument?

Answer 43

Form cannot be separated from the thing itself ## Footnote Aristotle believes a thing's essence is inherent and not separate.

Question 44

What was Wittgenstein's criticism of the One Over Many argument?

Answer 44

Categories are determined by social convention, not objective reality ## Footnote Wittgenstein argued that recognition in categories relies on family resemblances.