Philosophy Overview Quiz

Study Notes

Philosophy Overview

Derived from Greek words "Philo" (love) and "Sophia" (wisdom), signifying love for wisdom and the act of wondering.
Encourages critical thinking and self-reflection.

Components of Philosophy

Metaphysics: Examines the nature of reality, involving beings and existence.
Epistemology: Investigates the validity and scope of human knowledge.
Ethics: Studies morality and the implications of human actions.
Cosmology: Explores the science of the universe, including concepts of space and time.
Theodicy: Philosophical study concerning the existence of God.
Logic:
- Defined as the science and art of correct thinking.
- Combines empirical science with artistic reasoning to acquire and interpret knowledge.
- Foundation for all scientific disciplines.

Types of Logic

Transcendental Logic: Investigates the priority of cognitive elements in human thought.
Symbolic Logic: Utilizes mathematical methods in reasoning processes.
Applied Logic: Focuses on the use of logic in natural sciences.
Natural Logic (Common Sense): The innate ability to judge and reason correctly.

Origins of Logic

Aristotle: Considered the father of logic; compiled logical works in "Organon," which means instrument.
His treatises include categories, interpretation, prior and posterior analytics, topics, and sophistical refutation.
Pierre de la Ramee (1515 - 1572): Critiqued Aristotelian logic; identified three activities of the mind:
- Simple Apprehension
- Judgment
- Reasoning

Formation of Ideas

Process of Intellectualization (or Ideogenesis): Refers to how ideas are formed.
Human Cognition:
- Sensitive Approach: Knowledge is obtained through senses, which perceive external qualities but not the essence.
- Intellectual Approach: Understanding concepts beyond direct sensory experience; relies on intellect.

Process of Idea Formation

Sensible Order:
- Objective realities are perceived by external senses.
- External qualities are gathered to form a unified understanding through common sense.
Percept:
- The impression of object features that exist in perception.
- Creates a mental representation called “Phantasm” through cognitive sense, imagination, and memory.

Intellectual Order

Agent Intellect: Individualizes phantasms by discarding non-essential features to reveal abstract concepts.
Possible Intellect: Receives and processes the output of agent intellect to form ideas or concepts, representing the essence of known objects.

Truth

Defined as the conformity between intellect and reality (adequate intellectus et rei) as proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas.
Classification of Terms:
- Univocal Terms: Same meaning across different contexts (e.g., "student").
- Analogous Terms: Partly similar and partly different meanings (e.g., "orange" as a fruit vs. color).
- Equivocal Terms: Different meanings in various contexts (e.g., "match" for lighting a candle vs. matching items).

Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamental components of philosophy, including metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and logic. This quiz will challenge your understanding of the different branches and types of philosophical inquiry, along with their implications for knowledge and reality.