Ancient Philosophy Key Words

actuality

actuality

Aristotle talks about a thing achieving actuality when it fulfils its potentiality/ teleos e.g. an acorn has the potentiality to become an oak tree; an oak tree has actualised that potential

allegory / analogy of the cave (OCR uses analogy)

a comparison that Plato makes between reality and a story about a prisoner escaping from a cave.

anamnesis

remembering a previous experience/ life

analytic

where the premises in an argument do contain the conclusion e.g. a bachelor is an unmarried man

a priori

That which is knowable without reference to sense experience. The truth of ‘A square has fours sides’ or ‘2 + 2 = 4’ follows from the definition of the terms not from knowledge of things in the world. A priori does not mean ‘innate’

a posteriori

That which can be known to be true only through sense experience. ‘There is a cat in this room’ can only be determined to be true by observation directly or indirectly.

causation

the act of causing something; the relationship between cause and effect;

cosmology

study of the nature of the universe.

correlation

a mutual relationship or connection between two or more things

contingent existence

when the existence of a thing is dependent on something else

deductive argument

an argument where the conclusion is logically necessary e.g. a bachelor is an unmarried man or 2+2 = 4

demiurge

a Platonic (i.e. from Plato’s) subordinate deity who fashions the physical world in the light of eternal ideas

dualism

the belief that reality can be divided into two distinct parts such as good and evil or physical and non-physical

efficient cause

In Aristotle’s cosmology that which brings something about. The sculptor is the efficient cause in the making of a statue.

epistemology

branch of Philosophy concerned with the study of knowledge

empiricism

based on sense experience

final cause

Aristotle’s concept of purpose – that for which a thing exists. For Aristotle the universe is entirely purposive.

immanent

often used to discuss God; here/ with us/ in this universe

immutable

unchanging

inductive argument

type of argument where conclusion not logically necessary e.g. the sun will shine tomorrow

innate knowledge

knowledge that we are born with; Plato says we are born with knowledge of the world of the Forms

infinite regression

a never ending chain into the past

Forms (Ideals)

Plato’s theory that everything on earth is an inferior copy of Ideal Forms in a permanent spiritual reality. Thus there are forms not only of objects such as tables and chairs but also of concepts such as number or beauty. There is a hierarchy of forms and the highest form is the

Form of the Good

the highest of Plato’s Forms; it is the source of all knowledge in the way that the sun is the source of all life

formal cause

For Aristotle that which gives things its structure – this material is a table because it has the form (shape and characteristics) of a table

logical fallacy

an error in thinking that weakens an argument; there are many types of logical fallacy e.g. mistaking correlation for causation or ad hominem

material cause

For Aristotle

materialism

The belief that the only existents are physical beings

metaphysical

that which is beyond the everyday physical world that can be perceived through the senses

monism

The belief that there is no body/soul distinction and the two are one entity.

necessary existence

This idea sometimes referred to as ‘aseity’ refers to a being whose existence depends on no other being.

nihilism

a philosophy or family of views within philosophy that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence e.g. Nietzsche

synthetic

premises do not contain the conclusion

Ockham’s razor

a philosophical rule that says we should accept the simplest solution

premise

a statement that forms part of an argument and leads to a conclusion

Prime Mover

In Aristotle’s cosmology the Final Cause of the Universe drawing everything towards himself by attraction. He is indifferent to the universe and not a creator in the sense of maker of things

proof

a statement that cannot be false e.g. 4 + 4 = 8 or a circle is round

probability

measuring the likelihood of something.

rationalist

someone who thinks that the primary source of knowledge is reason

reason

using logical steps and thought processes in order to reach conclusions

scepticism

doubt/ the theory that certain knowledge is impossible

Socratic method

the method of philosophical reasoning which involves critical reasoning; associated with Socrates

soul

the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal regarded as immortal

sound argument

An argument is sound where the logic is good and the premises are true

tautology

the saying of the same thing twice over in different words e.g. a bachelor is an unmarried man

teleos

the end or purpose of something

transcendent

being beyond this world and outside the realms of ordinary experience

valid argument

an argument is valid when it is logical but this does not necessarily make it true