Introduction to Philosophy: Logic, Ethics, and Metaphysics Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering logical concepts, truth theories, paradoxes, ethics, personal identity, and ancient philosophical practices.

Logic

The study of good reasoning and valid arguments.

Argument

A set of premises intended to support a conclusion.

Validity

A property of an argument where it is impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.

Soundness

A valid argument that possesses actually true premises.

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning where the conclusions follow necessarily from the premises.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning that provides probable rather than certain conclusions based on the premises.

Modus Ponens

A valid argument form structured as: $A \rightarrow B$; $A$; therefore $B$.

Truth Function

A connective whose truth depends only on the truth values of its components.

Negation

Represented as $\neg P$, it is a statement that reverses the truth value of $P$.

Conjunction

Represented as $P \text{ ∧ } Q$, it is true only when both components are true.

Disjunction

Represented as $P \text{ ∨ } Q$, it is true when at least one statement is true.

Conditional

Represented as $P \rightarrow Q$, it is false only when the antecedent $P$ is true and the consequent $Q$ is false.

Law of Non-Contradiction (LNC)

A principle of classical logic stating a statement cannot be both true and false: $\neg(A \text{ ∧ } \neg A)$.

Law of Excluded Middle (LEM)

A principle of classical logic stating every statement is either true or false: $A \text{ ∨ } \neg A$.

Explosion

The logical principle that any statement can be derived from a contradiction.

Global Relativism

The philosophical view that all truths are relative to a perspective, individual, or culture.

Reason

Evidence-based, empirical, and revisable belief.

Faith

A way of knowing characterized by belief without empirical proof.

Liar Paradox

The paradox arising from the sentence: "This sentence is false."

Dialetheism

The view that some contradictions are true (truth gluts).

Paraconsistent Logic

A logic that allows for contradictions without the principle of explosion occurring.

Revenge Paradox

A new paradox created to attack or undermine a proposed solution to an original paradox.

Determinism

The view that the past and the laws of nature completely determine the future.

Compatibilism

The view that free will and determinism are compatible with one another.

First-Order Desires

Desires for ordinary things or basic objects.

Second-Order Desires

Desires targeted at other desires; desires about what one wants to want.

Deep Self View

Harry Frankfurt's view that free action occurs when an agent's actions align with their endorsed (second-order) desires.

Animalism

The view of personal identity that we are primarily biological organisms.

Psychological Continuity

The view that personal identity consists of the persistence of mental life, including memories, beliefs, and personality.

Fission Case

A thought experiment in personal identity where one person appears to split into two future persons.

Self-Refutation

Occurs when a claim undermines or contradicts its own truth, often cited as a challenge to global relativism.

Telos

An end, goal, or purpose toward which a thing aims.

Eudaimonia

The Aristotelian concept of flourishing, living well, or true happiness.

Ergon

A function or characteristic activity unique to a specific entity.

Supervening Pleasure

Pleasure that naturally accompanies and completes a virtuous activity.

Ground Projects

Bernard Williams' term for deep commitments and desires that give meaning and direction to a person's life.

Disinterested Concern

A feature of love involving caring about another person's well-being for their own sake rather than for personal benefit.

Volitional Necessity

The idea, proposed by Frankfurt, that we do not choose what we love; it is not under rational control.

Vagueness

The lack of a clear, sharp boundary for the application of a concept.

Sorites Paradox

Also known as the paradox of the heap, it arises from applying vague concepts to a series of small, incremental changes.

Epistemicism

The view that vague concepts actually have sharp boundaries, but those boundaries are unknowable to humans.

Fuzzy Logic

A logic where truth is not binary (true/false) but comes in degrees between $0$ and $1$.

Spiritual Exercises

Practices identified by Pierre Hadot intended to transform the self, judgment, and character in ancient philosophy.

Prosoche

The spiritual exercise of maintaining constant attention to one's thoughts and actions.