Topic 3b: Rome and the Middle Ages Flashcards

Question

Introspection

Answer 1

the examination of one's inner experiences

Answer 2

a Muslim physician and philosopher whose translations of , and commentaries on, the works of Aristotle strongly influenced subsequent Western philosophers

Answer 3

Muslim physician and philosopher, who, among other things, wrote commentaries on Aristotle's work on the senses, memory, sleep and waking, and dreams

Answer 4

Jewish physician and philosopher who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy and Judaism

Answer 5

argued that sense perception and rational powers should supplement faith

Answer 6

St. Anselm's contention that if we can think of something, it must be real because we can think of a perfect being (God), that perfect must exist

Answer 7

insisted that God could be known through faith, reason, or the study of his work in nature

Answer 8

the synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian teachings

Answer 9

one of the first Western philosopher-theologians to emphasize the works of Aristotle

Answer 10

the technique used by Abelard in seeking truth questions are raised, and several possible answers to those questions are explored

Answer 11

the belief that abstract universals (essences) exist and that empirical evets are only manifestations of those universals

Answer 12

the belief that so-called universals are nothing more than verbal leads or mental habits that are used to denote classes of experiences

Answer 13

Abelard's proposed solution to the realism-nominalism debate argued that concepts do not have independent existence (realism), but that, being abstractions, they are more than mere names (nominalism)

Answer 14

epitomized scholasticism, he sought to "Christianize" the works of Aristotle and to show that both faith and reason lead to the truth of God's existence

Answer 15

made a comprehensive review of Aristotle's work following Aristotle's suggestions, he also made careful, direct observations of nature

Answer 16

a contemporary of St. Thomas Aquinas who argued that Christianity should remain Augustinian and should reject any effort to assimilate Aristotelian philosophy into church dogma

Answer 17

denied the contention of the realists that what we experience are but manifestations of abstract principles instead, he sided with the nominalists who said that so-called abstract principles, or universals, were nothing more than verbal labels that we use to describe classes of experiences for Occam, reality is what we experience directly, there is no need to assume a "higher" reality beyond our senses

Answer 18

the belief that of several, equally effective alternative explanations, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be accepted

Answer 19

shortly after Aristotle's death (322 BCE), the Romans invaded Greek territory in this time of great strife, complex and abstract philosophies were of little comfort a more worldly philosophy was needed -- a philosophy that addressed the problems of everyday living what does it mean to live a good life?

Answer 20

usually considered to be the founder of skepticism there are no major writings of his and most our understanding of his ideas stems from the writings of his disciple Sextus Empiricus, who wrote Outlines of Pyrrhonism in the third century the skeptics main target of attack was dogmatism

Answer 21

followed Pyrrho in practical matters he says that if someone appears to be in the room with us, we should act as if that person is in the room and assent casually to the proposition that he is however if we are asked whether we really believe it, we should remember that appearances may de deceiving and refuse to attest that we truly do believe the person is in the room

Answer 22

suspension of belief in anything main target was dogmatists skepticism proposed that arguments for and against any philosophical doctrine are equally compelling noted that whatever one believed, it could turn out to be false: thus, one could avoid frustration of being wrong by not believing in anything they lived within societal conventions anti-intellectual

Answer 23

he believed that society, with its emphasis on material goods, status, and employment, was a distortion of nature and should be avoided Antisthenes preached a back-to-nature philosophy that involved a life free from wants, passions, and the many conventions of society turned away from intellectual truth

Answer 24

in his personal life, Diogenes rejected conventional religion, manners, housing, food, and fashion because Diogenes lived a primitive life, he was given the nickname "cynic" which literally means "doglike" animals are the best model of human life: they fulfill their needs on their own, they don't have religion

Answer 25

back-to-nature philosophy life free of wants, pleasures, and conventions of society true happiness depends on self-sufficiency quest for simple, independent natural life cynics argued that animals provide the best model for human behavior primary message was that nature should guide human behavior social conventions, including religion, were human inventions: cause shame, guilt, hypocrisy, greed, envy, and hate

