philosophy 100 exam 1

note cards for exam 1 of philosophy 100

philosophy

the study of fundamental questions concerning existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language.

What are the main branches of philosophy?

Metaphysics,Epistemology,Ethics,Logic,axiology,aesthetics and ethics.

metaphysics

studies reality and the fundamental nature of the universe and the things in it.

epistomology

studies knowledge.

ethics

studies questions of right and wrong, good and bad, and how we should act.

aesthetics

studies art and beauty.

logic

studies the nature of arguments and correct reasoning.

axiology

the study of value, including both aesthetic value and moral value.

argument

a set of statements where the premises support the conclusion.

Premises

a statement or proposition that provides support or evidence for a conclusion.

conclusion

the statement that the premises aim to prove.

Deductive arguments

If premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Inductive arguments

If premises are true, the conclusion is likely but not certain.

Validity

An argument is valid if the conclusion logically follows from the premises.

Soundness

An argument is sound if it is valid and the premises are true.

Strong

An inductive argument where the premises make the conclusion highly probable.

Cogent

A strong inductive argument with true premises.

Fallacy

An error in reasoning that weakens an argument.

Ad hominem

Attacking the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument itself.

the standard way of thinking about Time

often seen as continuous and linear.

Shoemaker’s Time Argument

Shoemaker's Time Argument discusses the possibility of time freezing in certain regions and how this challenges our perception of time.

the Grandfather Paradox

A paradox in time travel where altering the past (e.g., preventing one's grandfather from meeting their grandmother) would prevent the time traveler’s existence, making time travel logically problematic.

Multiverse

The idea that multiple, possibly infinite, universes exist.

Possible Worlds

Different ways reality could have been, used in modal logic and philosophy.

Zhuangzi’s Butterfly

questions whether we can truly distinguish between dreams and reality.

Plato’s Allegory of the Cave

prisoners in a cave who see only shadows and believe them to be reality.

Simulation Hypothesis

The idea that reality might be a computer simulation.

Bostrom’s Simulation Argument

Suggests that if civilizations can create realistic simulations, it is likely we are in one.

Propositional Knowledge

Knowing that something is the case (e.g., "The Earth orbits the Sun").

Procedural Knowledge

Knowing how to do something (e.g., riding a bike).

Justified True Belief (JTB)

A belief is knowledge if it is true and justified

Gettier cases

a situation where a belief is true and supported by evidence, but is not considered knowledge (the fake barn)

two attempts to overcome Gettier cases

No False Lemmas and Reliabilism

No False Lemmas

Ensures that knowledge is not based on false premises.

Reliabilism

Knowledge must come from a reliable method.

Skepticism

The philosophical view that knowledge is uncertain or impossible

Descartes’ stance on skepticism

Descartes doubted all beliefs to establish a foundation of certainty

Descartes’ three stages of doubt

illusion, dreaming and evil demon (evil genius)

Illusion

Senses can deceive us.

dreaming

There is no way to distinguish dreams from reality.

evil demon (evil genius)

An evil deceiver might be controlling perceptions.

error-proof knowledge that removes Descartes’ doubt

(“I think, therefore I am”) – Descartes concluded that the act of thinking proves his existence.

Cogito, ergo sum

“I think, therefore I am”

How all doubt is finally overcome

By proving God’s existence and that God is not a deceiver

rationalism

Knowledge comes primarily from reason rather than experience.

arguments that support rationalism

innate knowledge of the Forms (Plato) and knowledge is derived from reason (desacartes)

empiricism

Knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience.

arguments that support empiricism

• The mind starts as a “blank slate” (tabula rasa), and all knowledge comes from experience. (Locke)

• Reality consists only of perceptions; objects exist as long as they are perceived. (Berkeley)

• Knowledge is limited to experience; causality is inferred but not directly known. (Berkeley)