Philsophy Exam Flashcards
Brandons Deck (52 cards)
What method does Descartes use to find certainty?
Methodological doubt — he doubts everything that can be doubted to find indubitable truth.
Why does Descartes doubt sensory knowledge?
Because the senses have deceived him before, and it’s possible he is dreaming.
What is the role of the evil deceiver in the First Meditation?
It’s a hypothetical being that deceives Descartes about everything, even math, to push doubt to the extreme.
What does Descartes discover he can’t doubt?
That he exists — if he is doubting, then he must be thinking, and thus must exist.
What is the Cogito, and the conclusion he reaches in the 2nd meditation?
“I think, therefore I am” — proof of the existence of the self as a thinking thing.
What does Descartes conclude about the nature of the self?
That the self is a thinking, non-extended (non-physical) substance.
Why does Descartes believe his idea of God must have a cause?
Because ideas must have a cause equal to or greater than themselves, and he is not perfect enough to create the idea of a perfect being.
What is Descartes trying to prove in the Third Meditation?
That God exists and is not a deceiver.
Why is God’s existence important to Descartes?
To ensure that the clear and distinct perceptions he has can be trusted — because a non-deceiving God guarantees them.
What does the cave symbolize in Allegory of the Cave?
The world of illusion and ignorance based on sensory experience.
What does the journey out of the cave represent?
The philosopher’s ascent to knowledge and truth through reason.
What happens when the freed prisoner returns to the cave?
He is ridiculed and rejected, showing how society resists enlightenment.
What does the sun symbolize in the Allegory of the cave?
The Form of the Good or ultimate truth and knowledge
Why does Russell think philosophy is valuable?
Because it opens the mind, challenges dogma, and fosters intellectual freedom.
How is philosophy different from science, according to Russell?
Philosophy deals with uncertainty and unanswered questions; science focuses on what can be empirically known.
What mental benefits does Russell associate with philosophy?
Enlarged understanding, humility, and curiosity.
What is the purpose of the Floating Man thought experiment?
To show that self-awareness does not depend on the body or senses.
What conclusion does the Floating Man lead to?
That the soul or self is distinct from the body and known through direct awareness.
What is the logical problem of evil?
That an all-good, all-powerful God should not allow evil to exist.
What is Mackie’s stance on free will defenses?
He argues that they often fail to resolve the contradiction between God’s attributes and the existence of evil.
How does Mackie approach the idea of “greater goods”?
He critiques the idea that evil is necessary for greater goods, arguing it undermines divine omnipotence.
What is Hume’s main argument against belief in miracles?
That it’s always more likely the testimony is wrong than that a miracle occurred.
What role does human testimony play in Hume’s argument?
He argues human testimony is fallible and cannot outweigh the uniform experience of natural laws.
Does Hume believe miracles are possible?
Logically yes, but he argues they are never credible in practice.
