philosophy diagnostic 1

iconoclasm

destruction of idols (ex., challenging the idea that you NEED to go to college to be successful)

paradox of hedonism

if you try too hard to be happy, you will end up miserable

Presocrates

(the first philosophers) All tried to answer the question, 'What makes x an x?'

Aporia

fertile, 'positive' confusion (ex., is it pious because the gods love it? or do the gods love it because it is pious?)

Dual attitude

humility? rebellion/iconoclasm

etymology of philosophy

Philos + Sophia (Loving Wisdom)

Where did westernized philosophy begin?

ancient greece

What is the socratic method?

Repeatedly questioning to help one arrive at an answer themself

Socratic knowledge

Knowledge of ones ignorance

Who did Plato attempt to honor in his dialogues?

Socrates

Who did Aristotle tutor?

Alexander the Great (mainly educated by aristotle)

How did Socrates die?

After being told, 'you are punished to death, do you propose something else?' rather than suggesting banishment as expected, Socrates agreed to go to the dungeon where he died after drinking poison, and society regretted killing him later on.

Who founded 'The Academy'?

Plato

Until the 1600s who was assumed to hold all knowledge?

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle

What are the two prima facie plausible pleas to avoid?

1. The plea to nature — arguing that something is justified simply because it is "natural" or has always occurred naturally.

2. The plea to ignorance — arguing that because we do not know something for certain, we should accept or continue believing the existing assumption.

Define reify

To regard as a thing

Assumptions, data collection, interpretation

Assumptions - racial hierarchy, skull size + shape would tell you about ones brain and cognition

Data collection - imprecision, data was not blinded; allows for bias (unconsciously driven by personal opinion)

Interpretation - 'cherry picking'; picking results based on what you want to see. 'ad hoc reasoning' unfairly making things up as you go.

What is craniometry?

Craniometry is the scientific measurement of the size, shape, and proportions of the human skull (cranium). Has ZERO scientific credibility.

What happened during the 1904 population boom?

Rise of urbanization -> one-room school models terminated -> divided kids into grades

What is remediation?

Fixing, (remedial instructed; fixing a problem (special groups))

Why did St Gould critique 'The Ball Curve'?

Disagreed with the statement 'compared to non-whites, by nature white people are more intelligent' and came up with alternative explanations, (ex., wealth meant more access to education, non whites did not have fair chances for wealth)

When did Socrates die?

3.99 BC

What type of reputation did Socrates have?

He was known to be clever and humble, but rebellious

Is there such a thing as a gene for anything? (ex., intelligence gene)

No

What is the fallacy of presentism?

The mistake of judging or explaining past events, actions, and people using today's values, morals, and beliefs instead of looking at the actual historical context

Factors that influence IQ score

- height

- diet

- wealth

- instruction type

- books

- pencils

- furniture

What book did Man of Measure critique?

The Bell Curve

What does the 'Measure of Women' mean by measure?

The 'measure' refers to the standard used to judge women. The text questions who creates that standard, what qualities it values, and whether women should be judged by standards created by others.

What did male and female responsibilities look like in Agrarian Era?

Practically the same, women swung axes and men cooked for the family.

What increases did we see in the Industrial Revolution?

Population, mechanization (includes farming, consequences for the production of domestic goods, includes factories in cities) which resulted in a rise in urbanization which resulted in a shift in gender roles.

What happened within households after the rise of the Industrial Era?

Less (but still difficult) work at home (because of innovations), factory work in cities is now common, work at home is now viewed as separate spheres (in comparison to when it was the main worry)

What specifically shifted the male and female roles in the industrial era?

Now one person in a household had to go out to work (typically the man)

Why was the man usually the one to go to work?

For biological reasons (nothing to do with the brain), because of pregnancy

What is the central argument of 'Measure of Women'?

The text challenges the idea that there is one fixed standard for what a woman should be. It examines how social expectations can define women and asks whether women should have the freedom to define themselves.

Why is the idea of measuring a person philosophically significant?

To measure someone is to compare them to a standard. Philosophically, this raises the question of whether a person can be fairly judged by an external standard without reducing their individuality and freedom.

What does the text question about society's definition of women?

It questions whether society's definition of women reflects an objective truth or whether it was created through cultural traditions, social expectations, and systems of power.

How does 'the measure of women' connect to the philosophical idea of human freedom?

The text suggests that freedom involves more than simply making choices. A person must also have the ability to question the standards and expectations that influence those choices.

Why is self-definition important in the text?

Self definition allows women to determine their identities based on their own experiences, choices, and values instead of allowing society to completely determine who they are.

