Study Guide for Philosophy Test #3

Myth of the Cave

Plato's allegory illustrating how humans are trapped in ignorance, only perceiving shadows of reality.

Prisoners in the Cave

Symbolize ignorant humans who only see the shadows of reality without understanding the true Forms.

Shadows

Represent our perceptions of the physical world, which are merely reflections of true reality.

Forms

The ultimate reality or true essence of objects, as opposed to their imperfect physical counterparts.

The Good

The highest Form according to Plato, representing ultimate truth and the source of all reality.

Steep & Rugged Ascent

Symbolizes the philosopher’s difficult journey towards enlightenment and understanding of the Forms.

Dialectic

The philosophical method of dialogue and reasoning used to arrive at the truth; parallels the ascent out of the Cave.

Realm of the Forms

An unchanging, eternal, and perfect reality that serves as the source of all knowledge.

Physical World

The changing, temporal, and imperfect realm that consists of copies of the true Forms.

Doxa vs. Epistēmē

Doxa refers to opinion or belief, while epistēmē refers to true knowledge.

Simile of the Line

A visualization of four cognitive states corresponding to different levels of understanding.

Images

Representations of reality that exist in the lower visible realm, leading to imagination (eikasia).

Physical Things

Objects in the physical world that yield belief (pistis) rather than true knowledge.

Mathematical Objects

Entities in the intelligible realm that can be understood through thought (dianoia).

Eternal Forms

Concepts that can be recollected (anamnesis) from before birth, representing true knowledge.

Esse est percipi

Berkeley's principle meaning 'to be is to be perceived,' asserting that existence depends on perception.

Primary Qualities

In Locke's theory, the qualities of objects that are independent of perception, such as size and shape.

Secondary Qualities

Qualities like color and sound that exist in relation to observers and are dependent on perception.

Empiricism

A philosophical theory emphasizing knowledge comes from sensory experience.

Idealism

The philosophical view that reality is fundamentally mental and immaterial.

Critique of Berkeley

John Samuel Johnson's assertion that external reality exists despite Berkeley's views.

Theological Response to Idealism

Knox’s argument suggesting that God's perception validates the existence of the external world.