philosophy exam 2 GBSDJGBIBGD

🔎 Key Concepts to Know

1. Ontology — What is Real?

• Definition: The branch of philosophy that studies the nature of reality and existence.

• Key Question: What exists? Is the world made of only physical stuff (materialism), or are there non-physical things like thoughts and souls (dualism)?

• Example: Descartes believed the mind and body were separate, while Hobbes believed only matter exists.

2. Epistemology — How Do We Know What We Know?

• Definition: The study of knowledge and how we come to understand the world.

• Key Question: Can we trust our senses, or could they deceive us?

• Example: Descartes questioned reality, asking if an “evil demon” could be deceiving him.

3. Teleology — Does Everything Have a Purpose?

• Definition: The belief that things have a goal or purpose, often seen in religious or philosophical thinking.

• Key Example: Aristotle believed eyes exist for the purpose of seeing. This is called “the plan” — the idea that everything has a designed purpose.

4. Efficient Causation — What Caused It?

• Definition: A concept that describes how events are caused by previous actions.

• Key Example: A chair exists because someone built it.

• Hobbes vs. Descartes:

  • Hobbes believed in efficient causes — things happen because of material interactions (matter and motion).

  • Descartes believed God could be a cause without directly interacting with the physical world.

👤 Key Philosophers and Their Ideas

1. Thomas Hobbes (Materialism)

• Belief: Everything is made of matter and motion. There is no soul or non-physical entity.

• Key Work: Leviathan (1651)

• Key Concept:

  • State of Nature: Without government, people would live in constant fear and conflict.

  • Social Contract: People give up some freedom in exchange for security under a strong ruler.

• Epistemology: Believed all knowledge comes from the senses. Thoughts are just motions in the brain.

💡 Quote Identification Clue:

• If the quote talks about humans being selfish, needing authority, or avoiding chaos → Hobbes

2. René Descartes (Dualism)

• Belief: The mind and body are two separate substances.

  • Mind: Thinks and has no physical location.

  • Body: Occupies space and follows physical laws.

• Key Work: Meditations on First Philosophy

• Key Concepts:

  • Cartesian Doubt: Doubting everything to find what is absolutely certain.

  • Cogito Ergo Sum: “I think, therefore I am.”

  • Evil Demon Hypothesis: Descartes imagined a scenario where an evil demon deceives him, leading him to doubt his senses.

  • Proof of God’s Existence: He argued that the idea of a perfect God must come from something real and perfect.

💡 Quote Identification Clue:

• If the quote discusses doubt, thinking, the separation of mind and body, or proving God’s existence → Descartes

3. Princess Elizabeth of Bohemia

• Belief: Criticized Descartes’ mind-body dualism.

• Key Objection:

  • She questioned how a non-physical mind could cause a physical body to move.

  • Argued that interaction requires contact and extension (taking up space).

💡 Quote Identification Clue:

• If the quote challenges how the mind and body interact → Princess Elizabeth

4. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (Idealism)

• Belief: Reality is fundamentally made of minds and ideas.

• Key Work: Letters to De Volder

• Key Concepts:

  • Pre-Established Harmony: Instead of the mind and body interacting directly, God set them up to run in perfect synchronization, like two clocks ticking together.

  • Force: Argued that motion isn’t just a change in position but involves an internal force.

  • Unity and Identity: Believed true unity is not just physical closeness but a mental or conceptual unity.

💡 Quote Identification Clue:

• If the quote discusses force, harmony, or the nature of unity and identity → Leibniz

📝 How to Recognize Quotes on the Test

• Hobbes:

  • Talks about materialism, humans being selfish, or the need for a strong ruler.

  • Mentions fear, war, or the “state of nature.”

• Descartes:

  • Discusses thinking, doubting, or proving existence.

  • Mentions God, the soul, or the separation of mind and body.

• Princess Elizabeth:

  • Questions how the non-physical mind can move a physical body.

• Leibniz:

  • Talks about force, pre-established harmony, or the unity of objects.

🧠 Sample Questions for Practice

1. Fill in the Blank:

   • “The belief that everything is made of matter and motion is called __________.” → Materialism

   • “__________ said, ‘I think, therefore I am.’” → Descartes

   • “The concept of __________ means that things have a designed purpose.” → Teleology

2. Quote Identification:

   • “In the state of nature, the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” → Hobbes

   • “I think, therefore I am.” → Descartes

   • “How can the soul of a human body determine the movements of its limbs?” → Princess Elizabeth

   • “Force is not merely the change of position but something inherent in objects.” → Leibniz

3. Short Answer:

   • Explain the main difference between Hobbes and Descartes’ views on reality.

   • Describe Princess Elizabeth’s objection to Descartes’ dualism.

   • How does Leibniz’s idea of pre-established harmony address the mind-body problem?

✅ Final Tips

• Understand Key Terms: If you know terms like dualism, materialism, teleology, and efficient causation, you’re already halfway there!

• Recognize Philosopher Styles: Think of Hobbes as practical and harsh, Descartes as skeptical and logical, Elizabeth as critical, and Leibniz as imaginative and idealistic.

• Use Process of Elimination: On quote identification questions, if it’s about doubt or thinking, it’s likely Descartes. If it’s about chaos and rulers, it’s Hobbes.

Good luck! You’ve got this! 💡

4o