modern psych in hist perspective - Aristotle and ataraxia

epistemological empiricism and rationalism

from sensory observations and experience to generalization, classification, and abstract essence

ontological dualism (hylomorphism)

the sensible world of things is real, the essence of a thing is in its form and its belonging to an abstract class (category) of universals

hylomorphism

matter + form = a meaningful thing, body + soul = a human

teleology

striving for the ultimate purpose of existence, to become, to happen

what is the hierarchy of things in the universe?

the scala naturae (ladder of nature)

what are all things striving to become, and from what?

from pure potentiality (matter) to pure actuality (God)

what is the essence of sculptured marble?

the form

what is the essence of a plant?

the nutritive anima

what is the essence of an animal?

the sensitive psyche

what is the essence of a human being?

the rational mind

what does the essence of something represent?

a meaningful definition and characteristics of an object or organism

what is the rational mind?

the active mind, proactive plans and decisions

what does the rational mind exist in?

humans

what is the sensitive psyche?

the passive psyche, reactive perception and response

what does the sensitive psyche exist in?

humans and animals

what is the nutritive anima?

the vegetative anima, life-maintaining and reproduction 

what does the nutritive anima exist in?

humans, animals, and plants

what forms of the soul die with the body?

the sensitive psyche and the nutritive anima

what desire does the proactive mind represent?

for meaning and purpose, intelligence, stability of selfhood and free will

what does the reactive psyche contain?

special senses and common sense

what are the special senses?

5 sensory receptors

what is common sense?

imagination and memory

why is common sense important?

allows you to make sense of the world

why is the reactive psyche important?

important for reality but not ephemerality

what did Aristotle believe about the psyche and the mind?

both physical and metaphysical realities exist, mind belongs to metaphysical and psyche belongs to physical

what are the self and personality akin to?

a photo on an ID card, they represent a person but are not them

what is sensation?

an effect of the motion of different mediums which stimulate sensory receptors

what is perception?

an effect of integration of many sensory inputs by the common sense

what is memory?

a repository of images from the past experiences and the act of associating, recognizing, and recollecting

what is recognition?

identifying, selecting the correct answer from the MCQ

what is recollection?

a search, short answer questions

what are laws of association?

the ways you might remember something

what are the laws of association?

similarity, contrast, contiguity, frequency

what did Aristotle believe about dreams?

they have no meaning

what kind of motivation exists in plants, animals, and humans?

the appetites

what kind of motivation exists in animals and humans?

the urges and needs

what kind of motivation exists in only humans?

intentions and desires

what is catharsis?

venting, purification, cleansing

what is the purpose of human life?

self-perfection, becoming better

what is eudaemonia?

good spirit and happiness that comes from achieved virtues

what are humanity’s core values?

wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, and piety

what is the responsibility of caregivers?

to create virtues in the child through study and care

what is virtue-seeking conduct?

based on rational intentions and choices, rational supervision over appetites, urges, needs, and passions

what did Aristotle believe was best in politics?

Spartan discipline and strong leadership of enlightened and ethical public servants

what is ataraxia?

emotional values, peace of mind

what are the philosophies of ataraxia?

cynicism, skepticism, epicureanism, stoicism

what is cynicism?

return to nature, rejection of social/civilized norms

what is skepticism?

doubt and avoidance of everything, aporia for the sake of no conclusion

what is epicureanism?

focus on pleasure, complex pleasure of art, avoid social trouble, obey natural laws because it is self-serving, carpe diem

what is stoicism?

determinism, obey social rules