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Is philosophy just a set of beliefs that are hard to prove?

No — philosophy is not just beliefs. It seeks rational justification and critical reflection about fundamental questions.

What did Plato and Aristotle say about the origin of philosophy?

Philosophy begins in wonder.

What was Plato’s goal in philosophy?

To understand the nature of everything.

What does common sense tell us about free will and morality?

That we have free will and know right from wrong.

What is philosophy’s role in evaluating common sense?

To find out which ideas have rational justification and which are just beliefs or prejudices.

What is common sense knowledge?

Things we really know because they are obvious (e.g., the Earth exists).

What is common sense belief?

Things that feel natural to believe but could still be false (e.g., God exists).

What did Copernicus show about motion?

That motion is perspectival — what seems true depends on perspective.

What is conceptual engineering?

The study of the structure of thought.

What is metaphysics?

The study of reality.

What is epistemology?

The study of knowledge.

What does 'subjective' mean?

Opinions — things that depend on perspective.

What does 'objective' mean?

Facts — things that are true regardless of perspective.

What are the three main philosophical methods?

Arguments, critical reflection, and thought experiments.

What is an argument in philosophy?

A logical line of reasoning used to prove a point.

What is critical reflection in philosophy?

A questioning, critical approach to all subjects, including philosophy itself.

What are thought experiments?

'What if' scenarios used to test assumptions.

What did Plato found, and what was its focus?

The Academy — focused on general, foundational questions.

What did Isocrates found, and what was its focus?

The School of Isocrates — focused on practical education for lawyers and politicians.

How is philosophy related to other disciplines?

It helped areas like math and science branch out and become independent fields.