Philosophy: A History of Ideas Midterm Review

A vocabulary-style flashcard set covering the major terms, texts, and concepts for the Philosophy: A History of Ideas midterm exam.

Philosophy

The word literally translates to the love of wisdom.

Absolutism

The philosophical belief that there are universal truths or objective standards that apply to everyone.

Relativism

The view that truth, morality, and knowledge exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

Solipsism

The theory that only the self can be known to exist, or that the self is the only reality.

Socratic Method

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.

Euthyphro

A primary text by Plato detailing Socrates' discussion on the nature of piety and justice with a man of the same name.

Piety (Euthyphro)

A central theme in Plato's dialogue; Socrates criticizes Euthyphro's multiple definitions of the term to seek its true essence.

Allegory of the Cave

A Platonic symbol representing the journey of the soul from ignorance to enlightenment as described in the Republic.

Prisoners (Allegory of the Cave)

A symbol in the Allegory of the Cave representing people who mistake the shadows of sensory perception for reality.

Shadows (Allegory of the Cave)

A symbol representing the lowest level of knowledge or the illusions of the physical world.

Puppeteers (Allegory of the Cave)

Symbols representing those who manipulate the illusions or current beliefs that the prisoners perceive as truth.

The Sun (Allegory of the Cave)

The ultimate symbol of the Form of the Good, truth, and reason.

Official Charge against Socrates

The formal accusations brought against Socrates in the Apology, involving the corruption of the youth and impiety against the city's gods.

Oracle at Delphi

The source in the Apology that declared there was no one wiser than Socrates, prompting his philosophical mission.

Daimon

Also known as the 'divine sign,' this was Socrates' inner voice that warned him against certain actions, discussed in the Apology.

Crito

A primary text by Plato where Socrates presents his arguments as to why he should not break out of prison and why he must respect the laws of Athens.

Phaedo

A primary text by Plato that recounts the final deeds and words of Socrates during his death scene.

Gooners

A term from Daniel Kolitz's 'The Goon Squad' describing individuals within a specific subculture of digital consumption.

Gooncaves

A term from 'The Goon Squad' referring to the specialized environments created and used by gooners.

Goonfuel

A term from 'The Goon Squad' identifying the specific content that drives or sustains the state of being a gooner.

Pornosexual

A term from Daniel Kolitz's 'The Goon Squad' describing a specific identity or behavioral categorization.

Goonstate

The psychological or physical condition of a gooner as described in Kolitz's text.

The Pear Tree

A famous incident from Augustine's Confessions where he stole fruit simply for the sake of sinning, illustrating the nature of human depravity.

Manicheanism

A dualistic religious movement that Augustine followed before his conversion to Christianity.

Salvation through Jesus

The core Christian theological concept Augustine details in Confessions as the only path to God.

The Divided Will

Augustine's description of his internal struggle during his conversion, where he was caught between his old lusts and his new desire for God.