Philosophy Chapter 3 Flashcards

Philosophy Concepts and Thinkers

• Avocado View: Refers to the belief that humans possess a core self.

• Plato's Ideal Society: In "The Republic," an ideal society mirrors the three parts of the human soul: reason, spirit, and appetite. Those with a dominant spirited aspect are placed in the military.

• Nirvana: Denotes a state of enlightenment in various philosophical traditions.

• Anatman Principle: Suggests that the concept of the soul or self is an illusion.

• Taoist Composition: In certain Taoist beliefs, humans are made of five elements: earth, wood, water, metal, and fire.

• Behaviorism: Proposes that human nature is shaped by conditioning events rather than innate characteristics.

Contributions of Philosophers

• Aristophanes: Provides a narrative in "The Symposium" about how Greek gods created humans with varying attractions based on their soul's nature.

• Aristotle's Insights: Advocates that "all men by nature desire to know." He believed while human beings engage in art and reasoning, such abilities cease upon death.

• Existentialist Perspective: Suggests that a self is formed through responsible choices and actions throughout one’s life.

• Jose Ortega y Gasset's Existentialism: Argues against the existence of a fixed human essence, promoting the idea that individuals are defined by their potential ("not-yet-being").

Cultural and Social Perspectives

• Avatars in Gaming: The term originates from Hinduism and refers to simulated identities created in games like "The Sims."

• Benin's Cosmology: In West Benin, the world is understood through two principles—Lisa (male) and Mawu (female).

• Andrew Whiten's Research: After studying chimpanzees, he concluded that they exhibit cultural variations, akin to humans, through learned behaviors differing across groups.

• Macrina's Perspective: Argues that emotions such as anger and desire are not innate traits of the human soul.

Reasoning Types and Theories

• Deductive Reasoning: Valid reasoning that moves from general principles to specific instances.

• Dual Nature of the Soul (Aristotle): Proposes that the human soul consists of rational and irrational sides, with men leaning towards rationality and women towards irrationality.

• B.F. Skinner and Behaviorism: Introduced behaviorism in the 20th century, focusing on how individuals develop based solely on their conditioning history.

• Moral Responsibility and Free Will: For moral choices to hold individuals accountable, they must possess free will.

• Inductive Reasoning: Contrasts deductive reasoning by moving from specific observations to broader generalizations.