Introduction to Philosophy of the Human Person - Module 1 and 2

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts of knowledge, truth, Platonic philosophy, and methods of reasoning from HUMSS 12 Module 1.

KNOWLEDGE

Facts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education.

Opinion

A judgment, viewpoint, or statement considered subjective, which may refer to thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and estimates with no evidence or reasoned judgment to support it.

Wisdom

The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment applied with virtue; the ability to make right use of KNOWLEDGE.

BELIEF

The acceptance that a statement is true or something exists, considered as a firmly held opinion or conviction.

Plato

Ancient Greek philosopher who was a student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle, and founder of the Academy.

Virtue is Knowledge

The Platonic concept that no one does wrong knowingly; wrongdoing stems from ignorance rather than deliberate evil.

Sensible World

The physical realm perceived through the senses (sight, touch, hearing) that is always changing and yielding only opinion (doxa).

Intelligible World

The world of Forms that is eternal and perfect, accessible through reason and intellect.

Forms

Perfect and eternal patterns or concepts of which material objects are merely imperfect copies.

The Idea of the GOOD

The highest form associated with pure reason (noesis).

Allegory of the Cave

A metaphor where prisoners represent people living with incomplete knowledge, viewing shadows as reality.

Plato's Divided Line

A framework representing four stages of knowing and four kinds of reality, divided into the Visible World and the Intelligible World.

Imagination

The lowest level of knowing on the Divided Line, based on appearances, guesses, and shadows.

Thought

The level of knowing where reason and logic are used to understand patterns and causes.

Understanding

The highest level of knowing where reality is known through reason as pure knowledge or wisdom, encompassing the Forms.

Aporia

The first step toward wisdom involving the recognition of one's own ignorance, described as "I do not know."

Dianoia

The step toward wisdom involving reasoning through evidence and hypothesis.

Socratic Method

Also known as the method of elenchus or elenctic method; a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue based on asking and answering questions.

Dialectics

A method of philosophical argument involving a contradictory process between opposing sides to reach a balanced resolution.

Systematic Doubt

René Descartes' method of questioning everything that can be doubted until only what is absolutely certain remains.

Cogito, Ergo Sum

Translated as "I think, therefore I am"; the conclusion that the self exists as a thinking substance independent of the body.

Proposition

A statement that expresses a complete thought and can be judged as true or false, serving as the basic unit of reasoning.

Facts

Objective and verifiable statements that are proven to be true by evidence, such as "Water boils at $100^\circ\text{C}$."

Claims

Subjective and debatable statements expressing opinions, beliefs, or interpretations.

Argument

A set consisting of a claim, evidence (facts or data), and reasoning that establishes a logical connection between the claim and evidence.