Topic 1: What is Philosophical Reasoning? Worldview beliefs and how to evaluate

Philosophy of human nature is used to…?

1. To analyze beliefs, especially the broadest worldview beliefs which are implicit in our values and moral decisions, and inform our everyday life.

2. To challenge and question beliefs to make sure that they are valid--What is the evidence for the belief? Is the belief logically coherent? What are the bases for belief? Can I know anything to be true? (See “Criteria for Evaluating Beliefs”)

3. To answer our questions about human nature, world and God, using the great metaphysical writers, Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Descartes and others.

4. To get a better understanding of who we are and how to live (wisdom, values)

Ethical or Moral Judgement

express what one person or a group of persons should (ought) or should not (ought not to) do in a given situation. (My company should not pollute; I should not lie to my friend)

Factual/Belief Judgments

express beliefs about the world (the way the world is). Examples: My company does pollute, i.e. is actually polluting; I am lying to my friend. These statements imply that I “believe" these things to be true. Notice that these judgments are very specific, about particular events.

Arguments

used to support beliefs that are expressed in judgments by giving reasons for the belief. The judgment which expresses the belief, plus the statements which back it up, together form an argument

Composition of an argument

(P) Premise(s): statement(s) that support the belief + (C) Conclusion: a worldview belief statement/judgment

Moral Argument

An argument that asserts a particular moral principle or belief as a basis for an ethical judgment or action, often involving premises that lead to a moral conclusion.

The Theoretical Argument

An argument that explains or justifies beliefs or theories based on abstract principles or hypothetical scenarios, often aiming to illustrate the implications of specific philosophical ideas.

Criteria for Evaluating Worldview Beliefs

Do I have a soul?: Materialist/Physicalist or Naturalist belief

I am only a material, physical self. I have no soul

Do I have a soul?: Spiritual belief

I have a soul and a body. The soul may be personal (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) or impersonal (Buddhism). Involves concepts of the afterlife: Nirvana, Beatitude (Vision of God), Divine Justice (Heaven/Hell)

Do I have free will: Determinism

All my life choices are conditioned by physical, social/cultural factors (I’m raised to behave this or that way), and I have no free will.

Do I have free will: Fatalism

it doesn’t matter what I do, the world follows a pre-ordained script and I’m
caught up in it

Do I have free will: Freedom

I can rise above the material and social conditions and make my own free choices.

Are human beings essentially altruistic or egoistic? Fair or unfair? Social or asocial?: Hedonism

me first, pleasure seeking egoism

Are human beings essentially altruistic or egoistic? Fair or unfair? Social or asocial?: Social Darwinism

survivalist, dog eat dog egoism

Are human beings essentially altruistic or egoistic? Fair or unfair? Social or asocial? Aristotelian Egoism

We seek true happiness (i.e., moral, intellectual, and spiritual perfection and goodness)--not at the expense of others

Are human beings essentially altruistic or egoistic? Fair or unfair? Social or asocial? (Humean) Natural Sympathy

We are by nature, sympathetic to the pain of others, natural altruism

What does knowledge or wisdom consist in? Can we know anything to be true?: Skepticism

we can’t know anything to be true.

What does knowledge or wisdom consist in? Can we know anything to be true?: Relativism

I can only know what’s true for me (individual relativism) or from my own
culture or social group (cultural relativism). Reduces the basis of knowledge to sense
perceptions

What does knowledge or wisdom consist in? Can we know anything to be true?: Universal Truth

We are capable of knowing universal truths about ourselves, the world, and morality. Knowledge is based on both reason and sense perception

Do other living things have souls?: Yes

animism (would effect the way we treat animals—e.g., animal rights)

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Naturalism

nature is the only truth (there is no God, soul). Darwinian evolutionary theory falls under this

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Teleology

Aristotle: everything exists for a purpose (trees are for growing, lungs are
for breathing), and nature as a whole exists for its own end and good

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Environmentalism

Nature has some kind of ultimate value in itself (e.g. Eco-Theology--nature has this value because it is created by God; we should behave like stewards nature)

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Dualism

The world consists of good and evil forces at war with one another (ancient Manicheanism, “Star Wars”).

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Humanism

Human welfare is the ultimate good and humans make the standards themselves (opposed to a religious or uncompromisingly religious world view).

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Religious (uncompromising)

God is the ultimate standard of truth and goodness. God’s will comes first (opposed to humanism)

Is Nature created or uncreated? Limited by time or eternal? Evolving (Darwin) or following a plan by God?: Nihilism

nothing exists: no God, no justice, no right or wrong

Egocentrism

The world revolves around me

Ethnocentrism

the world revolves around my culture of social group

Theocentrism

the world revolves around God

Anthropocentrism (similar to humanism)

The world revolves around humans (contrasts often with environmentalism or theocentrism). Example: people who say the world revolves around the economy (business and commerce), since we all, i.e., as human beings, depend for survival on this. (Money makes the world go 'round)