Philosophy Exam Revision Mini Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the relationship between self-discipline and happiness according to the argument presented?

Happiness is only achievable through indulgence.

Happiness can be achieved without self-discipline.

Self-discipline leads to self-indulgence.

Self-discipline and avoidance of indulgence are necessary for happiness. (correct)

What does Callicles suggest about hedonism?

A life of pleasure is superior to a disciplined life. (correct)

Hedonism often leads to negative consequences.

Hedonism is the only path to success.

Only cowards pursue pleasure.

According to Socrates, what is the mark of a good person?

Engaging in pleasure-seeking behaviors.

Listening to the herd without question.

Acting well and appropriately. (correct)

Achieving personal desires above all else.

What does Aristotle mean by the 'chief good'?

It represents the ultimate aim of all actions. Signup and view all the answers

What analogy is used to illustrate life’s pleasures and consequences?

The analogy of a jar. Signup and view all the answers

What serves as a moral judgement primarily according to the predominant views in society?

Striving towards usefulness for the herd Signup and view all the answers

How are characteristics like public spirit and benevolence perceived by the herd man?

As the only good virtues Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested to be the opposite of the dangerous drives that were once honored in society?

Fear of one’s neighbor Signup and view all the answers

What leads individuals to think they are obeying a higher aim according to the content?

Commanding or holding power over others Signup and view all the answers

What is described as 'extra-moral' in the text?

Moral judgements aimed at preserving the community Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of the statement 'Fear is the mother of morality'?

Morality arises from external threats Signup and view all the answers

Which leader is regarded as the last great leader of Europe?

Napoleon Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the confidence of the community when individual drives break out passionately?

It shatters and breaks into pieces Signup and view all the answers

What does Smart imply about the relationship between sensations and brain processes?

They are the same despite having different logical frameworks. Signup and view all the answers

How does Smart respond to the objection that sensations are private while brain processes are public?

He suggests that both concepts use different languages of logic. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point of the 'beetle in the box' objection according to the content?

It illustrates the limitations of language in describing sensations. Signup and view all the answers

What does Smart suggest could happen in the future regarding brain processes and experiences?

It may be possible to infer experiences from brain processes. Signup and view all the answers

What argument does Smart make against Descartes's dualism?

Imaginative power does not determine the truth of two things being separate. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied about the expression 'somebody' versus 'doctor' in discussing brain processes?

Different expressions can have divergent meanings yet still represent the same concept. Signup and view all the answers

What does Smart assert about the potential for observing brain processes?

Future understanding could link sensations to observable processes. Signup and view all the answers

What role does language play in the discussion of sensations and brain processes?

It reflects different logical frameworks for discussing experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle identify as crucial for understanding human good?

Knowledge of the chief good Signup and view all the answers

How does Aristotle compare the importance of achieving good for one man versus an entire state?

Achieving good for an entire state is far more noble Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, politics is considered an imprecise art because:

It fluctuates and can bring harm to people Signup and view all the answers

What is Aristotle's view on the youth's ability to create suitable legislations?

They are too influenced by their passions Signup and view all the answers

What is 'eudaimonia' according to Aristotle?

A state of living and faring well Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle argue is necessary for successful political science?

Life experience and rational principles Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle suggest about the act of choosing everything for the sake of something else?

It results in an infinite regress of desires Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of politics as described by Aristotle?

To understand human good and how to achieve it Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main criticisms Smart has regarding dualism?

It involves too many irreducible nomological danglers. Signup and view all the answers

According to Locke, which of the following is NOT one of the three types of substances?

Abstract concepts Signup and view all the answers

What difficulty arises when discussing the identity of compound things, according to Locke?

Their atoms can be replaced while retaining perceived identity. Signup and view all the answers

What does Locke mean by the 'principle of individuation'?

Simple things have an evident identity, while compound things do not. Signup and view all the answers

According to Locke, why is it self-evident that two things of the same kind cannot exist in the same place at the same time?

They would create a paradox of identity. Signup and view all the answers

How does Locke differentiate between the identity of modes and substances?

Modes change constantly, lacking a stable temporal identity. Signup and view all the answers

In Locke's view, what happens when the matter of a living body is replaced?

It continues to retain the same identity. Signup and view all the answers

What analogy does Locke use to illustrate the concept of identity across time?

