Ethical Philosophy and Socratic Thought

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

According to the provided statistics, approximately what percentage of the world's population lives in extreme poverty?

Around 10%.

What is Peter Singer's core ethical philosophy centered around?

Reducing suffering and maximizing happiness (utilitarianism).

Who was Socrates' student, and who was that student's student?

Plato was the student of Socrates, and Aristotle was Plato's student.

What intellectual vice was Socrates primarily attempting to eliminate?

Dogmatism. Signup and view all the answers

Distinguish between a 'duty' and an act of 'charity'.

A duty is a required action, while charity is an act of goodwill that is not mandated. Signup and view all the answers

What contrast did Tetalian draw, and what city was Socrates most associated with?

Tetalian contrasted the city of reason with the city of faith. Socrates is most associated with Athens, the city of reason. Signup and view all the answers

Explain Singer's stance on the common belief that helping the needy is a matter of charity rather than duty.

Singer considers this belief morally wrong and inconsistent. Signup and view all the answers

In the Dora case, what does Singer believe Dora's moral obligation is after she sells the street child, and why?

Singer believes it is her duty to save the child, arguing that there is no relevant difference. Signup and view all the answers

Define dogmatism in your own words.

Dogmatism is the overconfidence in one's beliefs without sufficient evidence, leading to a rejection of alternative perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

Why would Socrates reject being labeled a 'teacher' despite teaching Plato?

Because he saw himself more as a facilitator of philosophical inquiry through conversation rather than a traditional instructor. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean that Socrates was known as the 'Athenian gadfly'?

It means he was like a horsefly, constantly challenging and provoking conversations. Signup and view all the answers

What argument did Socrates endorse regarding the existence of God?

The design argument. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by Socrates' willingness to 'follow the argument wherever it may lead'?

It means that he was committed to pursuing truth and logical conclusions, even if they challenged his own beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of Socrates' divine mission?

To help people discover their own ignorance as a first step to wisdom. Signup and view all the answers

What was the claim made by the Oracle of Delphi about Socrates?

That Socrates was the wisest human. Signup and view all the answers

How did Socrates interpret the Oracle's claim about his wisdom?

He believed his wisdom lay in his awareness of his own ignorance. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly describe the 'Blind Ignorance' stage within the socratic pyramid.

Not knowing one doesn’t know, and believing one knows when they don’t. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Enlightened Ignorance' within the Socratic Pyramid, and why is it called 'negative wisdom'?

Lacking knowledge but realizing one lacks knowledge. It is negative wisdom because of knowing about the self as well of its lack of knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What two elements are required for wisdom?

Possession of knowledge and awareness of that possession, as well as knowing what one does and doesn't know. Signup and view all the answers

What 'urgent question' did Socrates attempt to answer?

How one can move up the Socratic pyramid from blind ignorance to negative wisdom/enlightened ignorance or even positive wisdom. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the 'Elenchus Method' used by Socrates, how did it supposedly help people discover wisdom?

Socrates would engage a conversation partner and ask them a series of questions on a given topic with the intent on finding some truth within their answers. Signup and view all the answers

What specific goal did Socrates have when asking questions of others?

To guide them to learn through their own answers and realize inconsistencies in their views. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of discovering a contradiction in one's beliefs, using the Socratic method?

Discovering the contradiction reveals that the person's belief is untrue. Signup and view all the answers

In the example provided, what is the commonality between dog fighting and enjoying a hot dog?

Both cause animal pain. Signup and view all the answers

What reason does the text give for why shark finning might be viewed differently, morally, than other instances of harming animals?

Our emotional tie to different animals affects the overall morality of harming them. Signup and view all the answers

How does Socrates' method aim to restore consistency in one's beliefs?

By determining that either both actions are okay or both actions are wrong. Signup and view all the answers

On what charges was Socrates ultimately executed?

Religious impiety (failing to worship the right gods) and corrupting the minds of the youth. Signup and view all the answers

How is cognitive dissonance defined in the text?

People are averse to the inconsistencies within their own minds. Signup and view all the answers

What is one response that people have when experiencing cognitive dissonance?

