Unit 4 - Truth and Reason

Philosophy

Philosophy

love of wisdom, knowledge of being

subjective truth

subject to change, similar to opinion

objective truth

true for everyone

factual truth

needs to be proven by the senses

self-evident truth

truths that do not need to be proven because they’re evident

relativism

no such thing as truth/ all truth is relative

ethical relativism

there is no such thing as right and wrong

objective ethics

universalistic, right and wrong for everyone, goodness is a reality that exists in itself

common understanding

what most reasonable people in most places in most ages of history share and understanding about right and wrong

conscience

ability of reason to judge good and evil

reason

ability to think logically, without it we fall into chaos, disagreement and confusion

Divine Revelation

God reveals right and wrong

principle

basic or fundamental truth that is used to support reasoning or belief

Principles of Reason

discover truth through logic

Principle of Non-Contradiction

something cannot be “x” and “not-x” simultaneously

Principle of Complete Explanation

best explanation is the one that accounts for the most data

Principle of Objective Evidence

evidence that can be verified by others

Essence

intrinsic value of something, what it is to its core

human being

one of human origin

human person

human being who possesses rights that deserve to be protected by law

telos

end, relationships, purpose

nominal definition

name to call an object, imposes a label

objective definition

what something is, physically, not subject to debate

real definition

essence of something revealed

subjective definition

a definition subject to change

four ways to know an objective moral truth

common understanding, reason, conscience, divine revelation

lack of reason regarding moral relativism

violates non-contradiction. “True for everyone, that there is no objective truth.”

the role principles play in determining objective moral truth

help us discover truth through reason

four steps needed to construct a real definition

physical characteristics, powers, conditions, full purpose