PH 103 - key terms

key terms for final exam matching section

metaphysics

branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of reality/what kind of things are real; first principles

premise

a statement that offers support for your conclusion

conclusion

the point you are making/what your premises should support

argument

something comprised of one or more premises and a conclusion

objective reality

the reality of things insofar as they are the objects of our thoughts; reality of things known through representations in our mind

formal reality

the independent reality of a thing; reality of things that are external to our mind/separate form other things

efficient cause

source of motion/rest of the thing; what made thing in question

final cause

a thing’s purpose or function; why the thing was made

free will

the power to act without constraint of necessity, or fate; ability to act at one’s own discretion and choose for oneself

determinism

the idea that everything that happens is pre-determined, usually by god, nature, or some other all-powerful entity

problem of evil

name for the challenge that arises when one confronts the existence of evil in the world with belief in an omnipotent, omnibenevolent, omniscient god

ethics

branch of philosophy that deals with questions about what makes a person good or bad; what makes an action right or wrong

on a par

a way that qualitative values can relate to one another; in the same neighborhood of value

drifter

someone who lets fear or external circumstances decide for them instead of creating their own reasons

hard choice

a choice between two options in the same neighborhood of value; can be decided by drifting or by making reasons for oneself

consequentialism

an ethical theory that determines the rightness or wrongness of actions based solely on their consequences

marginal utility

the level at which, by giving more, I would cause as much suffering to myself or my dependents as I would relieve by my gift

epistemology

branch of philosophy concerned with knowledge and how we know things

rationalism

epistemological standpoint that argues the basis of our knowledge lies in our ability to reason

empiricism

epistemological standpoint that argues the basis of our knowledge comes from our experiences and senses/perceptions

cathexis

an emotional investment in a person by which they become important to us