metaphysics final exam

Metaphysics

the study of the basic structures of reality

Metaphysics topics/questions

what is “reality”, what is “being”, what is the meaning of existence, is there a supreme god/being, what is “the self”, are the mind and brain the same thing, what is a person, can there be non

Ontology

branch of metaphysics dealing with being, existence, and reality

Substance

idea that things enjoy an independant existence. Substance anchor’s a thing’s changing process.

Essence

what makes something what is it, its fundamental nature

Monism

theory or belief that reality is made of one all

Materialism

type of monism proposed by pre

Idealism

another type of monomism. Reality consists of ideas and the minds that house those ideas. Reality is composed by our perception/mind/spirit. Things rely on our perception to exist.

Dualism

reality is made of two things: mind and matter. They are separate from each other but can interact.

Realism

theory developed by plato based on his ideal forms. These forms are unchanging, immaterial, and more perfect than the reality we experience. An object or thing has certain attributes independent from what people think/perceive about it

Common

sense realism

Heraclitus on reality

ancient greek philosopher who believed that nothing lasts forever, therefore there’s no such thing as an unchanging being. All is becoming, changing from one state to another, but this change does not seem to be chaos. Believed that you should trust input from senses as they are reality in the moment.

Logos

what governs change in accordance with it. Logos translates to reason, plan, discourse, and word. All change is ordferly and requires one thing that does not change; logos.

Process philosophy

philosophical process that sees reality as something constantly changing and evolving. A thing does not have determined parameters or a start and end point, it’s an incomplete integration of “occasions of experience”

Intelligibility

philosophical notion that things change but not in a uniform manner, two stones don’t change in the same way under same/similar conditions.

Questions in intelligibility

why are things similar at all, why not a chaotic, patternless, blurry mess? What allows us the generalize from the particular?

Parmenides on reality

rivaled heraclitus and took a monist position. Distrusted physical senses as they can easily be fooled and instead trusted reason. Add motivations, themes, characters, branch them out and connect that back to the story. Believed that “being” was reality. Being is timeless, uniform, indivisible and self originating

Plato’s theory of forms

Any object or concept is trying to replicate a form, which has the thing’s true essence. The forms unchanging, immaterial, and more perfect than the reality we experience. The forms are more real than their physical copies and they are the purest form of existence possible, giving intelligibility.

Taoism

Theory that for some, reality cannot be understood through reason, as it breaks up the oneness of reality. An intuition that transcends reason is needed. Taoism goal is to be one with nature, leading a simple life to be in harmony with the oneness of Tao. everything is in flux/cycles of development or decline, this is caused by Tao

The Tao

All things come from and are sustained by the Tao, which existed before the universe. Tao is not a thing, event or person, it cannot be described by the limitations of language. Causes the flux/cycles of development or decline. Expressed by ying and yang, one passive one active, together as one, they are Tao

Doctrine of impermanence

since all things are impermanent and in a constant state of flux (including thyself), they must be empty of any type of essence. Any search for a universal transcendent essence will lead failure or suffering

Buddhists on reality

things are impermenant and empty of a nature/being/essence. However, they’re not empty of function/meaning/purpose. If things are so impermenant, where is the essence to anchor their existence?

Martin Heidegger on being

being can be understand as the concept of lived time. A verb rather than a noun. A beings “being” allows it to stand out and become intelligible. Humans are defined by future

Substance theory of the self

created by descartes, the self is a determinate (can’t change) all

Narrative theory of the self

theory created by Paul Riccoeur. We make sense of our experiences by narrating them and we link ourselves to others through this narrative. Narrative continues through life, stories are dropped and new ones are told

Bundle theory of the self

theory created by David Hume. the “self” is nothing more than a collection of bits of experiences, desires, and ideas. The only thing knitting them together is your perspective, there’s no unifying thread. The self is the individual perspective where these experiences occur, that is constantly changing an evolving.

Project theory of the self

created by Satre, similar to Heidegger’s concept of being. self is not a thing, but an event in time. Our future is not given, we construct . our feelings, desires, and thoughts are representative of our fundamental project, they’re an expression of how we constitute ourselves

Buddhist response/theory of the self

self is an illusion that does not exist. Like the doctrine of impermanence, all things are constantly in a state of move and change. Searching for the illusion of self can be painful and destructive.

John Locke’s views on personal identity

our body is important as it is in a constant state of decay. Neither is our soul. “Continuing consciousness”; our ability to relive, remember, and take responsibility for action in relation to the self is what makes up our identity

Darik Parfit’s view on personal identity

survival is the key aspect of our personal identity. Survival and identity are the continued mental states, memories, and psychological characteristics rather than a persisting unchanging self. Links are connected and create a whole but each link is not connected to every other link.

