Unit 6

Question 1

What is materialism?

Answer 1

The viewpoint that matter and the tangible universe is the ultimate definition of reality

Question 2

What did the Charvaka philosophers believe regarding materialism?

Answer 2

• Only sense perceptions matter exists

Question 3

What did Thomas Hobbes believe in regards to materialism?

Answer 3

• If you can’t weigh measure it, it doesn’t exist

- Emotions/sensations are forces of habit, they do not truly exist

Question 4

What are the objections to materialism?

Answer 4

• Contradicts itself everything that has matter is relevant, but subatomic particles are more like energy waves and they are not matter, but compose everything
• Materialism says that everything is black and white
  - There are many different shades between black and
  white
• Just because I see it, doesn’t mean it exists
  - Hallucinations, dreams

Question 5

What is Idealism?

Answer 5

The MIND is the greatest source of all power in the world and therefore is the true source of all reality

Question 6

Who was the founder of Western Idealism and what did he believe in regards of Idealism?

Answer 6

• George Berkeley
• believes the world is dependent on the mind, not the other way around
• The world does not exist independently from your mind - mind must perceive it
• All things are mind dependant - whether they reflect our perceptions, or God’s (which gives us similar or common perceptions) = senses need the mind and therefore, needs ideas as well
• Our mind is the only venue we have for knowing that our perceptions are based upon a material reality and therefore It takes precedence over our senses

Question 7

What did Vasubandhu say in regards to idealism?

Answer 7

Argued that, because of the potency/power of the mind, we can’t actually prove that physical objects exist

Question 8

What are the objections to Idealism?

Answer 8

• Does not answer the question of what things are, but rather dissolves them
• Materialism and cause and effect can explain the things that idealism has problems answering

Question 9

What is the difference between forms and everyday objects?

Answer 9

Forms are the perfect version of everyday objects

Question 10

What are the two realms?

Answer 10

The material realm and the transcendent realm

Question 11

What are the six properties of forms?

Answer 11

Transcendent, pure, archetypes, ultimately reality, causes, systematically interconnected

Question 12

What is the transcendent form?

Answer 12

• forms do not exist in space or time

- i.e. roundness does not exist in space or time

Question 13

What is the pure form?

Answer 13

• pure properties separated from other properties

- i.e. roundness is just pure roundness

Question 14

What is the archetype form?

Answer 14

• the perfect version of all properties in a material object

- i.e. round is the perfect model of roundness

Question 15

What is the ultimately reality form?

Answer 15

• all material objects are copies of the form

- a basketball is a copy of roundness

Question 16

What is the causes form?

Answer 16

• the form are the causes of all things
• 1) the provide an explanation of why a thing is
• 2) source of origin of the being of all things

Question 17

What is the systematically interconnected form?

Answer 17

• The forms move down from the form of good, following a line of intenion

Question 18

How do pragmatists believe that we can prove something is true or not?

Answer 18

1. Your senses
2. Science
3. Ideas / common knowledge
4. Prejudices / common beliefs
5. Religion
6. Opinions  make new opinions everyday
7. Superstitions

Question 19

What is pragmatism and who is the famous philosopher associated with it?

Answer 19

John Dewey: Reality is only meaningful if it has an impact of your life –> real to you = reality

Question 20

What is logical positivism? Explain how it works.

Answer 20

• The belief that all metaphysical theories are flawed because they misuse language and do not make logical sense
• Proves it by :
  - All meaningful statements are tautology (definition that we cannot learn from our senses - necessary truth) and empirical hypothesis (contingent truth)
  - Metaphysical arguments are not tautology of empirical facts so they are not meaningful statements

Question 21

How is logical positivism a paradox?

Answer 21

believes “All meaningful statements are tautological or empirical” - statement isn’t tautological or empirical

Question 22

What is existentialism?

Answer 22

The belief that anything that happens to you is your fault

Question 23

What does existentialism say in regard to a universal human code?

Answer 23

There is none

Question 24

What does existentialism say in regards to anxiety?

Answer 24

It i is a reflection of our inability to make decisions for ourselves

Question 25

What philosopher supported existentialism?

Answer 25

Jean-Paul Sartre

Question 26

What were Sartre's beliefs about god?

Answer 26

- God doesn’t exist, otherwise he would “fixed/immobilized” a universal human condition - We are responsible for your own fate and environment -> we make our own destiny, which makes god irrelevant

Question 27

According to Sartre, what two kinds of realities are there?

Answer 27

For-Itself – my consciousness  has the ability to think/determine/make decisions Of-Itself – composed of non-conscious objects (everything except me)

Question 28

What did Sartre believe in regards to existentialism?

Answer 28

- We aren’t living unless we are choosing --> there must be personal intent behind all actions - Environment, upbringing, psychology, personal history is all irrelevant to a person’s destiny - We are who we are because we choose to be that way

Question 29

What is Determinism?

Answer 29

- all actions are predetermined - every action is predictable because previous actions dictate future events - humans cannot be held responsible for their actions

Question 30

What does existentialism line up with in regards to nature over nurture?

Answer 30

survival of the fittest

Question 31

What is Libertarianism ?

Answer 31

- Believes people have control over what they do and are free to choose to act other than the way they do - Since we have conscious experiences, we have freedom

Question 32

What is negativity?

Answer 32

When humans act, they intend to do something they have not done yet --> in the present, they’re thinking about changing the future

Question 33

What is bad faith?

Answer 33

Being forced to do something is an excuse

Question 34

What is compatibilism?

Answer 34

- Human actions are determined by previous events and laws - Humans are predetermined and can also be free and personally responsible - Life can be laid out, but you have the power to change it