Philosophy, Logic and Human Existence Flashcards

Comprehensive flashcards covering the basics of Philosophy, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics, Logic, and Reasoning based on the GST 212 course material.

What is the etymological origin of the word "Philosophy"?

It originates from the Greek words "Philo" (love) and "Sophia" (wisdom), meaning "the love of wisdom."

How does a layman generally understand philosophy?

As a "philosophy of life," meaning a general theory or principles about how one ought to conduct their life (e.g., "honesty is my philosophy").

What are the primary branches of philosophy?

Metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic.

Why is philosophy considered the "mother of all sciences"?

Because it gave birth to academic fields such as physics, psychology, political science, sociology, and economics.

What is the difference between the material object and formal object of philosophy?

The material object is "all things" or reality in its totality, while the formal object is the study of that reality through reason to discover ultimate causes and meanings.

According to Enoh (1995), what is a key characteristic of philosophy regarding empirical methods?

Philosophy does not employ empirical methods; it deals with abstract issues that cannot be verified through observations and experiments.

What is the "Problem of Mind-Body Interaction" in metaphysics?

The question of how an immaterial substance (mind) can interact with a material substance (body/brain).

How did Benedict de Spinoza explain the mind-body relationship?

Through the theory of parallelism, stating that mind and body are two sides of the same coin (God/Nature) and do not directly influence each other.

What is the difference between "Substance" and "Accident" according to Aristotle?

Substance is whatever exists on its own; accident is whatever cannot exist on its own but depends on other things (like color or height).

What are the three conditions of knowledge according to A.J. Ayer?

1. What one says to know must be true; 2. One must be sure of it; 3. One must have the right to be sure (justification).

Define the six sources of knowledge identified in epistemology.

Common-sense, Authoritative, Empirical, Rational, Intuition, and Revealed knowledge.

What is 'Axiology'?

The branch of philosophy concerned with the study of values, divided into ethics (conduct) and aesthetics (beauty).

Distinguish between 'Liberal art' and 'Servile art' in aesthetics.

Liberal art is an immanent activity found in the mind/imagination, while servile art is the result of bodily effort by its maker.

What is the 'Socratic Method' of inquiry?

A question-and-answer method where the teacher helps individuals "give birth" to innate ideas through subtle examination and dialogue.

State the Law of Identity.

$A \text{ is } A$: Everything is what it is, and an entity remains identical to itself.

State the Law of Non-Contradiction.

A proposition cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense ($\text{Not both } A \text{ and Not-}A$).

What is the Law of Sufficient Reason?

Leibniz's principle that everything that happens must have a rational explanation or cause.

Define a 'Proposition' in the context of logic.

A declarative sentence that is either true or false.

What is a 'Deductive Argument'?

An argument where the premises are intended to guarantee the conclusion with logical necessity.

What are the four types of categorical propositions?

Universal affirmative ($A$: All S is P), Universal negative ($E$: No S is P), Particular affirmative ($I$: Some S is P), and Particular negative ($O$: Some S is not P).

Define 'Validity' and 'Soundness' in deductive logic.

Validity refers to the logical connection where premises necessitate the conclusion; Soundness occurs when an argument is valid AND all its premises are true.

What is the symbolic structure of 'Modus Ponens'?

$$1. p \rightarrow q; 2. p; 3. \text{Therefore, } q$$

What is the symbolic structure of 'Modus Tollens'?

$$1. p \rightarrow q; 2. \neg q; 3. \text{Therefore, } \neg p$$

What is 'Inductive Generalization'?

Drawing a general conclusion from a specific sample of instances.

What is an 'Ad Hominem' fallacy?

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

What is the 'Hasty Generalization' fallacy?

Drawing a broad, universal conclusion based on limited or insufficient evidence.

Explain the 'Law of Excluded Middle'.

A principle stating that everything is either $A$ or $\text{Not-}A$; a statement is either true or false, with no third option.