Philsophy Exam 1 Flashcards
Memorization (38 cards)
What is Descartes method of doubt?
A systematic process of doubting all beliefs that could be false, to find the indubitable truth.
What conclusion does Descartes reach in the 2nd mediatation
“I think, therefore I am”- The Cogito proves the existence of the self as a thinking being.
What does Plato’s Allegory of the Cave represent?
The journey from ignorance to knowledge, and the difficulty of accepting truth after being deceived
What does the sun symbolize in the Allegory of the cave?
The Form of the Good or ultimate truth and knowledge
What does Russell argue in “The Value of Philosophy”
Philosophy is valuable for expanding our understanding and freeing our minds from prejudices”
What is the Floating Man thought experiment
It argues that self-awareness is possible without any sensory experience, supporting the soul’s immateriality
What is Mackie’s logical problem of evil
The existence of evil is incompatible with an all-good, all-powerful God.
Why does Hume argue against miracles
Miracles violate natural laws and are less credible than the possibility of false testimony
What are Aquinas Five Ways?
Five logical arguments for God’s existence, including motion, cause, contingency, degree, and teleology.
What does Bettcher argue about first-person authority?
That trans identities highlight the ethical dimension of avowals and personal identity.
What is the transparency method in self-knowledge?
You determine your beliefs by examining the world, not introspecting directly.
What point does Naish make about evidence and Bigfoot
Extraordinary claims require strong evidence, and skepticism is warranted in the absence of it.
What is First-Person Authority?
The idea that individuals have privileged access to their own thoughts, feelings, and identities.
What is Methodological Skepticism?
A process of doubting knowledge claims to establish which beliefs are absolutely certain.
What is a Miracle according to Hume?
A violation of the laws of nature, highly improbable by definition.
What is the Problem of Evil?
The question of how to reconcile the existence of evil with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God.
What is Cogito?
Descartes foundational statement: “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito ergo sum)”.
What is an Efficient Cause (Aquinas)?
That which brings something into being; part of Aquinas argument for God’s existence.
What is the key argument in Descartes First Meditation?
Descartes uses radical doubt to question all beliefs, aiming to find an indubitable foundation for knowledge.
What is the key argument in Descartes Second Meditation?
The Cogito: that thinking proves one’s existence– “I think, therefore I am”
What is the key argument in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave?
Reality as perceived by the senses is a shadow of the true reality, which can only be known through reason.
What is the key argument in Russell’s “The Value of Philosophy”
Philosophy is valuable not for definite answers, but for expanding the mind and challenging assumptions
What is the key argument in Ibn Sina’s “Floating Man”?
A person would affirm their self’s existence even without sensory input, suggesting the soul is immaterial.
What is the key argument in in Mackie’s “Evil and Omnipotence”?
The existence of evil is logically incompatible with the existence of all good, all-powerful God.
