Philosophy Unit 1 and 2

Three definitions of philosophy

literal, practical, and working

Philosophy is literally

the love of wisdom

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

knowledge can be used wisely or unwisely

wisdom

the art of using knowledge well

Socrates concerns

truth and virtue

What do philosophers do?

clarify, define, provide, and critique arguments and engage in dialogue

civility

making a sacrifice to live in a community

what are some sacrifices for civility

listening to the ideas of those you disagree with, searching for common ground, giving a clear explanation of one's own ideas

How can you really know philosophy

by doing it

vocation

calling by God to serve our neighbor

How is philosophy helpful to anyone

the unexamined life is not worth living - socrates

benefits of philosophy

clarification, arguing, developing a worldview

five functions of Christian philosophy

hermeneutics, systematic theology, apologetics, polemics, evangelism

hermeneutics

interpretation of scripture

systematic theology

It addresses issues of the Christian Faith

apologetics

defending the faith

polemics

handling heresies (false teachings)

evangelism

approach others of the Gospel

3 acts of the mind

understanding, judgement, and reasoning

logic

science of good and bad reasoning

dialogue

talk out idea to see its strengths and weaknesses, before we make up our mind

premise

statement of evidence

Conclusion

a thesis argued for

what is an argument in logic?

a set of statements including one or more premises and one main conclusion

valid argument

the conclusion follows from the premises

sound argument

a valid argument with true premises

False Cause

a fallacy in which a speaker mistakenly assumes that because one event follows another, the first event is the cause of the second

Slippery Slope

A fallacy that assumes that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented

Equivocation

the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself; prevarication

Amphiboly

The fallacy of ambiguous construction. It occurs
whenever the whole meaning of a statement can be taken in more than one way, and is usually the fault of careless grammar.

begging the question

A fallacy in which a claim is based on evidence or support that is in doubt.

Red Herring

A fallacy that introduces an irrelevant issue to divert attention from the subject under discussion

Straw Man

A fallacy that occurs when a speaker chooses a deliberately poor or oversimplified example in order to ridicule and refute an idea.

Appeal to Emotions

When something is associated with good/bad feelings, then it must be true/wrong (manipulates people's emotions)

when to use induction

enumeration, diversity, goof methodology

Abductive Argument

best causal explanation of singular facts
the conclusion offered as the best explanation for the premises

3 types of argument

inductive, deductive, abductive

inductive argument

Deductively invalid arguments. Premises are offered as good evidence for the conclusion

deductive argument

strict proof
valid
given the premises the conclusion is the only possibility

(P1) A is older than B
(P2) C is younger than B
(C) A is older than C.

Deductive Valid

(P1) Jack likes Amanda
(P2) Amanda likes Tony
(C) Jack likes Tony

Invalid Abductive

(P1) Without air there can be no fire
(P2) without fire there can be no smoke
(C) without air there can be no smoke

Valid, Deductive, Not Sound

(P1) Sly, Sneak, and Slink stole the crown jewels
(P2) neither sly nor slink has the crown jewels
(C) sneak has the crown jewels

invalid, abductive

3 laws of logic

law of noncontradiction, law of excluded middle, law of identity

valid argument

a deductive argument that does in fact provide logically conclusive support for its conclusion

3 major divisions of philosophy

metaphysics, epistemology, axiology

metaphysics

the study of the nature of reality

4 categories of metaphysics

cosmological, theistic, anthropological, ontological

cosmological metaphysics

origin and purpose of the universe

Theistic Metaphysics

Questions about God

Anthropological Metaphysics

questions about the nature of human beings

Ontological Metaphysics

What is the nature of being or existence? What does it mean for reality to exist?

Epistemology

Questions about knowledge and truth

Axiology

ethics and aesthetics

Types of Ethics

metaethics, normative ethics, ethical issues

Metaethics

the study of the meaning and justification of basic moral beliefs

Normative Ethics

generalized theories, rules, and principles of ethical or moral behavior

Ethical Issues

Points of concern about what is morally right

Myth Vs. Philosophy

Myth provides stories with superhuman gods, which point out important moral lessons
philosophers require reasoned arguments

Theogony

birth of the gods

Homer's Virtues

moderation, honor, justice, wisdom

Sophists

Someone who makes good points about an issue, until you realize those points aren't true

what is more important than persuasion?

truth

How is Socrates similar to a sophist?

teaching, same circles, art of argument

How is Socrates different from a Sophist?

truth is more important than winning an argument, does attempt to overwhelm listeners, Socratic method

Euthyphro

Socrates before trial

Euthyphro Dilemma

Is the pious loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is loved by the gods?

Apology

Socrates on trial

Crito

Socrates in prison

Phaedo

Socrates on the soul

Crito's arguments for Socrates to escape

i will lose a friend
the majority will think i could have helped
we have the money
aiding your enemies
betraying your sons
taking the easy way out

why does Socrates think Crito's arguments are irrelevant

God's opinion is the only one that matters to him

3 problems of philosophy

What are the objects of knowledge?
how do we explain common features of particulars
how do we understand general words, applying not to particulars but to things of a certain kind

Object of knowledge

senses cannot give knowledge
reason gives us knowledge

Arguments for the forums

epistemological, metaphysical, and semantic arguments

epistemological argument

the form of the f is what all f things have in common
the form of the swan is what all swans have in common

semantic argument

jill names a particular
swan names a universal

the form of the good

highest form
explains and produces everything else
it makes all things intelligible and is the reason they exist

what is the motive

love

ultimate forum

good

Aristotle Substance

“things that never change, what makes up everything”

Aristotle Accidents

“the way we perceive an object”

material cause

what is it made of?

efficient cause

what produced it?

formal cause

why does it take its shape?

final cause

what was the purpose or goal of producing it?

Which cause does science not address?

final cause

What is a biblical example of an accident?

bread and wine

Nutritive soul

life is basic to all things (plants, animals, and humans)

Sensitive Soul

animals have sensation and desires

rational soul

soul that has capable uniquely on available to humans

telos

goal/purpose

goal of humans beings

to live a life of reason; live a virtuous life

virtues can be sharpened

education and habit

four cardinal virtures

prudence(good for yourself), temperance(moderation), courage, justice(fairness)

The golden mean

midpoint between excess and deficiency

virtue signaling

hypocrisy

Epicurean philosophy idea of a wise man

self-controlled, simple life with moderation and friendship

stoicism philosophy is

pursue virtue and pleasure will result

skeptical philosophy is

to doubt everything