Philosophy 001- Exam 1

What philosophers have we covered so far?

Descartes

Nagel

Pascal

Hume

Camus

What is a valid argument

An argument that if the premisses are true, the conclusion they support must be true

Can a valid argument be wrong?

yes, even though the argument is valid, the conclusion can be false

What is a sound argument?

Valid argument with true premisses

What is a circular argument?

For premisses to be true, the conclusion must already be believed

(mostly religious beliefs)

What is ad hominem?

not believing a valid argument because of who is making the argument, for example not liking like the person giving the argument, so you don't believe them

What is appeal to authority?

only believing an argument because of who is presenting it

What are fallacies?

weak arguments, not true arguments

How should philosophy be read?

O-over all issue

P-over position on the issue

R- Reasoning for position

A- Analysis

The Myth of Sisyphus

Finding meaning in a life that is absurd, is Sisyphus truly happy? - brings up meaning and existence of life

Why can Sisyphus be considered a "tragic hero"

He has an eternal punishment, still finds meaning and continues to push the rock endlessly up the hill

Seems content and happy even though his work is futile

Nagel

Life is absurd, but still has meaning

Why is life absurd in Nagel's mind?

humans have the capacity to doubt and reflect, day to day purposes, even though life is absurd, still get up every day for daily purpose

having things to look forward to brings purpose

What are first order purposes?

just getting up and doing things we value and enjoy

What causes us to doubt our first order purposes?

reflective evaluation

According to Nagel, what two components make life absurd?

1- doubt at any moment

2- seriousness

What is apriori knowledge?

knowledge learned from observation alone

What is aposteriori/empirical knowledge?

knowledge learned from our senses

What is radical skepticism?

Believing that we can't/don't know anything

What is epistemology?

Study of knowledge- theorizing about knowledge and its possibility

Descartes

Create a firm and stable basis for the foundation of knowledge- FOUNDATIONALISM

Does Descartes consider airport knowledge true?

yes, he says it holds true and is secure

Does Descartes believe in god?

yes, believes god would not deceive him, does however contemplate an "evil genius" that would deceive

Hume

All knowledge is based from human experience and sense impressions

What are Hume's two types of knowledge?

1- relations of ideas

2-matters of fact

What does Hume consider relations of fact?

relation between two ideas who's connections are inferred

What does Hume consider matters of fact?

basing fact off of experiences we've had

ex- the sun will rise tomorrow, because every day the sun has risen

judgements off of cause and effect

Cause and Effect

inferences based on experience

experience can be highly unreliable

Was Hume as empiricist?

yes, believed all knowledge can from experience and the senses

Cause and effect summary

without experience there is no reason to think that any outcome is more or less likely than another

logic alone is insufficient- the past could not represent the future

Two types of reasoning

demonstrative- logical

moral- experience/probability

Explain Descartes "foundationalism" belief

need a justified ground floor belief to build knowledge upon, no single belief alone could support the ideas of the world

error comes from free will and intellect

What must the knowledge basis be in order to be built upon?

Clear and distinct

What is an example of a foundational belief to Descartes?

God's existence

mathematical truths

According to descartes, airport knowledge from observation can not be doubted

Why does Descartes argue God's existence?

God is not a deceiver, is a perfect being, contemplation alone of God's existence can prove his existence

Can a valid argument be wrong?

yes

If we have the ability to choose, and chose correctly based on experience, why are we still sometimes wrong?

a mystery, we we fit into the big picture is unknown

Why does Descartes argue that our senses are generally reliable?

Because god is no deceiver so we are not deceived by our senses

What is Hume's believe called?

Coherentism

What is coherentism?

The belief that ideas about the world are justified when they cohere with other sensory experiences

no induvidual belief by itself is justified