Philosophical Arguments from Parmenides to Nietzsche

This set of flashcards covers key philosophical arguments and ideas from the lecture notes focusing on Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Ockham, and Nietzsche.

What was Parmenides' main philosophical claim about reality?

Parmenides claimed that reality is a timeless unity and that change, along with the passage of time, is just an illusion.

What is the contradiction that Parmenides identifies in the concept of change?

Change involves something that both is and is not, leading to an apparent contradiction.

According to Parmenides, how are the past and future related to the present?

Parmenides argues that thinking about the past and future requires treating them as present, which leads to denying the reality of change and time.

How does Parmenides refute the notion of change?

He argues that if change involves destruction or creation, it would require something to both exist and not exist, which is contradictory.

What is Plato's argument from the possibility of knowledge?

Plato argues that knowledge can only exist if it pertains to unchanging Forms, since all knowledge must be stable.

How does Plato react to Heraclitus' idea of constant change?

Plato posits that if everything is changing, true knowledge of that which is unchanging (the Forms) is necessary for understanding.

What assumption do both Aristotle and Nietzsche make regarding the existence of an infinite regress?

Both philosophers argue that an infinite regress is impossible, which affects the validity of certain premises in philosophical arguments.

What is Ockham's Razor?

Ockham's Razor is the principle that entities should not be multiplied without necessity, suggesting we should prefer simpler explanations.

What does Nietzsche mean by the 'Death of God'?

Nietzsche's 'Death of God' refers to the decline of traditional beliefs in God and their impact on morality and meaning in life.

Why does Nietzsche argue against the belief in absolute truths?

Nietzsche contests that beliefs in absolute truths are metaphysical assumptions that are ultimately unfounded and that our perceptions shape our understanding of truth.