Senior Final Exam Terms Study Sheet

Key Philosophers and Their Beliefs

Heraclitus

• Attributed with the saying: “You cannot step into the same river twice.” This highlights the concept of constant change and flux in the universe.

Plato

• Believed in the realm of Forms, where perfect versions of things exist.
• The things we perceive in our reality are mere copies or shadows of these perfect Forms.

Aristotle

• Form and Matter are inseparable and co-exist within a substance.
• Essence: The inherent nature of a substance.
• Accidents: Characteristics that differentiate substances with the same essence.

St. Thomas Aquinas

• Integrated Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology.

Rene Descartes

• Famous for the statement: “I think therefore I am.”
• This statement serves as the foundation for his philosophical reasoning, emphasizing the importance of individual consciousness.

Immanuel Kant

• Argued that religion should not be the foundation of morality or ethics.
• Moral Absolutist: Believed that certain actions are inherently wrong, regardless of the circumstances. If something is wrong, it is always wrong no matter what.

John Stuart Mill

• Considered the father of Utilitarianism.
• Utilitarianism: The moral choice is the one that maximizes happiness for the greatest number of people.

Soren Kierkegaard

• Considered the first Existentialist philosopher.
• Emphasized the importance of a personal relationship with God.
• Believed that organized religion (the Church) can distract individuals from developing this personal connection.

Karl Marx

• The father of Communism.
• Viewed God and organized religion as tools used by the wealthy and powerful to oppress the working class and the poor.
• Famously called organized religion “the opiate of the masses.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

• Argued that God and religion were inventions of the weak to control the strong.
• Said of the Church, “they muddy the water to make it seem deep,” suggesting that the Church obscures simple truths to maintain power.