Philosophy (Melchert) - Introduction

35 flashcards · Philosophy · by charlie42

1. Why studying philosophy

   Philosophy = examination of opinions. To believe things for good reasons, to "think masterfully". History of philosophy = apprenticeship in thinking

2. Two parts of a philosophical argument, in the order of what to look for

   Conclusion Premises

3. Conclusion is

   what the author wants you to believe

4. Premises are

   reasons given to believe the conclusion

5. Deductive argument vs valid argument

   Valid argument is an argument where if all premises are true, it follows that the conclusion is true. Deductive arguments are always indented to be valid, but can fail.

6. Sound argument is

   a valid argument, where all the premises are true

7. What answered philosophical questions before philosophy?

   Myth

8. Author of Theogony

   Hesoid

9. Theo gony meaning

   Origin of the gods

10. When did Hesoid and Homer live

    8 B.C.

11. Main moral of Theogony

    Violating the rule of justice brings consequences

12. "Heroic virtues" Iliad celebrates

    strength, courage, physical prowess, wisdom (the kind that lets you devise clever plans to achieve your goals)

13. Moral of Iliad

    "Nothing too much" (moderation)

14. What did Homer's character think of death

    It was undesirable but inevitable, they didn't aspire for immortality

15. Pre-socratic philosopher who Aristotle called the founder of philosophy

    Thales

16. When did Thales live

    ~6.5 B.C.

17. 2 main beliefs of Thales. Explain the second one.

    Cause and element of all things is water All things are filled with gods (things do things on their own, not controlled by gods)

18. When did Anaximander live

    6 B.C

19. 2 mains beliefs of Anaximander

    Origin of all things is the Boundless Things give reparations to each other according to their injustices (e.g. cold winter after hot summer)

20. According to Anaximander, what was the Boundless and and how it generated everything?

    The Boundless contained all things in a chaotic mixture. The things got generated in a vortex motion, where similar things stayed together (cetrifuge). E.g. fire goes up, close to the sun.

21. When did Xenophanes live

    5 B.C.

22. 2 beliefs of Xenophanes

    Homer's gods are not worthy of admiration People acquire truth by 'seeking'

23. How to pronounce Xenophanes

    zuh-nof-uh-neez

24. 2 implication of the first belief of Xenophanes ('Homer's gods are not worthy of admiration')

    Homer invents stories, not mirrors the truth We create gods in our image

25. What alternative to Homer's gods Xenophanes proposes

    1 god, not similar to humans, that: sees all hears all thinks all controls all is eternal

26. When did Heraclitus live?

    Shortly before 500 B.C.

27. How to pronounce Heraclitus?

    heh·ruh·klai·tuhs

28. Heraclitus often referred to in Roman times as “Heraclitus the ...”

    obscure

29. Two main beliefs of Heraclitus?

    Reality is in flux, all things are in process of continual change Everything exists thanks to opposition

30. Example of things being in flux according to Heraclitus

    The water in the river always changes, yet the river remains one single thing

31. Example of things existing thanks to opposition according to Heraclitus

    Force of flowing water opposed to the banks that contain it

32. What's Logos?

    Message, discourse, argument, rational pattern

33. What is wisdom according to Heraclitus?

    To understand the thought that steers all things

34. How can we understand the logos according to Heractilus? (+ a caveat)

    Though seeing and hearing. Caveat:

35. Greatest virtue according to Heraclitus? Why?

    Moderation One should act in accordance with the logos (the thought that steers all things), and the logos requires every force to be limited. By indulging your impulses you remove the opposition.