Self deception

goal oriented act of deceiving ourselves to avoid painful emotion.it’s unconscious and unplanned.

Richard Rorty’s views on self determination

there is a woven, constantly changing fabric of existence. You are constantly planning and free to decide which direction you go. Drifting and change as opposed to “progress”. We can never truly know ourselves as the meaning we try to attach to “text” will vary at different stages of life and will always be incomplete.

Questions in the mind brain problem

what/is there a connection between the physical brain matter and ideas (consciousness)? What is the relationship between the physical mind and personal identity/the self?

Monist solution to mind

brain problem

Spinoza’s monist solution to mind brain problem

the one thing that composes everything is “god or nature” which expresses itself in infinite dimensions.

Materialist solution to mind

brain problem

Idealist solution to mind

brain problem

Eliminativist materialist’s solution to mind

brain problem

Eliminativist materialist’s solution criticticisms

exaggerating the inability of common sense psychology, if it was so inadequate, it would of already died.

Dualist’s solution to mind

brain problem

Substance dualist’s solution to mind

brain problem

Functionalist solution to mind

brain problem

Subjectivist solution to mind

brain problem

Epiphenomenalist’s solution to mind

brain problem

Identity theorist’s solution to mind

brain problem

New mysterianism response to mind

brain problem

John Locke’s views on personhood

he defined being a person as a “thinking, intelligent being that has reason and reflection. With a conscious that is inseparable from thinking”. Human biology is not enough to make someone a person.

Dan Denett’s views on personhood

a person must have six basic characteristics: rationality, conscious mental states, being the subject of a specific stance or attiude when perceived by others, reciprocating this perception of others, capacity for verbal communication, self consciousness.

Mary Ann Warren’s views on personhood

essential personhood characteristics include: consciousness/awareness of objects and ability to feel pain, reasoning/problem

Annette Baier’s views on personhood

person tests reflect the biases of the designer. Persons are dependant on one another, our personhood is responsive to those around us

Theism

study of gods in a general sense. There is a poweful being that can intervene and control the world. Mircales and reveflations are evidence that they had an interest in creation.

Deism

theory thata being created this machine (the world/universe) and then withdrew. They do not have power in this moment

Monotheism

idea that there is one singular supreme being that rules over everything.

Polytheism

there’s a set of gods, each with a specific purpose, that rule the universe.

Pantheism

an impersonal divine existence that extends through nature and time and space. Their spirit is everywhere but they’re not a person.

Ontological argument for proving existence

god is the greatest conceivable being, therefore perfect.A god that only exists in our minds is not perfection, but one that exists in both mind and reality is. Since god is perfect, he must exist in both our minds and reality.

Cosmological argument for proving existence

whatever exists must come from something else. At some point the chain must stop with something that is self

Design argument for provig existence

type of teological argument, ordered universe and existence cannot come from nothing. Some designer must of created order from the chaos

Pascal’s wager

asks what you have to gain or lose by believing in god. The potential reward of belief outweighs the potential loss. Therefore, it is rational to believe in god regardless of evidence or uncertainty.

Atheist response to supreme being

atheists respond to the possibility of a supreme being through skepticism or denial of existence.

Agnostic response to supreme being

agnostics respond to the possibility of a supreme being through skepticism and uncertainty without outright denial, stating that the question is unknowable.

Determinism

theory that everything that happens is a series of causes and effects that occur in a long chain. Human actions and choices are caused by factors external to their will. Everything is predetermined and cause/effect. The current state of the universe dictates future events. Hard determinsim says you are trapped by the events around you, pretty much unable to have free will. Soft determinists argue that determinism and free will are are compatible. While we are casually determined by circumstances, we possess free will and still have moral responsibility.

Free will

free will is the philosophical idea that we are in control of our actions and hold responsibility for them. Sartre says we are condemned to be free, creating angst. Freedom can become a problem if we are set adrift by it and not grounded.

Albert Camus’s approach to meaning of life

camus said that judging whether life is worth living is the same as answering fundamental questions of philosophy. He introduced the concept of the “absurd”, our search for meaning in a meaningless world. His response to that, and the meaning of life as a whole is embracing the inherent uncertainty and chaos of life while affirming life’s beauty and value.

Nihilist approach to meaning of life

from a nihilist standpoint life has no value, meaning or purpose, viewing existence of fundamentally absurd or meaningless. Active nihlists accept the lack of meaning in the world and go on to create their own (like in existentlaism) while passive nihilist accept this lack of meaning, which often grows into existential despair, apathy, or hopelessness. They may adopt cynical mindset feeling resigned to absurdity of life.

Theistic approach to meaning of life

your presence is part of a supreme being’s ultimate plan. The meaning in your life comes from the relationship you build with this being. Faith and deviation will align you with divine pathways and fulfill your ultimate purpose.

