Philosophy Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards covering the vocabulary and core concepts of Philosophy Unit 1 through Unit 6, including logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and aesthetics.

Philosophy

From the Greek "philo" + "sophia," meaning the love of wisdom; the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence.

Metaphysics

The branch of philosophy that explores the nature of reality and existence, asking questions like "What is the nature of reality?"

Epistemology

The theory of knowledge; the branch of philosophy that studies the nature, sources, and limits of knowledge.

Ethics

The study of right and wrong, good and evil, and how humans should live their lives.

Aesthetics

The branch of philosophy that explores the nature of beauty, art, taste, and what makes something artistically valuable.

Political Philosophy

The study of government, justice, social order, and concepts like freedom, equality, and rights.

Socratic Method

A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and expose underlying beliefs.

Ship of Theseus

A paradox in action that asks: if parts of a ship are replaced over time, is it still the same ship?

Logic

The study of principles of valid reasoning and argumentation, exploring the structure of arguments and identifying fallacies.

String Theory

The idea that everything in the universe, including light and matter, is composed of minuscule vibrating strings.

Fact

A statement that can be proven true or false.

Opinion

A personal view or judgement that is not necessarily based on a fact.

Truth

Conformity with fact or reality.

Premise

A claim in an argument that provides support for a conclusion.

Conclusion

The main claim being supported in an argument, often signaled by words like "therefore," "hence," or "so."

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning that moves from general principles to specific conclusions; if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning that moves from specific observations to broader generalizations; the conclusion is probable but not guaranteed.

Validity

The state where the structure of an argument works correctly, regardless of whether the premises are true.

A-E-I-O Propositional Forms

Derived from the Latin "Affirmo" and "Nego": A (universal affirmative), E (universal negative), I (partial affirmative), and O (partial negative).

Modus Ponens

A valid conditional syllogism form that involves affirming the antecedent ($P \rightarrow Q$, $P$, therefore $Q$).

Modus Tollens

A valid conditional syllogism form that involves denying the consequent ($P \rightarrow Q$, not $Q$, therefore not $P$).

Fallacy

Faulty or invalid reasoning in an argument that weakens it, even if the conclusion happens to be true.

Ad Hominem

A fallacy involving an attack on the person rather than the actual argument.

Strawman

A fallacy involving the misrepresentation of someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

Post Hoc (False Cause)

A fallacy assuming that because event A happened before event B, A must have caused B (Correlation does not equal causation).

Confirmation Bias

A cognitive bias where one seeks out evidence that specifically supports beliefs they already hold.

The Forms

Plato's concept of the highest level of reality consisting of perfect ideas, beyond the physical objects of the world.

Material Cause

One of Aristotle's Four Causes; refers to the physical components or material an object is made of ($e.g.$, wood or metal).

Final Cause

One of Aristotle's Four Causes; refers to the purpose, goal, or end for which something exists ($teleology$).

Cogito Argument

René Descartes' foundational certainty: "I think, therefore I am" ($Cogito, ergo sum$).

The Turing Test

A test proposed by Alan Turing in 1950 to determine if a machine can think by seeing if a human judge can reliably distinguish it from a human.

Chinese Room Argument

John Searle's challenge to the Turing test, arguing that rule-based symbol manipulation (syntax) does not equal genuine understanding (semantics).

Eudaimonia

Aristotle's concept of human flourishing or achieving one's full potential through consistent rational and moral excellence.

Gettier Problem

A 1963 challenge by Edmund Gettier showing that a belief can be justified and true but still fail to count as knowledge due to luck or coincidence.

The Five Ways

St. Thomas Aquinas' five logical proofs for God's existence: Motion, Causation, Contingency, Degree, and Design.

The Logical Trilemma

A problem attributed to Epicurus regarding God and evil: if God is willing but not able, He is not omnipotent; if able but not willing, He is not benevolent.

Veil of Ignorance

John Rawls' thought experiment for designing a just society where the designer does not know their own future race, gender, wealth, or abilities.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory founded by Jeremy Bentham that aims to maximize happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people.

The Golden Mean

Aristotle's idea that virtue exists as a balance between two extremes: deficiency and excess.