Week 1 Intro to Philosophy Terms

Ontology

The traditonal branch of metaphysics that investigates the study of being or existence—asking what it means for something to exist.

Epistemology

The branch of philosophy concerned with the study of knowledge—what we can know, how we know it, and the limits of justification.

Descriptive Metaphysics

An approach to metaphysics that tries to conceive reality in a way that illustrates and corroborates our ordinary perceptual and judgemental experience.

Revisionary Metaphysics

An approach to metaphysics that conceives reality in a way requiring us to correct for the errors,, illusions, and distortions of ordinary experience.

Allegory

A narrative story in which every major element stands in as a symbolic representation of something outside of the story.

Valid Argument

An argument where if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Sound Argument

An argument that is valid AND has genuinely true premises.

Metaphysics

The study of reality, existence, and the nature of things.

Value Theory / Ethics / Aesthetics

The study of value, morality, and beauty.

Branches of Metaphysics

Ontology, Psychology, Theology, and Cosmology

Psychology

Investigates the soul, whether it is simple or composite, and its relation to the mind.

Cosmology

The study of the origin, structure, and space-time relationships of the universe.

Theology

The study of the divine or first causes.

Core concept for the return to the cave

Those who make the ascent must return to the cave to rule

Why did the free prisoner return back into the cave?

The law aims at the happiness of the entire community rather than any single class, and the philosophers owe a debt to the city that fostered their education.

Core concept for redefining education

Socrates explicitly rejects the idea that education is merely "putting sight into blind eyes" (pouring knowledge into an empty mind).

What did Socrates believe about education?

Education is actually the craft of turning the whole soul around so that its innate capacity for sight faces in the right direction toward reality.

Core concept of the prisoner’s ascent

The freed prisoner needs time to adjust to the sunlight after being dragged out of the cave.

Why did the prisoner need time to adjust to the sunlight and what does it represent?

The ascent to true knowledge is gradual and difficult, requiring the eye of the soul to be trained by stages rather than achieved all at once.

Who/What does the prisoners in the cave represent and why is it relevant?

The prisoners bound in the cave represent us—ordinary people taking our everyday perceptual experience for objective reality.

What is the core concept of recollection (anagenesis)?

We recognize abstract, perfect concepts (like "absolute equality" or "justice") that we have never perfectly encountered through our imperfect physical senses.

What is Socrates’ conclusion for the concept of recollection?

Because we grasp standards higher than anything physical experience provides, our souls must have existed and encountered the Forms before birth, proving the soul's pre-existence.

What does Socrates argue the philosophers posses?

Socrates argues that true philosophers are the only ones who possess genuine courage, self-control, and justice.

Why does Socrates believe that philosophers are the only ones who possess true virtue?

Ordinary people practice virtues out of fear of losing other pleasures (e.g., being courageous only because they fear greater cowardice). Philosophers, being detached from bodily pleasures and wealth, value virtue for its own sake.

What does Socrates claims about death?

Socrates claims that death gives philosophers their best chance at real knowledge.

What is Socrates’ reasoning for why he thinks death helps the philosophers?

The body and its senses act as a constant distraction and source of error, confusing the soul with desires, pains, and illusions. Only when the soul is separated from the body can it apprehend truth directly.

What is Socrates’ view about suicide as a philosopher?

In the Phaedo’s first discussion, Socrates argues that although a true philosopher views death as a release, suicide is unlawful.

What is Socrates’ reasoning for view suicide in such a way?

Human beings are part of the gods' possession and care; therefore, we do not have the right to destroy ourselves because we do not belong to ourselves.

Supressed Premise

Failure to make explicit the assumptions of an argument that are crucial to its success.

Ambiguous Middle

Give a term more than one meaning to achieve apparent argumentative success.

Hasty Generalization

Inferring from a few instances to a general rule.

False Dilemma

Construing a pair of options as “either/or” when it could be “both/and”.

Strawman Fallacy

Attacking another argument by mischaracterizing it or artificially weakening it.