Philosophy - Final Exam Study Guide Lite

What is the definition of philosophy?

the study of fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and values

What is the main purpose of philosophy?

To critically examine beliefs to understand reality, morality, and meaning

What are the three main branches of philosophy?

Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Value Theory

How does philosophy differ from science and technology?

Philosophy uses reason alone, science uses empirical observation, and theology relies on divine relevation

What do the cave, shadows, and sun represent in Plato's allegory?

ignorance, false beliefs, truth and ultimate reality

What does the escape from the cave symbolize?

philosophical awakening and pursuit of truth

What shift defines Pre-Socratic philosophy?

The shift from myth to reason and logic

What did Thales believe was the fundamental substance?

Water

Who argued that reality is constant change, symbolized by fire?

Heraclitus

Who believed change is an illusion and reality is one unchanging being?

Parmenides

What is the Socratic Method?

a method of questioning to expose ignorance and reveal truth

What is Socratic ignorance

True wisdom is know one's own ignorance

What did Socrates believe about evil?

Evil results from ignorance; to know the good is to do the good.

What are forms according to Plato?

eternal, perfect templates of which physical things are imperfect copies

What are the four transcendentals in Plato's philosophy

The Good, The True, The Beautiful, and The One

How does Plato believe we gain knowledge?

through reason and recollection, not the senses

How does Aristotle view Forms differently from Plato?

forms are immanent within objects, not separate

What are Aristotle's four cases

material, formal, efficient, and final

What is Aristotle's highest human good?

Eudaimonia through practicing virtue

What is the Golden Mean?

Virtue is the balance between excess and deficiency

How does Augustine explain evil?

Evil is the lack of good, not a substance

What is original sin according to Augustine?

Humanity inherits a fallen state due to loss of sanctifying grace

What Aristotelian idea does Aquinas apply to God?

The Unmoved Mover - God as perfect, unchanging final cause.

How does Aquinas view the soul?

Hylomorphic dualism - soul is the form of the body; together they form a complete human

What is rationalism?

the belief that reason, not sense experience, is the primary source of knowledge

What is Descartes' famous statement proving self-existence?

"I think, therefore I am"

How does Descartes argue against skepticism?

God exists, is good, and would not deceive us; clear and distinct ideas can be trusted

What is Descartes' view of mind and body?

Substance dualism - mind and body are distinct substances interacting at the pineal gland

What is Spinoza's view of God and nature?

God = nature; only one substance exists

Does Spinoza believe in free will?

No; all actions are determined by God's nature and natural laws

What is Locke's view of the mind at birth?

Blank slate; no innate ideas

What are primary and secondary qualities?

Primary qualities exist in objects; secondary exist only in perception

What is Locke's political philosophy?

Social contract; government must protect life, liberty, and property, or rebellion is justified

What are Hume's two types of perceptions?

Impressions and ideas

What is Hume's view of self?

No permanent self - just a bundle of perceptions

What is Hume's theory of causation?

Cause-effect is habit of mind, not objectively perceived necessity

Where does Hume ground morality?

In human emotions and sympathy, not theology

What is Berkeley's famous statement about existence?

To be is to be perceived

What role does God play in Berkeley's philosophy?

God is the ultimate perceiver, ensuring the consistency of the world.

What is Kant's highest moral principle?

The categorical imperative - act only on maxims you can will as universal law

What is the difference between hypothetical and categorical imperatives?

Hypothetical depends on desires; categorical applies regardless of desires

What drive history according to Hegel?

The World Spirit progressing toward self-awareness through dialectic (thesis, antithesis, synthesis)

What is Kierkegaard's leap of faith?

Faith in God is a subjective choice beyond rational proof

What are Kierkegaard's three stages of life?

Aesthetic, ethical, religious

What is historical materialism?

Economic and material conditions drive history, not ideas

What is alienation under capitalism?

Workers are alienated from their product, others, and themselves

What is Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Species evolve by adapting to their environment over time without divine intervention

What are the three parts of Freud's psyche?

Id, Superego, ego

What are Freud's psychosexual stages?

Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency, Genital

What is the pleasure versus reality principle?

Pleasure seeks immediate gratification; reality moderates desires for social functioning

What is psychoanalysis?

A therapy uncovering unconscious conflicts through dream analysis, slips, and jokes