Philosophy notes

What are the charges of Socrates

Corrupting the youth

Not believing in the Athenian gods

Making the weaker argument appear to be stronger

How many people were on the jury of Socrates

500

What is the Socratic method

Ask good questions to obtain information

According to Socrates what is the best life

The examined life

What impacts happiness most in the world

#1 Genetics

#2 Attitude

#3 Psych / Social Factors

What is Metaphysics

The study beyond physics

What is Epistemology

The study of knowledge

What are Deontological ethics (Duty ethics)

Duties w/o exceptions

What is autonomy

Free will / Important to make decisions of right from wrong

Actions and consequences

To find right from wrong dependent on the consequences of an action

What is Moral worth

When one does their duty because it is their duty

What is a core belief of Kant

Good will is always good w/o exception

What is a maxim

A principle or rule

What are the two parts of the categorical imperative

#1 One should never act unless one can will the maxim of their action to be a universal law

#2 One should only act as to treat all humanity as a ends, never a means

The dealer dilemma

A dealer is to always sell his product at the same price to all to ensure fairness

Kant philosophy

Solid ideas of moral worth with exceptions of maxims, his ideas / policies are mostly right

Consequentialism (Jeremy Bentham 1748-1832) (John Stuart Mill 1800 - 1874)

What is right or moral depending on the consequences of the action NOT on the type of action.

Utilitarianism

Sees universal happiness / pleasure as the ultimate goal

Act Utilitarianism

The morally right act is the act that maximizes happiness

Rule Utilitarianism

The morally right act is following the rule that promotes the greatest happiness.

The happiness problem / The maxim connected

Looking at the action rather than its consequences, actions are right in proportion that they promote happiness / wrong if they promote unhappiness.

Swine / Pig theory

Pigs can feel pleasure but not create or experience it in the way we do.

“It is better to be a human unsatisfied than a pig satisfied”

10/10 - 30/100 (class example)

What does Actions are right in proportion mean?

Comparing morality in terms of what is most moral

Intellectual happiness vs unhappiness (Greatest moral worth)

Mill believes that the happiness of the masses is valued over the happiness of one

What is the answer to utilitarianism

Live your best life w/o intending to harm others

Who was Jean Paul Sartre (1905 - 1980)

A French atheist / Marxist communist. Wrote the being of nothingness

What are the main themes of existentialism

You are ultimately responsible for your actions 100%

#1 What does it mean to be a human being

#2 Living the authentic life - Question common views and create your own authentic to your own views.

#3 The absurdity / meaning of life

#4 Responsibility - If the crowd is bad and you go along you are responsible

#5 Choice - The choices you have made, you are responsible for + how your choices affect you

Sartre’s no excuses philosophy

the idea that your actions are your own, nobody else to blame for them but yourself.

What does consciousness is freedom mean

It is part of the no excuses philosophy and emphasizes that to be conscious is to be free

What does consciousness is nothingness mean

the idea that consciousness is not a physical or solid thing, it is that you cannot see or feel consciousness and yet everyone has it.