Introduction to Philosophy

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Questions and Answers

Which branch of philosophy explores questions related to beauty and art?

Aesthetics (correct)
Epistemology
Metaphysics
Ethics

What is the primary goal of philosophy, as described?

To accept established dogma without question
To provide definitive answers to life's questions
To promote specific political ideologies
To reflect on and interrogate reasoning (correct)

What is 'equivocation' in the context of philosophical arguments?

The abuse of a word to utilize multiple semantic identities (correct)
The use of precise language to clarify a concept
The process of reconciling conflicting ideas
The use of logical implication to strengthen an argument

Which of the following best describes the relationship of logical implication between the concepts of 'gorillas' and 'apes'?

Being a gorilla logically implies being an ape, but being an ape does not logically imply being a gorilla. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'dogma' in philosophical inquiry?

It can be useful as a temporary assumption to focus inquiry, but should remain open to questioning. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of analyzing arguments, what is the initial step one should take?

Identify the position being claimed. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between prescriptive and descriptive statements in philosophy?

Prescriptive statements focus on how things ought to be, while descriptive statements describe how things are. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of positive underlying theories, what does making a theory 'unfalsifiable' entail?

Modifying the theory to accommodate any counter-example, thereby protecting it from refutation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is 'Reflective Equilibrium' intended to achieve?

Coherence between our general principles and particular judgments (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a thought experiment in philosophy?

To posit a question, or explore the consequences of an idea in a hypothetical scenario. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which philosophical method involves critically examining the meaning and use of words and phrases?

Conceptual Analysis (B) Signup and view all the answers

If a theorist responds to a counter-example by making an exception to their theory specifically for that case, this exception is referred to as:

An ad hoc modification (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these questions falls under the domain of epistemology?

How do we acquire knowledge? (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential problem with relying too heavily on dogma when developing reasoning?

It may lead to the acceptance of false or unfounded beliefs. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of conceptual analysis?

Examining the different meanings and uses of the word 'justice'. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What crucial element should be present within an argument?

Reasoning and explanation (B) Signup and view all the answers

Consider the statement: 'Honesty is the best policy, but sometimes dishonesty is more beneficial.' What philosophical challenge does this statement highlight?

The potential conflict between conceptual and evaluative concepts (B) Signup and view all the answers

Noam Chomsky's phrase 'Colourless green ideas sleep furiously' is used to demonstrate what point about conceptual categories?

That sentences combining abstract and concrete categories can lack informational purpose. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A philosophy student is writing an essay on free will. Which question would be MOST relevant to their topic, based on the provided text?

Are we free, and if not, can we be morally responsible? (C) Signup and view all the answers

Philosopher A posits a theory: 'All successful leaders are charismatic.' Philosopher B counters with an example of a highly effective, but introverted and uncharismatic leader. If Philosopher A responds by arguing that this leader 'isn't really successful because they lack charisma', what philosophical error are they committing?

Moving the goalposts (C) Signup and view all the answers

Briefly explain the core function of philosophy.

Philosophy is the reflection and interrogation of reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

List the five main branches of philosophy.

Epistemology, Metaphysics, Ethics, Aesthetics, and Political Philosophy. Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'dogma,' and what is philosophy's stance towards it?

A dogma is a principle laid down as incontrovertibly true. Philosophy generally opposes dogma, but recognizes that some assumptions are temporarily useful for focusing inquiry. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the two key components when developing an argument in philosophy.

Claiming a position and providing reasoning and explanation for that position. Signup and view all the answers

Define 'conceptual analysis' in the context of philosophy.

Examining and clarifying the meanings of concepts, recognizing that concepts can be expressed in various ways and that words can have multiple associated concepts. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'equivocation,' and why is it problematic in philosophical arguments?

Equivocation is the use of a word in multiple senses within the same argument, leading to confusion or deception. It undermines the validity of the reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of 'logical implication' with an original example.

