Grade 12 Philosophy Study Guide

The Fate of Socrates

Socrates was sentenced to death in 399 BCE for corrupting the youth and impiety.

Socrates' Choice

He chose to drink hemlock rather than escape, demonstrating his commitment to truth and philosophy.

The unexamined life

Socrates believed that self-reflection and questioning are essential to a meaningful life.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave

Found in The Republic; illustrates how people are trapped in ignorance, only seeing shadows of reality.

Journey out of the cave

Symbolizes enlightenment and the pursuit of knowledge.

Thought Experiments

Used to challenge and explore philosophical concepts.

The Trolley Problem

An example of a thought experiment in ethics.

The Ship of Theseus

An example of a thought experiment in identity.

The Socratic Method

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue to stimulate critical thinking.

First-Order Questions

Concern facts and direct questions (e.g., 'What is justice?').

Second-Order Questions

Concern the nature of the question itself (e.g., 'What does it mean to define justice?').

Voltaire's The Good Brahmin

Explores whether ignorance is bliss or if intellectual suffering is preferable.

The Brahmin

Is unhappy despite his knowledge, while a simple woman is happy in ignorance.

Human Nature

Do humans desire to know? Yes, seen in curiosity and science.

Altruism

Helping others selflessly (e.g., charity, cooperation).

Egoism

Acting in self-interest (e.g., personal gain, survival instincts).

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Demonstrates conflict between cooperation and self-interest.

Essence vs. Existence

Plato's Tripartite Soul: Rational (logic and reasoning), Spirited (passion and ambition), Appetitive (desires and basic needs).

Existentialists

E.g., Sartre: Existence precedes essence - humans create their own meaning.

Buddhism

No fixed self; identity is constantly changing.

Deductive Reasoning

Moves from general premises to a specific conclusion.

Syllogism

A logical structure consisting of 2 premises and a conclusion.

Soundness

A valid argument with true premises.

Premise

A statement that supports the argument.

Conclusion

The final claim that follows from the premises.

Evidence

Facts or logic backing up the premise.

Validity Testing

An argument can be valid but not sound.

Law of Non-Contradiction

Something cannot be both true and false at the same time.

Law of the Excluded Middle

A statement is either true or false; there is no middle ground.

Law of Identity

An object is itself (A = A).

Inductive Reasoning

Moves from specific observations to general conclusions.

Abductive Reasoning

Uses the best possible explanation for incomplete data.

Faulty Cause (Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc)

Assuming that because one event followed another, it must have been caused by it.

Sweeping Generalization (Dicto Simpliciter)

Applying a general rule too broadly.

Hasty Generalization

Drawing a conclusion from too little evidence.

Begging the Question (Petitio Principii)

Assuming the conclusion in the premise.

Loaded Question

Asking a question that contains an assumption.

Appeal to Ignorance (Argumentum ad Ignorantiam)

Arguing that something is true because it has not been proven false.

Bifurcation (Either-Or, Black or White Fallacy)

Presenting two options as the only possibilities.

Ad Hominem (Damning the Source/ Attack on the Person)

Attacking the person instead of the argument.

Tu Quoque (Two Wrongs Make a Right)

Defending a wrong action by pointing out another wrong.

Appeal to Authority/ False Authority (Ipse Dixit, Ad Verecundiam)

Using an unqualified source as evidence.

Appeal to Tradition (Don't Rock the Boat, Ad Verecundiam)

Arguing that something is right because it has always been done.

Slippery Slope (Snowball Argument, Domino Theory)

Claiming that one action will inevitably lead to an extreme consequence.

Appeal to Pity (Argumentum ad Misericordiam)

Using emotion instead of logic to argue.

Appeal to the Crowd/ Bandwagon (Ad Populum, Playing to the Gallery)

Arguing something is true because many people believe it.

Straw Man

Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.

Ethos (Credibility)

Using authority or character to persuade.

Pathos (Emotion)

Appealing to feelings and emotions.

Logos (Logic)

Using facts and reasoning to argue.