Answer 26

philosophy of materialism, free will, no supernatural influences in the world, and no afterlife goal of life is individual happiness, but not pure hedonism: strive for tranquility that comes from balance between a lack or an excess of anything, life in moderation the good life was free, simple, rational, and moderate and to be lived now because there was nothing else after death

Answer 27

although they are often lumped together, the Greeks and Romans differed in many significant ways Greeks: engaged in philosophy to try to know our world, pure knowledge, democracy Romans: technological application of philosophy and science, maximize law and punishment

Answer 28

Zeno believed that the world was ruled by a divine plan and that everything in nature, including humans, was there for a reason ought to live in accordance to that plan can be no accidents, find a way to get by accept life with indifference courageousness in suffering

Answer 29

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor in difficult times along with the slave Epictetus, he became one of the best-known Roman stoic philosophers, who aspired to achieve serenity through courage, doubt, indifference, and practical wisdom

Answer 30

world rules by a divine plan and everything in nature, including humans, are there for a reason everything happens for a reason, no accidents, all must simply be accepted as part of the plan the good life involves accepting one's fate with indifference even if suffering was involved people are expected to accept their stations in life without question only personal freedom was in choosing whether to act in accordance was nature's plan stoicism won out over epicureanism in the Roman empire

Answer 31

Neoplatonism stressed the most mystical aspects of Plato's philosophy over its rational aspects

Answer 32

like Plato, senses cannot provide knowledge: Philo added that sensory experience interferes with direct understanding of an communication of God all knowledge and wisdom comes from God, not from introspection, but soul must be purified: true knowledge can be attained only by purified, passive mind

Answer 33

arranged all things in a hierarchy: first was God, followed by the Spirit, (a part of every human soul), next, the soul, the cause of all things that exist in the world we must aspire to learn of the world beyond the physical world; there, things are eternal, immutable, and in a state of bliss the body if the soul's prison; through intense meditation the souls of all humans can reach and dwell with the eternal and changeless

Answer 34

religions from India and Persia vendantism: perfection could be approximated by entering into semiecstatic trances zoroastrinanism: individuals are caught in an eternal struggle between wisdom and correctness on one hand, and ignorance and evil on the other hand mystery religions from near east promulgated secret rites, emphasis on death and renewal, purification, and forgiveness of sins, and exaltation to new life Greek culture was recognized by the Romans as being important; thus it was preserved and disseminated Judaism: one God with an interest in human affairs and a strict code of behavior for which one could be rewarded or punished

Answer 35

taught that the knowledge of good and evil is revealed by God and should guide human conduct early Christian thought best described as a meshing of Judeo-Christian thought with Platonic philosophy

Answer 36

was the first to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah developed a combination of Judaic and Platonic philosophy with emphasis on faith rather than reason humans divided into three parts: body, mind, and spirit spirit was spark of God within humans: through the spirit, humans could become close to God body is source of evil: everything that is wrong is related to the flesh mind is caught between body and spirit: sometimes serves the body, sometimes serves the spirit since humans are partly animalistic and partly divine, conflict is the necessary consequence

Answer 37

often, St. Paul is seen as perpetuating misogyny in early Christian doctrine reflects status of women in Greek and Roman culture interpretation can lead to modern misogynist takes

Answer 38

made Christianity a tolerated religion in the Roman Empire charged bishops with the task of creating a single set of Christian documents concerning the teachings of Jesus Christianity may have been more of political expediency than religious conviction for Constantine