Logical implication occurs when one concept necessarily follows from another. For example, all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between abstract and concrete conceptual categories? Provide a brief, original example to illustrate your answer.

Abstract concepts are intangible, while concrete concepts are tangible. For instance, 'justice' is abstract, while 'a hammer' is concrete. Signup and view all the answers

Explain why the distinction between prescriptive and descriptive claims is important in philosophy.

Prescriptive claims concern what ought to be, while descriptive claims concern what is. Confusing the two leads to faulty reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how a 'counter-example' can challenge a philosophical theory.

A counter-example presents a case that contradicts the theory's claims, potentially disproving or requiring modification of the theory. Signup and view all the answers

What two options does a theorist have when their theory is challenged by a counter-example?

The theorist may give an explanation, make an exception (with acceptable reasoning), or forgo a piece of the theory. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term 'ad hoc' in the context of a theory challenged by a counter-example. Give an original example.

An 'ad hoc' exception is a modification made to a theory solely to avoid a specific counter-example, without broader justification. E.g. 'All swans are white, except that one'. Signup and view all the answers

Why is making a theory unfalsifiable problematic?

It makes the theory divorced from reality, and thus impossible to test or disprove. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the concept of 'reflective equilibrium' and its role in ethical reasoning.

Reflective equilibrium seeks coherence between our general moral principles and our particular moral judgments, adjusting both to achieve consistency. Signup and view all the answers

What is a thought experiment, and how are thought experiments useful in philosophy?

A thought experiment is a hypothetical scenario designed to explore the consequences of a theory. It helps us test philosophical concepts, and assumptions in a controlled, albeit imaginary, setting. Signup and view all the answers

Explain, using an original example, how a courageous action might not always be a virtuous action.

Courage denotes bravery, while virtue is moral excellence. A courageous action might not be virtuous. For example, a bank robber may courageously face armed guards, but their actions aren’t virtuous because they’re motivated by greed and cause harm. Signup and view all the answers

Apply the concepts of 'descriptive' and 'prescriptive' to the issue of poverty. How would each approach differ in addressing the problem?

A descriptive approach would analyze the causes and extent of poverty (e.g., unemployment rates, access to education). A prescriptive approach would focus on what policies should be implemented to alleviate poverty (e.g., universal basic income, increased social welfare programs). Signup and view all the answers

Devise a novel thought experiment to challenge the philosophical view that 'the ends justify the means.'

Imagine a society where a single, innocent person is secretly killed to produce an ingredient to make a happiness drug, and is distributed freely, resulting in widespread happiness and the end of suffering. Does the overall increase in happiness justify the murder of the individual? Signup and view all the answers

Critically evaluate Noam Chomsky's statement, “Colourless green ideas sleep furiously,” in terms of its abstract and concrete conceptual categories, and explain its philosophical significance beyond poetic value. Does its lack of informational purpose negate its philosophical import?

While the statement contains abstract ('ideas', 'furiously') and concrete ('colourless', 'green') categories, their combination creates a semantically nonsensical phrase. Its philosophical significance lies in demonstrating that grammatically correct sentences can be meaningless, challenging the assumption that language directly reflects thought or reality. The lack of direct informational purpose underscores the importance of semantic coherence and challenges theories that equate language with meaningful content. Signup and view all the answers

Propose and defend a modification to the 'reflective equilibrium' model that accounts for the influence of systemic biases (e.g., racial, gender) on both general principles and particular judgments. How might this modified model lead to more just outcomes?

A modification could involve incorporating a 'bias audit' stage within the reflective equilibrium process. This would require explicitly identifying and evaluating potential biases influencing both initial principles and judgments, drawing on insights from critical race theory, feminist epistemology, and other relevant fields. By acknowledging and actively mitigating these biases, the modified model could lead to the revision of discriminatory principles and fairer application of ethical frameworks, promoting more just outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is Philosophy?

The reflection and interrogation of reasoning.

Epistemology

Concerns questions about knowledge and belief.