Philosophy Exam 1 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Where did Stoicism originate?
Ancient Greece.
Where did most influential Stoics live?
The Roman Empire.
Who were the major Stoic philosophers?
Zeno of Citium (344-262 BCE) – Founder of Stoicism.
Seneca (4 BCE-65 CE) – Roman philosopher and statesman.
Epictetus (55-135 CE) – Former slave, emphasized personal control.
Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE) – Roman Emperor, wrote Meditations.
Who is Massimo Pigliucci?
A modern philosopher and evolutionary biologist who updated Stoicism for the 21st century.
What are the things in our control?
Our opinions, desires, actions, and choices.
What are things not in our control?
Our body, property, reputation, command over others, and the past.
How does Pigliucci criticize this view?
Assumes too much control over internal things.
Assumes too little control over external things.
What analogy does Pigliucci prefer?
Cicero’s archer analogy—we control our effort, but not the outcome.
What is ataraxia?
A state of serenity and peace of mind.
How does Pigliucci say Stoicism leads to ataraxia?
Through knowing what we can/can’t control, embracing rationality, and seeing order in the universe.
What does Epictetus compare death to in the passage about wheat?
Just as wheat ripens to be harvested, humans are meant to die as part of nature.
What does Epictetus say is worse than death?
Fear of death, because it weakens our spirit and enslaves us.
How does Epictetus redefine death?
As simply the body returning to the elements—it’s neither strange nor irrational.
What does ‘See that you do not act like a sheep’ mean?
Don’t blindly follow others—use rationality to guide your actions.
How did Stoic philosopher Hierocles promote cosmopolitanism?
He advised students to call everyone ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ to emphasize human connection.
When and where was Aristotle born?
Born in Macedonia (Northern Greece) in 384 BCE, died in 322 BCE.
How was Aristotle connected to the Macedonian court?
His father was reportedly the court physician for the King of Macedon.
Who were Aristotle’s famous teacher and student?
Plato (teacher) and Alexander the Great (student).
What subjects did Aristotle write about?
Logic, physics, biology, astronomy, ethics, political philosophy, and metaphysics.
What is metaphysics?
The study of the basic principles of reality and human nature.
What is Aristotle’s most basic idea about the natural world?
Everything that exists moves (i.e., change is fundamental).
What are Aristotle’s Four Causes?
Material cause – What something is made of.
Formal cause – The blueprint or essence of a thing.
Efficient cause – The force or process that brings it into being.
Final cause – The purpose or goal of a thing.
What is an example of the Four Causes?
A marble sculpture
Material cause → The marble itself.
Formal cause → The design of the sculpture.
Efficient cause → The sculptor.
Final cause → The purpose of the sculpture (beauty, representation, etc.).
What is the final cause of an oak tree?
To fully actualize its form—growing into a mature oak.
