Test Study Document for Reasoning and Critical Thinking Test #1 PDF

General notes about socrates: -​ Socrates was the teacher of plato and plato was the teacher of aristotle -​ The main goal of socrates was to eliminate the chief intellectual vice Background information: -​ If we learn how to reason well and think critically, we need models of what this sho...

General notes about socrates: -​ Socrates was the teacher of plato and plato was the teacher of aristotle -​ The main goal of socrates was to eliminate the chief intellectual vice Background information: -​ If we learn how to reason well and think critically, we need models of what this should look like -​ The best model of all is known to be socrates. Athens: -​ Athens is known in the ancient world as the city of reason and was contrasted with the city of faith. Tetalian described this contrast in order to describe people's different ways of thinking. When it comes to reasoning and the city of reason, socrates is known to be the most influential figure Dogmatism: -​ Dogmatism can be defined as the disposition to form confidence in one belief that outstrips ones evidence -​ People who have dogmatism are overconfident in their beliefs and are unaccepting of learning other perspectives or beliefs -​ These people think that they are knowers when they are not learners and this overall causes a problem for learning. -​ Socrates sought out to eliminate dogmatism Socrates background: -​ Socrates was an ancient philosopher and war hero who took on many on the battlefield and his war stories demonstrated his excellence. Socrates can be separated into who he was as a person and who he was as a legend/historical figure as he was one of the most influential figures in history -​ Socrates wrote nothing of which we are aware -​ Socrates liked to pressure philosophical wisdom in conversation -​ Socrates was a teacher as he taught plato but he would have rejected this label -​ Known as the athenian gadfly -​ He had the willingness to “follow the argument wherever it may lead” -​ Socrates exemplified the intellectual virtue Athenean gadfly: -​ Socrates was famously known as the athenian gadfly. This is because he was known to be buzzing around and challenging conversations (elucnus method). And for his willingness to follow the argument wherever it may lead in these challenging conversations that he started Socrates divine mission: -​ Socrates was religious and is often compared to jesus. Socrates endorsed the design argument for the existence of god -​ Socrates was different from most religious people and believed he was on a divine mission. The purpose of socrates divine mission was to help people to discover their own ignorance as a first step to wisdom. This helps socrates stand out from the rest because he is there to help humanity discover ignorance The oracle of Delfy: -​ In ancient times, the oracle of Delfy was known to be something that had the ability to channel divine wisdom. Socrates replied to the oracle’s claim: -​ The oracle of Delfy claimed that Socrates was the wisest human and that he was special. Socrates does not completely agree and says he does not know anything -​ He then notices that his wisdom lies in his ability to be conscious of his ignorance and what he does not know -​ “I am certainly wiser than his man. It is too likely that neither of us has any knowledge to boast of. Still, he thinks he knows something that he does not, whereas I am quite conscious of my ignorance.” -​ He is wise because he does not think he knows what he does not know The Socratic pyramid: -​ (bottom) Blind ignorance- not knowing one doesn’t know, and believing one knows when they don’t -​ Enlightened Ignorance- lacking knowledge but realizing one lacks knowledge and knows about the self as well of its lack of knowledge which is negative wisdom -​ Positive Wisdom- on the pathway to excellence and knowing -​ (top) Human excellence Wisdom: -​ Wisdom is the possession of knowledge and the awareness of that possession -​ Wisdom additionally requires knowing what does and knowing what one doesn’t Socrates urgent question: -​ Socrates urgent question was how can one make Socratic accent and move up on the Socratic pyramid from blind ignorance to negative wisdom/ enlightened ignorance or even positive wisdom Elenchus Method/his method: -​ Socrates most famous learning method where he would take a conversation partner and ask them a series of questions on a given topic. He would ask specific questions designed to guide the other person to learn through their own answers that their views are inconsistent -​ The worry is what x?