Answer 39

combined Stoicism, Neoplatonism, Judaism, and Christianity into a powerful Christian worldview that dominated Western life and thought for 1,000 years until the 13th century proposed a dualistic nature of humans, with the body similar to animals and the spirit close to or part of God: these two opposing aspects became the Christian struggle between God and Satan for human souls humans have the ability to choose between good and evil: explains why evil is present in the world all people have an internal sense that provides an awareness of truth, error, personal obligation, and moral right: this helps people evaluate experience and make choices in other words, behavior is under internal control, not external events and consequences

Answer 40

in Confessions, Augustine described his sinful life, including having mistresses, one of whom bore him a child when he was 32 years of age, he converted to Christianity we have free will and the way we act is inside of us we can be held responsible for our actions

Answer 41

according to Augustine, individuals are free to choose between the two worlds- the way of the flesh (Satan), which is sinful, or the way of God people have an internal sense that helps them evaluate their experiences by providing an awareness of truth, error, personal obligation, and moral right

Answer 42

Augustine asserts the validity of inner, subjective experience inner monologue is meaningful and trustworthy through introspection and scripture we can know God emotional, prioritize human emotions faith trumps everything reason is ultimately not as good as faith or emotion

Answer 43

time cannot be physically measured, but occurs in the mind time experience depends on sensory experience and the memory of sensory experience the past is the presence in the mind of things remebered the future is the present anticipation of events based on the memory of past experience the present is current sensory experience

Answer 44

Boethius was a politically-active Roman nobleman, who translated Aristotle and Plato into Latin and made some attempt to synthesize them (although he was primarily a Platonist in his outlook) Aristotle was little known outside Greece from 600-1100 AD except through the Latin translation of the Organon made by Boethius

Answer 45

the "Dark Age" Greek and Roman books and knowledge were lost: there was little or no progress in science, philosophy, and literature Europe became dominated by mysticism, superstition, and anti-intellectualism church dogma became very powerful because it was no longer challengeable Crusades (end of the Dark Ages) resulted in "rediscovery" of Aristotle's writings preserved by Arab, Muslim thinkers

Answer 46

the Church institution most responsible for preserving the remnants of intellectual life in the West was monasticism the founder of the monastic movement in the West is generally recognized to be St. Benedict (480-543), who in 529 opened the greatest monastery of the early medieval period at Monte Cassino in central Italy

Answer 47

Muslims made great strides in medicine, science, and mathematics the Arabic translations of the Greek philosophers, and the questions raised in attempting to make this ancient wisdom compatible with Islam, were used many years later when the Christians attempted to make them compatible with Christianity

Answer 48

physician/philosopher who wrote many books on various topics including medicine, mathematics, logic and metaphysics, Islamic theology, astronomy, politics, and linguistics his book on medicine was used in European universities for centuries he borrowed heavily from Aristotle but made many modifications that persisted for hundreds of years Avicenna used a wide variety of treatments for both physical and mental illness

Answer 49

1. common sense 2. retentive imagination 3. compositive animal imagination 4. compositive human imagination 5. estimative power 6. ability to remember outcomes of past events 7. ability to use this information

Answer 50

believed that human intelligence is arranged in a hierarchy with the highest level enabling humans to have contact with God discovered that the retina is the part of the eye that is sensitive to light also noted that those who had smallpox were then immune to teh disease, which suggested inoculation as a prevention technique

Answer 51

sought to reconcile Judaism and Aristotelian philosophy attempted to show that many passages in the Old Testament and the Talmud could be understood rationally and need not be taken on faith alone psychosomatic illness: physical conditions caused by psych states connection between living a good life and not having psychosomatic illnesses understanding God not solely on faith, but rationally as well we can dismiss things if we think they're wrong, scripture becomes a tradition

Answer 52

argued that perception and reason can and should supplement Christian faith the ontological argument for the existence of God when we think of something, there must exist something that corresponds to those thoughts if we think of a being in which no better or greater a being can be thought, that must be God and he must exist; a being "than which nothing greater can be conceived

Answer 53

he argued that we do not need to escape from the empirical world to know God three ways to learn about God; faith, reason, and the study of God's works (the empirical world)

