Unit 1 Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is Determinism?
all occurrences in the world are predetermined
What is Empiricism?
Everything you learn is through your senses
What is Humanism?
Denies all belief of the supernatural
What is Idealism?
Only Ideas matter
What is Skepticism?
- Everything is open to doubt, except your brain
- “I think therefore I am”
What is Rationalism?
Everything you learn is through your brain and common reason
What is Transcendentalism?
You need your brain and your senses to learn
What is Utilitarianism?
– good consists in creating the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people - democracy is based off it
What are the four branches of philosophy?
1) Aesthetics
2) Metaphysics
3) Epistemology
4) Ethics
What is Aesthetics?
Study of art and beauty
What is metaphysics?
The study of reality and being
What is epistemology?
The study of knowledge
What is Ethics?
The study of humanity and the moral code
Explain Plato’s cave.
- Man lived in a cave with fire behind him, thought shadows were real beings
- Thrown out into the light, couldn’t handle reality
- Ran back into the cave to be with what he thought was reality
What was the message behind Plato’s cave?
- Knowledge is what gives us freedom – the people don’t understand the world so they’re trapped in the cave mentally
- Only when the person is forced into the world he will fully experience everything
- If you won’t experience anything you are doomed to an ultimate ignorant experience
- Different isn’t bad = we internally think
- Your mind will never truly grow unless you make it hurt and challenge it
What is Plato’s theory?
knowledge is always painful but essential to grow
Who was Socrates?
- First known philosopher - Before Socrates/Plato, people didn’t care about philosophy
- He didn’t write stuff down, he just preach in the agora
- Socrates was blamed for Athens fall even though it wasn’t his fault
- Had a trial, found guilty, and was forced to drink
hemlock - Accused of being an atheist
What was the Socratic method?
- answering a question with more questions
- Why the questions you are asking won’t have the answers you are looking for
Why was Socrates death ironic?
Killed by Athenians because he was practicing free speech - Athenians were supposed to support free speech
What did Socrates say about holiness?
some gods approve of some things and other gods approve of other things so nothing is truly holy and unholy
Explain Socrates’ trial
- Socrates admits that he knows nothing so thus he has an advantage
- Socrates says he’s in jail because he’s exposed people’s ignorance who thought they were wise
- Socrates says that is he can live if he stops questioning he would rather die
What’s Socrates’ famous quote from his death trial?
“For the unexamined life is not worth living”
According to Plato, what is justice?
justice is whatever is advantageous to the stronger
Explain the story of the good Brahman
Educated Brahman as unhappy while poor, ignorant woman was happy
