Unit 1 Philosophy

worldview

A set of beliefs that affects how a person views the world, affects one’s thinking, emotions, and actions

Metaphysical Realism

There is a real world outside of our own minds

Correspondence Theory of Truth

Truth is when what you think, say, or believe corresponds to reality

The goal of a critical thinker should be reasonableness instead of…

certainty

Epistemology

The study of knowledge

Law of Non-contradiction

the main foundation for rules of logic, no contradictory claims can be true at the same time

Philosophy

the love of wisdom

Descartes

“I think therefore I am”

The time in western culture when reason and science became the best and only way to know something

modern

Time when Metaphysical realism was created

modern

Time when correspondence theory of truth was created

modern

The time in western culture that emphasized relativism

postmodern

Reality is a social construct

postmodern

Awareness of the importance of perspective

postmodern

Step 1

Check your baggage: note any biases (desired outcome, emotions, etc.) and put them aside

Step 2

Locate the destination: Find the main point someone is trying to make— conclusion to their argument

Step 3

Follow the route: Follow the premises/train of logic laid out by the author/ speaker that will lead you to the conclusion

Step 4

Don’t get lost: Check whether the argument is actually sound or just valid

Step 5

Did you arrive?: Determine if you are actually persuaded or not

Knowledge (defined by Plato)

justified, true, belief

Aristotle

credited with developing a clear system of argumentation

Valid

an argument that has a conclusion that follows logically

Sound

an argument that has a conclusion that follows logically and have premises that are true

self-evident principle

one that proves itself true

agnosticism

you can’t know anything

skepticism

you should doubt everything