Ancient Philosophical Influences

actuality

when a thing fulfils its potentiality

analogy of the cave

a comparison that plato make's between reality and a story about a prisoner escaping from a cave

anamnesis

remembering a previous life/experience

analytic

when the premises in an argument contain the conclusion

a priori

based on premises that are not based on experience

a posteriori

based on premises drawn from experience

causation

the act of causing something

cosmology

study of the nature of the universe

correlation

a connection between two or more things

contingent existence

when the existence of a thing is dependent on something else

deductive argument

an argument where the conclusion is logically necessary

demiurge

a platonic deity who fashioned the world in the light of eternal ideas

dualism

The belief that reality can be divided into two distinct parts, such as good and evil, or physical and non-physical

efficient cause

In Aristotle's cosmology, that which brings something about. The sculptor is the efficient cause in the making of a statue.

epistemology

branch of philosophy concerned with the study of knowledge

empiricism

based on sense experience

final cause

Aristotle's concept of purpose - that for which a thing exists. For Aristotle, the universe is entirely purposive.

immanent

here/with us in this universe

immutable

unchanging

inductive argument

argument where the conclusion is not logically necessary

innate knowledge

knowledge we are born with- plato says this is from the world of forms

infinite regression

a never ending chain into the past

forms

platos idea that everything on earth is an inferior copy of the forms in a permanent spiritual reality. There are forms of objects and concepts

form of the good

the highest of platos forms. the source of all knowledge

formal cause

For Aristotle, that which gives things its structure - this material is a table because it has the form (shape and characteristics) of a table.

logical fallacy

an error in thinking that weakens an argument

material cause

For Aristotle, the stuff or substance necessary for something to be. This is a table because the stuff of the table exists.

materialism

the belief that the only existents are physical beings

metaphysical

that which is beyond the everyday physical world that can be perceived through the senses

monism

the belief that there is no body/soul distinction and the two are one entity

necessary existence

a being whose existence depends on no other being

nihilism

a family of views in philosophy that rejects generally accepted or fundamental aspects of human existence eg. nietzsche, camus, sartre

synthetic

the premises do not contain the conclusion

ockhams razor

a philosophical rule that says we should accept the simplest solution

premise

a statement that forms a part of an argument and leads to a conclusion

prime mover

in aristotles cosmology, the final cause of the universe, drawing everything towards himself by attraction. He is indifferent to the universe and not a creator in the sense of maker of things

proof

a statement that cannot be false eg. 2+2=4

probability

measuring the likelihood of something

rationalist

Someone who thinks that the primary source of knowledge is reason

reason

Using logical steps and thought processes in order to reach conclusions

scepticism

doubt/ the theory that knowledge is impossible

socratic method

The method of philosophical reasoning which involves critical reasoning, associated with socrates

soul

the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal

sound argument

an argument is sound where the logic is good and the premises is true

tautology

the saying of the same thing twice over in different words eg. a bachelor is an unmarried man

teleos

the end of purpose of something

transcendent

Being beyond this world and outside the realms of ordinary experience

valid argument

An argument is valid when it is logical but this does not necessarily make it true

analytic

where the premises of the argument contain the conclusion

a priori

an argument based on definition and fact

a posteriori

an argument based on experience

deductive argument

an argument where the conclusion is logically neccessary

epistemology

branch of philosophy that is the study of knowledge

empiricism

based on sense experience

inductive argument

argument where the conclusion is not logically necessary

innate knowledge

knowledge we are born with: Plato says it is of the Forms

logical fallacy

error in thinking that weakens an argument

synthetic

premises do not contain the conclusion

premise

a statement that forms an argument and leads to the conclusion

proof

a statement that cannot be false

probability

measuring the likelihood of something

rationalist

someone who thinks the primary source of reason is logic

reason

using logical steps to reach a conclusion

scepticism

the theory that certain knowledge is impossible

Socratic method

philosophical reasoning involving critical reasoning associated with Socrates

sound argument

the premises are true and the logic is good

tautology

saying the same thing twice in different wording

valid argument

a logical, but not necessarily true, argument

actuality

Aristotle says a thing has achieved this when it achieves its potentiality

allegory/ analogy of the cave

comparison Plato makes between reality and the story of a prisoner escaping a cave

anamnesis

remembering a previous experience/life

causation

the act of causing something or the relationship between cause and effect

cosmology

study of the nature of the universe

correlation

connection between two or more things

contingent existence

an existence that depends on something else

demiurge

a Platonic deity who makes the physical world from ideas/forms

dualism

the belief that reality can be divided into two parts: physical and spiritual

efficient cause

in Aristotle’s cosmology, it is something that brings another thing about

final cause

in Aristotle’s cosmology it is something that gives a thing purpose

immanent

God is present and involved in the universe

immutable

unchanging

infinite regression

never ending chain into the past

forms/ideals

Plato’s theory that everything on Earth is an imperfect version of what exists in the world of the forms

Form of the Good

the highest of Plato’s forms and the source of all knowledge

formal cause

for Aristotle, something that gives things structure

material cause

for Aristotle, the stuff necessary for something to exist

materialism

the belief that only material things exist

metaphysical

something beyond the physical world

monism

the belief that the body and soul are one entity

necessary existence

a being who’s existence does not rely on any other being

nihilism

a philosophy that rejects fundamental parts of human existence

Ockham’s razor

a rule that says the simplest explanation is usually correct

Prime mover

for Aristotle, the Final Cause of the universe that draws everything towards himself through attraction

soul

a spiritual part of a human or animal

teleos

purpose

transcendent

being beyond this universe