The Value of Philosophical Reflection

Who am I?

The most common self-image identifications people make, are related to their worldly possession, social/cultural standing and the level of acceptance.

Plato’s Apology

• Socrates’ defense against charges of

corrupting the youth and impiety (lack of respect).

● Socrates argues that he is not guilty, but rather a social and

moral gadfly sent by the gods.

● He defends his method of elenchus (cross-examination) and

claims wisdom lies in knowing one’s own ignorance.

● He famously says, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

● He is sentenced to death, but remains defiant, confident that

a just life is more important than survival.

Plato & Protagoras

• Socrates debates the famous sophist

Protagoras about whether virtue can be taught.

● Protagoras argues that virtue is teachable, giving long

speeches about how society educates people in moral

values.

● Socrates questions the unity of the virtues and whether anyone

knowingly does evil.

● The dialogue ends inconclusively, but Socrates seems to

get Protagoras to contradict himself.

Agora

The public space where Socrates philosophize

Philosopo

One with skill in evading/avoiding arguments.

Logical fallacy

Argument that may sound convincing or true but is actually flawed

Lapses of logic that lead us to an unsupported conclusion.

Sophists

Group of people in Greece who are teaching - ARETE - excellence

Uses arguments to win and not to find the truth

Uses argument to appear the weak appear stronger

Protagoras

“Man is the measure of all things”

“Every individual has a measure of his own truth”

Gorgias

“Nomos is opposed to Physis”

Emphasized that society’s laws (nomos) often oppose natural order (physis)

Callicles

“In natural order, might makes right”

In nature, the strong dominate the weak. This is not “unjust” — it is simply the way reality works.

Argued that laws are inventions of the weak majority to protect themselves from the strong minority.

Lycophron

“In natural order, all humans are equal”

Slavery is unjust in the law of nature

Societies create hierarchy not found in nature

No one is born a master or slave by nature

Sophism

Particular style of argumentation and reasoning that is often associated with deception and trickery

Aims to persuade rather than inform, and that it relies on clever wordplay and logical fallacies to make its point.

Fallacy

Mistake in reasoning that makes an argument invalid or weak

It may sound persuasive, but it does not logically prove the point

Ad hominem

Logical fallacy where instead of attacking the argument, someone attacks the person making the argument

Appeal to ignorance

It occurs when someone claims that something is true because it hasn’t been proven false, or false because it hasn’t been proven true

Hasty Generalization

A fallacy in which conclusion is not logically supported by sufficient evidence

Equivocation

An argument in an ambiguous way, with one meaning in the other side of the argument and another meaning in the other portion of the argument, making the argument misleading

Shifting the meaning of a word mid-argument.

Appeal to Pity

A fallacy in which someone tries to win support an argument or idea by exploiting the opponent's feelings, pity or guilt.

Bandwagon

Occurs when a proposition is claimed to be true or good solely because many people believe it to be so.

Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc

This fallacy occur when it is assumed that, because one thing happened after another, it must have occurred as a result of it

Appeal To Force

When force, coercion, or even a threat of force is used in place of a reason in an attempt to justify a conclusion

Pamimilosopo

The true philosopher, observes, thinks and sees clearly with the mind, and speaks the truth.

To engage others to see the truth and live by it.

Virtue according to Aristotle

A mean between excess and deficiency, a balance of character traits and behaviors achieved through habit and rational choice.

Developed through practice, leading to moral excellence and a fulfilling life.