Existentialist approach to meaning of life

the meaning of life is subjective, created by the person experiencing it. Nothing is created until it is first thought of. Our ability to think and be self aware is what gives us the responsibility to create as we wish

Baruch Spinoza (metaphysics)

Dutch philosopher and monist. believed that the one all

Thomas Hobbes (metaphysics)

monist who believed that all of reality is made up of matter.

Plato

realist. Developed the theory of ideal forms, also known as Plato’s epistemology or Platonic ideals. These ideas or forms are perfect and unchangeable, existing before birth. What is “learned” is actually recalled. Knowledge derives from these forms, anything else is uncertain opinion. Also came up with the allegory of the cave.

Lazoi (metaphysics)

Chinese mystic and philosopher known for coining Taoism, credited with writing the foundational text of Taoism. He emphasized the taoist idea of living a simple life in harmony with natural order.

Descartes (metaphysics)

substance dualist. Thought there were two kinds of substances. Extended substances who’s essence takes up space (chairs, rocks, brains). There are also thinking substances who’s essence is thought (mind). His dualism doesn’t explain how these substances interact. Created the substance theory of the self.

Martin Heidegger (metaphysics)

believed ontology was the first philosophy. He said that being can be understand as the concept of lived time. A verb rather than a noun. A beings “being” allows it to stand out and become intelligible. Humans are defined by future

Sartre (metaphysics)

came up with the substance theory of the self.

John locke

english philosopher and empiricst. Theory on personal identity. He argued against the idea of innate self an proposed the mind as a blank slate (Tabula Rasa) and all knowledge is acquired from sensory experience. If someone can recall past experiences they are the same person over time. He defined a person as a “thinking intelligent being that has reason and reflection”.

in terms of personal identity, he believed that our body is important as it is in a constant state of decay. Neither is our soul. “Continuing consciousness”; our ability to relive, remember, and take responsibility for action in relation to the self is what makes up our identity. Defender of new mystrianism

Karl Marx (metaphysics)

“religion is the opiate of the masses.” He means that religion has been used as a form of social control, and prevents the oppressed from recognizing social injustices.

Nietzsche (metaphysics)

“God is dead” Nietzsche critiqued several major metaphysical concepts such as the existence of absolute truths, moral absolutes, and a definitive god. He suggested the driving force behind existence is a fundamental desire to grow and overcome. He explained knowledge as subjective, influenced by perspective and the power of the knower.

Blaise Pascal (metaphysics)

Pascal's Wager: if God exists: believers win big (heaven), non believers lose huge (hell).

If God doesn’t exist, believers lose and non believers win, but who cares?

What is metaphysics and what are the questions of metaphysics

metaphysics is the study of the basic structures of reality. Questions include what is “reality”, what is “being”, what is the meaning of existence, is there a supreme god/being, what is “the self”, are the mind and brain the same thing, what is a person, can there be non

What are the different theories of the self

substance theory, narrative theory, project theory, bundle theory

What are the different theories of reality

monism, dualism, realism, idealism, materialism, substance dualism (descartes) taosim, buddhist persecptive

What is ontology and what does martin heidegger mean by “being”

ontology is the branch of metaphysics dealing with being, existence, and reality, which Heidegger considered the first philosophy. He defined being as something that can be understood as the concept of lived time. A verb rather than a noun. A beings “being” allows it to stand out and become intelligible. Humans are defined by future

Explain the idea of forms

theory developed by Plato stating that behind physical appearances are perfect, eternal and unchanging abstract entities called forms or ideals. They are true reality and the physical world is an imperfect copy of them. The knowledge of these forms are not gained through sensory experience but they’re innate knowledge acquired even before birth.

How do philosophers view the concept of personhood?

perspectives from john locke, dan dennett, mary ann warren, annette baier

What are the solutions to the mind/brain problem

monist, materielast, idealist, eliminativist, dualist, substance dualist (spinoza), functionalist, subjectivist, epiphenomenalist, identity theorist, new mysticism

What are the different views on the Supreme Being?

deism, polytheism, monotheism, pantheism

What is the relationship between determinism and freedom?

determinsim is the theory that everything that happens is a series of causes and effects that occur in a long chain. Human actions and choices are caused by factors external to their will. Everything is predetermined and cause/effect. However, different type of determinism argue whether this means that we don’t have free will. Hard determinists will argue that determinism and free will are not compatible, your fate is predetermined and your choices are trapped by circumstances. Soft determinism argues that determinsim and free will can be comptable. While we can be casually determined by external factors, we still have some free will and must be responsible for our actions and choices.

What are the approaches to the meaning of life?

camus’s approach, nihilistic, theistic, existentialist