PHIL 214 — What Is Philosophy? Knowledge, Worldviews, and Flourishing

Comprehensive review flashcards covering key concepts from PHIL 214, including the definitions and goals of philosophy, Socratic methods, worldviews, Morris's three Cs of assessment, justified true belief, major subfields, and argument evaluation.

What does philosophy mean?

Love of wisdom; from Greek philia (love) and sophia (wisdom).

What is philosophy?

The pursuit of wisdom through rational examination of fundamental beliefs, values, and questions.

What is the goal of philosophy?

To develop wisdom and understanding about reality, knowledge, human nature, and how to live.

What does Socrates mean by 'the unexamined life is not worth living'?

A worthwhile life requires critical examination of our beliefs, values, and choices.

What does 'Know Thyself' mean?

Examine your own beliefs, assumptions, values, reasoning, and way of life.

How is philosophy an examination?

It analyzes and evaluates fundamental beliefs and assumptions using reason and arguments.

What is the Socratic method?

Questioning claims and assumptions to reveal inconsistencies and develop clearer understanding.

What is philosophy as an activity?

The ongoing practice of critical questioning, reasoning, and examining life.

What is philosophy as a discipline?

The organized study of fundamental, enduring questions about knowledge, reality, and values.

What is wisdom?

Understanding important matters and exercising good judgment in thought and action.

What is human flourishing?

Living well by developing human capacities and pursuing a worthwhile, meaningful life.

How does philosophy contribute to flourishing?

It improves self-knowledge, challenges false beliefs, clarifies values, and guides thoughtful decisions.

What is a worldview?

An interconnected set of fundamental beliefs about reality, knowledge, morality, and human life.

How does philosophy help develop a worldview?

By examining whether its beliefs fit together, address important questions, and are supported by evidence.

What are Morris's three Cs of assessment?

Coherence, completeness, and correctness.

What is coherence?

Internal logical consistency: the beliefs do not contradict each other.

What is completeness?

Adequately addressing the important questions and relevant evidence.

What is correctness?

Being true or adequately supported by facts and evidence.

Why is coherence alone not enough?

A worldview can be logically consistent but false or incomplete.

What is epistemology?

The philosophical study of knowledge, belief, truth, and justification.

What is the traditional analysis of knowledge?

Justified true belief (JTB): knowledge requires belief, truth, and justification.

What is belief?

Accepting a claim as true.

What is truth?

Whether a claim actually is true, not merely whether someone accepts it.

What is justification?

Adequate reasons or evidence supporting a belief.

Why are all three JTB conditions important?

Without belief there is no acceptance; without truth the claim is false; without justification it may be a lucky guess.

What is metaphysics?

The study of the fundamental nature of reality, existence, and what kinds of things exist.

How does metaphysics help us know ourselves?

It asks what human beings are, including whether the mind is purely physical.

What is ethics?

The study of morality, goodness, right and wrong, and how we ought to live.

How does ethics help us know ourselves?

It examines our values, responsibilities, character, and conception of a good life.

How does epistemology help us know ourselves?

It tests what we believe and whether our reasons justify those beliefs.

What three intellectual skills does Morris emphasize?

Analysis, assessment, and argument.

What is analysis?

Clarifying an idea by examining its meaning and parts.

What is assessment?

Evaluating a belief or worldview for coherence, completeness, and correctness.

What is an argument?

Premises offered as reasons to support a conclusion.

What is a premise?

A supporting statement in an argument.

What is a conclusion?

The claim an argument seeks to establish.

What is the difference between assertion and argument?

An assertion states a claim; an argument provides reasons for it.

What is a deductive argument?

An argument whose premises, if true, guarantee its conclusion.

What is a non-deductive argument?

An argument whose premises support a probable rather than guaranteed conclusion.

What is validity?

A deductive argument is valid if true premises would make a false conclusion impossible.

What is soundness?

A deductive argument that is valid and has true premises.

What is cogency?

A strong non-deductive argument supported by true premises.

What should a paragraph response on philosophy include?

Philosophy as examination; Socrates and Know Thyself; worldviews; justified true belief; epistemology, metaphysics, ethics; and how these contribute to flourishing.