- conceptual analysis -​ Socrates method helps people understand that they have contradicted themselves and their overconfidence begins to melt -​ Contradictions can’t be true but once the contradiction is discovered it is then discovered that the person belief is untrue Illistrating/examples of Socrates alucns method: -​ Case A, Dog fighting: it is believed that it is morally wrong and if someone participates in it they will go to prison for doing so -​ Case B, enjoying a hot dog: enjoying a hot dog is not seen or known to be morally problematic but making them is very problematic -​ The connection between the two is that animal pain is caused in both cases  -​ The difference is where the pleasure is derived from, one action has people getting pleasure from watching violence and the other only has to do with the pleasure of eating the hot dog rather than it coming from the animal suffering directly -​ Shark finning can be seen as different because some think that our emotional tie to different animals affects the overall morality of harming different animals -​ It restores consistency by saying either actions are both okay or both are wrong The death of Socrates: -​ In the end, socrates was executed on the charge of religious impiety which is failing to worship the right gods as well as corrupting the minds of the youth through his questioning and methods -​ He was poisoned by hemlock poison of which he willingly drinks, this depicts his courage even in the face of death Cognitive dissenence: -​ Cognitive dissonance can be defined as the fact that people are averse to the inconsistencies within their own minds -​ Socrates elucnus method made had people have cognitive dissonance as they became more aware and increasingly uncomfortable unravveling their own beliefs through the questions being asked by socrates -​ Cognitive dissonance offers one explanation for why people sometimes make an effort to adjust their way of thinking when their own thoughts or words seem to clash with each other. Sobering Statistics: -​ The definition of extreme poverty is roughly 1.9 USD per person per day -​ Nearly 385 million children live in extreme poverty -​ Approx. 736 million live in extreme poverty- roughly 10% -​ Nearly 1 in 2 people lives on less than 5.50 a day- 2018 -​ An estimated 6.3 million children under 15 yo died in 2017 or 1 in every 5 seconds, mostly preventable causes Peter singer: -​ Peter singer was the most influential philosopher and also seen as very dangerous -​ Singer has no respect for common sense -​ He wants to challenge many of the moral beliefs that many take for granted -​ Singers ethics are about reducing suffering and creating more happiness- utalitarian Key distinctions: -​ Duty vs charity- duty us required or a mandated act. There is a difference between legal and moral duties. For example, infidelity and charity are acting out of good will -​ Beyond the call of duty- siper irrigators -​ Luxury vs necessity- a biological need vs something that you want. Necessity overlaps with all humans. For example, luxury would be a car, redecorating house, new tv, fancy restaurant Common belif: -​ A common belif os that helping the needy is a matter of charity and not duty. Singer believes that this common belif is morally wrong and he thinks that common sense belif is inconsistent Dora case: -​ Dora sells the street child for a TV and accidentally brings him to an organ harvest place -​ She then tries to save him and gives up her luxury to save the child -​ He believes it is her duty to do so, and that there is no relevant difference argument. Dora aught to give up her luxuries to save the child -​ It is highlighted that the situations of most Americans who could sacrifice their luxuries to save the lives of children is relevantly similar to doras -​ Singer thinks most members of rich nations have obligations to be charitable and therefore most Americans must sacrifice their luxuries to save the lives of needy children -​ Although these two situations are different so it is not clear that it applies -​ Each person is different so their necessity vs luxury is different depending on circumstances Argument 2- 1972 argument: -​ The common assumption is that “ suffering and death from the lack of food, shelter and medical care are bad, and those who disagree need read no further” Case 3- drowning child: -​ You have the moral duty to sacrifice your expensive shoes to save the child; it isnt an optional act of charity but on of duty -​ The man would be wrong to even let is passively continue even if the child survived The prevention principle: -​ If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought to morally do it Common belif: -​ Suffering and death from the lack of food and medical care are bad- assumption -​ If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening, then we ought to morally do it -​ It is in our power to prevent some suffering and death from the lack of food, shelter and medical care therefore, we ough to prevent such suffering -​ Singers stratagy is to show defenders of the common belif, on reflection, aslo hold to propositions 1-4. But those are inconsistent with the common belief. Compare and contrast Socrates and singer: 1.​ similarities: -​ They both had a mission and purpose to expose the inconsistencies of common beliefs 2.​ differences: -​ Singer is different from Socrates because Socrates does not blatantly point out inconsistencies instead, he uses the alumnus method and allows for people to become uncomfortable and make self-discoveries whereas singer is more forthcoming on directly pointing out and identifying the contradiction.