Answer 54

synthesis of Aristotle's philosophy and Christian theology and showing what implications that synthesis had for living one's life

Answer 55

goal was to use his dialectic method to overcome the inconsistencies in the statements made by theologians through the years take statements from theologians and the scripture found inconsistencies and through looking through the scriptures, he reconciled it dealt with issues and fixed them, controversial attempted to reconcile the debate between realism and nominalism with conceptualism

Answer 56

the position that abstract universals (essences) exist and that empirical events are only manifestations of those universals

Answer 57

the position that so-called universals are nothing more than verbal labels or mental habits that are used to denote classes of experience

Answer 58

achieved considerable fame as a mystic noted for her inspirational writing as well as the beauty of her poetry and music in addition to making other religious and musical contributions, Hildegard was also a pioneer in medieval medicine

Answer 59

synthesized Aristotle's works and the Christian tradition once Aristotle's ideas were assimilated into church dogma, they were no longer challengeable

Answer 60

made of comprehensive review of both Aristotle's works and the Islamic and Jewish scholars' interpretations of the works observed things and wrote about them argued that we can use reason to attain faith (build on that) become a dogma, so Aristotle's work became unchallengeable

Answer 61

Aquinas argued effectively that reason and faith are not incompatible but lead to the same thing; God and his glory influence was substantial but had opposite effect than what he desired by admitting reason as a means of understanding God, philosophers began to argue that faith and reason could be studied separately, and thus reason could be studied without considering its theological implications philosophy without religious overtones became a possibility and eventually a reality

Answer 62

Aquinas used logical proofs and demonstrations to attempt to verify God's existence the argument from motion: there must be something that triggers change without changing itself the argument from efficient cause: there has to be a cause that is not caused itself the argument from necessity: there has to be something that does not depend on something else for its existence the argument from gradation: somethings we are able to say are better than others best of all things is God the theological argument: everything in the world has a purpose, whatever designs this purpose is God

Answer 63

Aquinas took a position concerning the realism vs. nominalism debate that was similar to, yet distinct from, conceptualism universals don't exist in an abstract realm they are not just concepts from the mind concepts exist within the particulars themselves, are not independent mind allows us to abstract the universal they are mind independent

Answer 64

Aristotle: scala naturale everything in the universe is hierarchically organized, God on top reality goes from a lower nature to a higher nature very important in Western thought main concepts: reflects God's purpose (the hierarchy), nothing happens by change (order in the universe), consistent with biblical teaching (biblical teaching is where knowledge is gained)

Answer 65

introspection suggests that we could have acted other than we did people in similar situations do not necessarily act in similar ways society recognizes and accepts the need to prohibit certain actions, suggesting that those actions could be performed even though they are not

Answer 66

power of the soul that inclines us to certain actions

Answer 67

reason based will: understanding of universals appetitive based will: desired particulars

Answer 68

fiercely condemned the works of Aristotle believed one comes to believe God only through introspection his point of view lives on in Protestantism

Answer 69

it divided reason and faith, making it possible to study them separately it made the study of nature respectable it showed the world that argument over church dogma was possible

Answer 70

argued that in explaining things, no unnecessary assumptions should be made explanations need to be kept as parsimonious (simple) as possible by "shaving" these extraneous assumptions, one is using Occam's razor argued that we can trust our senses to tell us what the world is really like, and that we can know the world directly without need to worry about what lurks beyond our experience

Answer 71

two classes of people: believers and nonbelievers nonbelievers, if not converted, were punished, imprisoned, or killed and considered stupid or possessed by the devil astrology and magic was practiced everywhere by almost everyone superstition was omnipresent characterized by the behavior of peasants, kings, scholars, and clergy for centuries there was little philosophical, scientific, or theological progress for progress to occur, the church's authority had be to broken (it was beginning to fall apart)

Topic 3b: Rome and the Middle Ages Flashcards

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