Philosphy exam 1

Gramsci - Spontaneous vs Critical Philosophy

Spontaneous is the implicit worldview everyone holds, seen in language, religion, common sense. Critical is the effort to actually be aware of that critique and think systemically rather than passively accept ideas

Gramsci - Dialect

Insufficient to know only dialect since deeper understanding means deeper participation in cultural life and more complex worldview

Gramsci - Mass Adoption vs Individual Discovery

Ideas are only valuable once people enter “critical form” where people actively understand the problems, also should be shared

Gramsci - Philosophy vs History

Every idea comes from past thinking, so to understand it you should know where it came from/how it developed

Gramsci - “Folklore”/”Common Sense”

Everyone already has basic ideas about the world formed from language, religion. Shows everyone is already a philosopher

Gramsci - Knowledge as Social/Historical

Knowledge grows through shared experience, not just made by individuals but socieiteis

Gramsci - Philosophy as Social/Personal

Should be both because it should guide how you act as a person but also shape society as a whole

Gramsci - Collaboration in Knowledge

Knowledge comes from people actually working together

Gramsci - Intellectual/Moral Reformation

People rethink ideas to better society

Gramsci - Knowing Oneself

Understanding who you are and what you believe comes from history and allowing that to shape yourself

Gramsci - Unity/Coherence Importance

Vital since it lets you think critically and act for yourself

Metaphysics

The study of existence/being: What truly exists, is there a god, what is reality?

Epistemology

The study of knowledge/how we know what we know. Is our knowledge certain, by which method can we have trustworthy knowledge?

Value Theory/Normative

Study of goodness/values, what is good/evil and where it comes from. Are humans innately good, what is a just society?

Logic

The study of correct argumentation (how we determine if its affective, common fallacies)

Argument

Group of statements (premise and conclusion) that work together to prove something

Premises

The reasons/evidence

Conclusion

The main points the argument is trying to prove

Syllogism

Type of argument with two premises and one conclusion 

Syllogism structure

1. Premise 1

2. Premise 2

3. Conclusion

Deductive Arguments

Proves conclusion must be true if premises are true

Inductive Arguments

Shows conclusion is likely true based on evidence

Inductive v Deductive A/B/C structure

Inductive: If A/B are true, C is probably true

Deductive: If A/B are true, C cannot be false

Philosophical Assumptions

Deep basic ideas argument is built on even if not stated

Philosophical Implications

Possible conseqences if we accept/reject an argument 

False Dichotomy

Only two options are presented (A or B) whereas there could be other explanations (C,D etc)

A Priori / A Posteriori

A Priori - Knowledge gained before experience, like math or pandas are animals
A Posteriori - Knowledge gained after experience, like pandas are the nicest animals

Universals / Particulars

Universals - General concepts that can apply to many things (color, beuaty)
Particulars - Indvidual specific things (one human, a specific car)

Rationalism

Mind/reason are more reliable than senses

Empricism

Trusts experience/evidence over pure thinking (what we can see, feel)

Pragmatism

Experiences and the results, so does this knowledge help us live better

Objective vs Subjective

Objective: True no matter what anyone thinks
Subjective: True only from a certain persons viewpoint

Midgley - Scientific Imperalism

Agaisnt scientific imperalism (the idea science should explain everything) ethics/meaning cannot be answered by science

Midgley - Epistemological Pluralism

We need multiple perspectives to see the world (combining art, science and others will better help us understand)

Midgley - Objectivity/Subjectivity

Argues they are not opposites but are on a spectrum and both types are valuable

Midgley - Interdisciplinary Approach

Truth comes from many forms of thought, so we need more disciplines (science, ethics, psych) to work together

Midgley - Truth is not Monolithic

Truth is not monolithic (unchanging block) it grows and changes as we bring in new perspectives

Collins - No single epistemology

Argues that there is. noone correct way to obtain/learn knowledge

Doesnt just have to be from books/science, can be through lived experience

Collins - Collective Understanding/Dialogue

Truth is not something one person discovers alone , but built together through dicussion/listening/exchange

Collins - Dialogue vs Wisdom

Knowledge is facts, information and wisdom is insight gained thru experience (wisdom carries more social insight)

Collins - Accountability

In addition to creating knowledge as a community, we must be accountable for how we use knowledge

Collins - Background matters

A persons social locaiton (race, gender) shapes perspective and that matters

Collins - Ethics of Care/Personal Responsbility

Knowledge must be tied to care because its our responnsiblity for how we we understad and treat others

Descartes - Cogito ergo sum

I think therefore I am
→ If you doubt you think, if you think you are a thinkner, if you are a thinker you exist

Descartes - Senses arent reliable

Dreams and illusions show senses deceive us

Descartes - God

God cannot be deceving, belief in him supports that everything is truthful

Descartes - Evil God Hypothesis

If an evil God exists, he could be deceivng us, but that still requires thinking which means we exist.

Descartes - Methodoical Doubt

Systemically doubt everything that can be doubted, in order to start from scratch and arrive at undeniable truth

James - Pragmatism

Judges beliefs by their usefulness contrasting rationalism

James - Cash Value

the amount of effect/practical utility a belief has in guiding life

James - Beliefs/Passive Ideas

Beliefs are not passive ideas, they are tools for action

James - Static Truth

Truth is not static, it changes with lived expeirence

James - Objective/Absolute truth

Not true, truth is instrumental and always changing

James - Web of Beliefs

Defined as new beliefs are aded to our older ones, creating a web

James - Idea

Idea’s meaning lies in the practical consequences it has

James - Truth reconciles two conflicting beliefs

Truth can harmonize conclifcts between two conflicting beliefs

James - Moral Holidays

Periods of rest offered by religious faith that offer comfort in uncertainty

Plato - What do philosphers love

Wisdom in its entireity not parts

Plato - Natural Philosophers ruling

Fit to rule because they have that constant pursuit of wisdom

Plato - Questioning

Essential to gain knowledge

Plato - Forms

Eternal unchanging relaities which represent truth

Plato - Knowledge vs Opinion

Opinion fades out while knowledge is immortal

Plato - Objective Truth

There is an objective truth and we should strive to achieve it

Plato - Gaining knowledge

People gain knowledge from experiences/observation which trigger recollection

Plato - Metaphyscla assumptino

The soul is immortal

Plato - Imitators of life

Only copy apperances so their work is opinoin not truth