What is the philosophical problem with defining women according to one standard?

A single standard assumes that all women should have the same qualities, roles, or goals. This can ignore individual differences and limit women's ability to determine their own lives.

What does the text suggest about the relationship between society and identity?

Society influences how people understand themselves by creating expectations and labels, but individuals can question those expectations and create identities that do not completely conform to them.

How does 'measure of women' challenge the idea that traditional gender roles are natural?

It encourages readers to distinguish between what is biologically given and what society has taught people to expect of women. A tradition existing for a long time does not automatically prove that it is natural.

How does the concept of autonomy apply to "The Measure of Women"?

Autonomy means having the ability to govern yourself. The text connects autonomy to women having the freedom to make decisions about their identities and lives rather than simply fulfilling roles assigned to them.

What is the difference between equality and treating everyone identically?

Equality does not mean everyone must be identical. It means people have equal human worth and freedom, even though individuals may have different personalities, goals, abilities, and choices.

How does the text challenge unequal standards for men and women?

It encourages readers to examine whether behaviors considered acceptable for men are judged differently when women do them, showing how gender can influence social and moral judgments.

What does objectification have to do with the text?

Objectification occurs when a woman is reduced to her body, appearance, sexual role, or usefulness instead of being recognized as a complete person with thoughts, choices, and goals.

Why is objectification a philosophical problem?

Objectification raises questions about what it means to recognize another person as fully human. It challenges whether someone can respect another person's dignity while treating them primarily as an object.

What does human dignity mean in relation to women?

Human dignity means that women possess value simply as human beings. Their worth should not depend entirely on appearance, relationships, social roles, accomplishments, or their ability to satisfy someone else's expectations.

How does the text relate to the philosophical idea of individuality?

The text challenges the tendency to treat "women" as though they are one uniform category. Each woman is an individual with her own experiences, desires, beliefs, and choices.

What is social construction, and why does it matter to the text?

Social construction is the idea that certain beliefs and roles are created and maintained by society. It matters because the text questions whether expectations about women are natural or socially produced.

How can social expectations influence women without being directly enforced?

People learn expectations through family, education, media, culture, religion, relationships, and everyday interactions. Eventually, individuals may follow these expectations because they seem normal.

What is internalization, and how does it relate to gender?

Internalization occurs when people absorb social beliefs and begin to apply them to themselves. Women may internalize ideas about how they are supposed to look, behave, or live.

Why is internalization important when discussing freedom?

If people automatically accept society's standards without questioning them, their choices may appear completely free while still being strongly shaped by social expectations.

What philosophical question does the 'measure of women' raise about choice?

If a person chooses something because they have been taught that it is the only acceptable option, is that choice completely autonomous?

How does the text distinguish between being a woman and fulfilling a gender role?

Being a woman refers to one's identity, while fulfilling a gender role involves following expectations about how women are supposed to behave. The text questions whether those two things should automatically be treated as the same.

Why is tradition not necessarily a justification for gender roles?

A practice being traditional only explains that it has existed for a long time. It does not prove that the practice is fair, natural, or morally correct.

What does the text suggest about the relationship between identity and other people's judgments?

Other people's judgments can influence identity, but they should not have complete authority over how an individual understands themselves.

How does the text encourage philosophical thinking?

It asks readers to question assumptions that are usually taken for granted, especially assumptions about gender, identity, value, and social roles.

Why can external standards limit individuality?

When people are constantly judged according to the same standard, they may feel pressured to conform instead of developing their own identities and determining their own goals.

How does "The Measure of Women" connect to feminist philosophy?

It examines the ways women can be defined, judged, and restricted by social structures and expectations while emphasizing equality, autonomy, identity, and power.

What is the deeper philosophical meaning of rejecting an imposed "measure"?

Rejecting an imposed measure means refusing to accept an external definition as the complete source of one's worth. It represents autonomy, individuality, and self-definition.

What is Gould's central philosophical concern?

We mistake measurements and categories for natural truths about human worth and ability.

What question does Gould ask about early craniometry?

Did science discover racial differences, or did prior racial beliefs shape the scientific questions and data?

What does "reification" mean in Gould's argument?

Treating an abstract mathematical concept as if it were a concrete thing that exists independently.

Why does Gould reject judging all life by human standards?

One species' traits cannot automatically serve as the universal measure of every other form of life.

What is Gould's criticism of reifying g?

A mathematical factor is treated as though it were a real, measurable substance inside the mind.

Why is reification important when discussing intelligence?

It can make us treat intelligence as one concrete thing instead of asking what intelligence really is