People sometimes make an effort to adjust their way of thinking when their own thoughts or words seem to clash with each other. Signup and view all the answers

According to the first argument presented, why does Singer believe that most Americans have an obligation to be charitable?

Singer believes most Americans in rich nations have an obligation because they can afford to sacrifice luxuries to save the lives of needy children. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'prevention principle' as described in the text?

The 'prevention principle' states that if we can prevent something bad from happening without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to do it. Signup and view all the answers

In the drowning child case, what does the text suggest about the moral implications of passively allowing harm, even if the child survives?

The text implies that it would still be wrong to passively allow the situation to continue, even if the child survives, highlighting a duty to actively prevent harm. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental assumption does Singer make regarding suffering and death from lack of basic necessities?

Singer assumes that suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are inherently bad. Signup and view all the answers

Briefly outline Singer's strategy for engaging with those who hold the 'common belief' about suffering.

Singer aims to demonstrate that, upon reflection, defenders of the common belief also hold propositions inconsistent with that belief. Signup and view all the answers

What is one key similarity between Socrates and Singer, as discussed in the text?

Both Socrates and Singer share a mission to expose inconsistencies in common beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

How does Singer's approach to highlighting inconsistencies differ from that of Socrates?

Singer directly points out contradictions, while Socrates uses the maieutic method to guide people to self-discovery and discomfort. Signup and view all the answers

Why isn't it clear that the Dora situation is relevantly similar to those Americans who could sacrifice luxuries?

Each person is different, so their necessity vs. luxury is different depending on circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Socrates

Socrates was a teacher of Plato, and Plato was a teacher of Aristotle.
His main goal was to eliminate intellectual vices.
He believed critical thinking was essential.
Athens was known as the city of reason, contrasting with the city of faith.
Socrates was considered the most influential figure in reason.

Dogmatism

Dogmatism is forming confident beliefs without sufficient evidence.
Dogmatists are overconfident, resistant to new ideas, and hinder learning.
Socrates actively sought to challenge dogmatism.

Socrates' Background

Socrates was a philosopher and war hero.
He was known for his excellence in battle.
He was a highly influential figure in history.
No writings exist from Socrates.
He preferred to engage in philosophical conversations.
He was referred to as the Athenian gadfly due to his challenging questions.
He valued intellectual virtue.

Socrates' Method

The Socratic method consisted of probing questions.
This method encouraged critical thinking and self-discovery.
He aimed to help people identify inconsistencies in their beliefs.

Socrates' Divine Mission

Socrates believed he had a divine mission.
His purpose was to help people understand their own ignorance.
He encouraged self-awareness as a preliminary to wisdom.

The Oracle of Delphi

The Oracle of Delphi claimed Socrates was the wisest person.
Socrates disagreed, stating his wisdom came from acknowledging his ignorance.
He believed true wisdom lies in recognizing what one does not know.

Socratic Wisdom

Understanding one's lack of knowledge is a form of wisdom.
Positive wisdom involves knowledge and awareness of both what one knows and doesn't know.

Elenchus Method

Socrates' method of questioning was known as elenchus.
This involved a series of questions designed to expose inconsistencies in a person's beliefs.

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance describes the discomfort people feel when their beliefs are inconsistent with each other or with their actions.
Socrates' elenchus method often created cognitive dissonance in those he conversed with, helping them confront their biases.

The Death of Socrates

Socrates was executed for corrupting the youth and impiety.
His execution involved drinking hemlock—a courageous act.

Peter Singer

He is a significant philosopher known for his utilitarianism-based ethics
He challenges common moral beliefs, highlighting moral obligations toward suffering.
Argues for the importance of relieving suffering, especially when it involves minimal sacrifice
Argues that many commonly held beliefs are inconsistent.

The Dora Case

It concerns a situation involving a street child and a TV, generating moral conflict about trade-offs for the sake of needs vs wants.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores key concepts in ethical philosophy, focusing on Peter Singer's ideas and Socrates' contributions to moral reasoning. It examines Socratic methods, the distinction between charity and duty, and the challenges of dogmatism. Test your understanding of these philosophical principles and their implications.