An oak tree's growth from plant to mature tree. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Serving the Masses: Morality and Power

Politicians often rationalize their actions by claiming to serve a higher purpose or the interests of the masses, even when their actions might be considered tyrannical.
The "herd man," representing society's collective will, establishes the standards of virtue: public spirit, benevolence, consideration, industriousness, moderation, modesty, forbearance, and pity. These traits are valued because they contribute to the preservation of the herd.
Command is inevitable in society and often substituted by elected officials, who function as "herd men." Parliament is cited as an example.
Napoleon is characterized as the last great leader of Europe. This statement suggests a shift away from traditional leadership styles towards more democratic governance.
Morality is defined through the lens of usefulness for the herd and its survival. Anything that endangers the herd is considered immoral.
Moral judgements are inherently extra-moral because they exist primarily to preserve the community. Love and pity, often considered virtuous, are seen as illusions masking a fear of the neighbor's potential harm.
Historically, strong drives like revengefulness and ambition were valued for their protective role. Their suppression in modern society, where external threats are perceived as less immediate, has led to a shift in moral valuation.
The fear of the neighbor, rather than valor, is now the primary driver of morality. Fear becomes the "mother of morality" in a society where strong drives are suppressed.
When individuals act passionately and transgress the norms of the community, their actions are demonized and labeled as "calumniated."
The concept of "calumniated" highlights how society can marginalize those whose actions challenge social order.

Socrates and Callicles on the Good Life

Callicles advocates for the strong to have more than the weak, aligning with the idea of "might makes right."
Socrates counters by suggesting that the herd's power surpasses the individual. Therefore, following societal conventions is the best course of action.
Callicles espouses hedonism, believing the best life is one maximizing pleasure and fulfillment.
The "jar analogy" is used to compare a life of pleasure to a simple, unrefined existence.
Cowards, experiencing pleasure to a higher degree, are contrasted with those who act courageously. This challenges the idea that the quality of pleasure determines virtue.
Pleasure can be achieved in both good and bad ways. The "good way" implies moral action, suggesting that morality should be prioritized over mere pleasure-seeking.
Socrates argues for the importance of order and self-discipline. By acting according to reason and societal norms, one achieves courage, success, and happiness.
A person who acts appropriately is considered a good person, suggesting virtue is intertwined with action.

Analogy Examples in the Text

The analogy of youth like lions, initially strong but later molded into slaves, illustrates a loss of individual potential.
The Heracles and Geryon's cattle analogy emphasizes the struggle between individual will and societal control.
The analogy of the jar compares a simple life to a life of pleasure.
The good eye analogy relates to the ability to discern and understand the good.
The analogy of cowards in battle highlights the difference between perceived and actual pleasure.
Rhetoric and philosophy are compared, demonstrating how different approaches can influence our understanding of truth and morality.

Aristotle on the Chief Good (Eudaimonia)

All actions are performed for some good, and these goods ultimately lead to a "chief good" that represents the ultimate aim of human life.
Health, a vessel, victory, and wealth are used as examples of subordinate goods that contribute to a larger, overarching good.
The chief good is analogous to the target in archery; understanding it allows us to strive towards it effectively.
Aristotle views politics as the science of human good, as it determines what knowledge should be pursued and how society should function. The pursuit of good for an entire state is considered more noble than that for an individual.
Politics is an imprecise art because any good can be corrupted and lead to harm in certain circumstances. Thus, the pursuit of ethics requires a "rough outline" rather than definitive proofs.
Life experience and education are crucial for understanding and achieving human good. Youth, due to their lack of experience and susceptibility to passions, are often incapable of enacting effective legislation.
Eudaimonia, a state of living andfaring well, is identified as the chief good, the goal towards which all things strive.

Smart's Materialism and Objections

The argument for materialism suggests that our mental states are reducible to physical states of the brain. Sensations and brain processes are essentially the same, despite different logics and properties.
Smart uses the analogy of "somebody" and "doctor," highlighting how different expressions can have different logics yet refer to the same thing.
Sensations are perceived as private experiences, while brain processes are public, observable phenomena. This difference in accessibility is not seen as evidence of dualism.
The "beetle in the box" objection raises the question of how we can be sure we are referring to the same thing when describing subjective experiences.
Smart counters this by stating that the word "pain" represents a public definition, not the individual experience of pain, which is unique to each individual.
Smart criticizes dualism for introducing unnecessary complexities and relying on insufficient evidence.

Locke and Identity

Identity is established through comparing an object at different points in time and space, noting its sameness or difference.
The concept of identity requires the object to be the same in the present moment and across time, negating the possibility of simultaneous existence in the same space for multiple objects of the same type.
Locke distinguishes three types of substances: God, finite intelligence, and bodies.
Modes, such as motion and thought, lack temporal identity because they exist differently across time.
The identity of simple things, like atoms, is self-evident. Compounded objects pose difficulties because their constituent parts can change while the identity of the object remains the same.
The analogy of an oak tree growing from a plant to a mature tree illustrates that identity can endure despite changes in matter. This suggests that identity is not merely a function of matter.
Locke concludes that matter is not the determining factor of an object's identity, distinguishing between the identity of a mass of matter and the identity of a living organism.

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