Philosophy Reviewer Test #1: Aristotle

Philosophy Overview

• Philosophy derives from the Greek words "philos" (love) and "sophia" (wisdom), meaning "love of wisdom."
• It encompasses various disciplines and methods of inquiry.

Ancient Philosophers

• Pythagoras: Known for the Pythagorean Theorem, relating to geometry.
• Heraclitus: Famous for the quote "There is nothing permanent except change," emphasizing constant change.
• Democritus: Proposed that matter is made up of indivisible atoms.
• Diogenes of Sinope: Advocated for a simple, virtuous life.
• Epicurus: Focused on a life free from fear and pain.
• Socrates: Developed the Socratic Method, fostering critical self-examination.
• Plato: Introduced the Theory of Forms, suggesting that tangible objects are based on abstract ideas; known for the Dialectic method.

Philosophy as the Mother Discipline

• Philosophy addresses fundamental questions that often lack practical utility, utilizing diverse methodologies.

Holistic Philosophy

• Views systems as wholes rather than mere sums of parts, originating from the Greek "holos," meaning "all."
• Epistemological Holism: Posits that a scientific theory cannot be tested in isolation.
• Semantic Holism: Claims that words derive meaning from their relations within a language.

Doing Philosophy

• Engages individuals in critical analysis of concepts, arguments, and definitions.
• Enhances problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• A philosopher must communicate ideas clearly and effectively.

Knowledge Types

• Formal Knowledge: Applies to disciplines like mathematics and logic.
• Empirical Knowledge: Based on observation and experience in fields such as physics and psychology.

Theories of Truth

• Coherence Theory of Truth: Truth consists of internal consistency within a set of beliefs.
• Correspondence Theory of Truth: Truth requires claims to correspond to reality.
• Pragmatic Theory of Truth: Truth is based on the practical consequences of beliefs.

Sources of Knowledge

• Faculty of Reason: Enables rational thought and judgment.
• Faculty of Experience: Utilizes senses to validate empirical claims.
• Faculty of Intuition: Recognizes self-evident truths.

Need for Philosophy

• Sense of Wonder (Plato): Fuels curiosity and a desire for knowledge.
• To Doubt (Descartes): Critical thinking emerges from questioning assumptions.
• Experience (Carl Jaspers): Offers insights into challenges and forms understanding.
• Love for Wisdom (Socrates): Emphasizes lifelong learning and exploration.

Thinking Approaches

• Holistic Thinking: Promotes an open mindset to understand complex issues.
• Partial Thinking: Focuses on specific parts of a problem for clarity.

Distinguishing Truth from Opinion

• Opinions: Serve as bases for arguments, persuading others of a claim's truth.
• Conclusion: Derived from evaluating various facts to form a judgment.