phil 101 basic concepts

what is the meaning philosophy?

love of wisdom (plato and aristotle)

what is philosophy’s goal?

to understand existence, knowledge, truth, values, and reality

what is philosophy’s method?

rational examination of assumptions, not just personal beliefs

why is philosophy important?

challenges common sense, distinguishes appearance vs. reality

conceptual engineering

clarify and refine concepts 

critical reflection

no subject is immune to critique

thought experiments

imagine scenarios to test assumptions

metaphysics

the study of what is real

epistemology

the study of knowledge

objectivity

facts (i.e., science)

subjectivity

opinions (i.e., ethics)

what are premises?

the reasons in an argument

what makes an argument good?

a valid structure and true premises (sound)

validity

when the premises support the conclusion

principle of charity

interpreting arguments in their strongest form

affirming the consequent

if P, then Q. Q. Therefore, P

denying the antecedent

if P then Q. Not P. Therefore, not Q

circular reasoning/begging the question

when the conclusion is assumed in the premises

birthday fallacy

assumes every effect/event has the same cause

wishful thinkning

believing something is true just because one wants it to be true 

self-fulfilling prophecy

a belief that influences actions that make the belief come true

only game in town fallacy

accepting an explanation just because it’s the only one offered

deductive arguments

if the premises are true, then the conclusion must be tre

inductive arguments

generalization from observations; the conclusion is probably true (sample sizing)

abductive arguments

choosing the best explanation that accounts for the evidence (hypothesis)

reductio ad absurdum (indirect argument)

assuming the opposite of what you want to prove to show its absurdity

conditional arguments

based on “if… then” statements