PHILO NOTES PDF

1 INTRO TO PHILO What is Philosophy? ”love of wisdom” systematic knowledge that takes an established design seeks to understand in spite of ultimate causes: tries to understand things even if we don’t know the main reasons for them....

1 INTRO TO PHILO What is Philosophy? ”love of wisdom” systematic knowledge that takes an established design seeks to understand in spite of ultimate causes: tries to understand things even if we don’t know the main reasons for them. Metaphysics: understand reality, questions about existence. ex: what is my purpose in life? Epistemology: study of how we know things and what makes our beliefs or knowledge true. “what is true” Value Theory: understanding why a person values something 1. Ethics: why humans behave the way they do. determine right and wrong 2. Aesthetics: nature of beauty LOGIC Help determine right and wrong Goal: form arguments that make most sense Sin: Logical Fallacies THALES ancient Greek philosopher known for his belief that everything originates from water. He is often considered one of the first philosophers. RUDOLF KARNAP’S LINGUISTIC FRAMEWORK talks about using clear and precise language to help understand and solve philosophical problems. It shows how our way of speaking affects our thinking. Internal Questions: asks if certain concepts make sense within our understanding of the world, and fits within established rules the society gives. External Questions: asks if a certain idea should be considered in the first place, makes you think twice, decides to create new rules and concepts, asks if we must include it in our belief/understanding. Philosophical Questions: deep questions about things like reality, life, knowledge, and values. They try to understand the most basic and important ideas behind how we live and think. TRUTH AND OPINION Truth: under epistemology since it has already been validated. based on facts in reality confirmed w/ other sources independent of one's preference (truth exists regardless of what someone prefers to be true) ex: someone prefers that the sky is green, the truth remains that the sky is blue based on science, not personal preference. Opinion: expresses own interpretation and shows the speaker’s side. THEORIES OF TRUTH 1. Correspondence: only true when it exists in the real world. 2. Coherence: only true if it makes sense and matches with everything else you believe to be true. ex: if it doesn’t fit the picture, it’s not true. 3. Pragmatic: only true if it is useful in real life. LOGICAL FALLACIES arguments that might sound strong but are actually flawed which can make you appear less credible.  2 Ad Hominem / Personal Attack: attacks or praises the other person personally as a response to their claim. Straw Man: exaggerating the other person’s argument to make your argument better. Slippery Slope: argues that one small action can lead to many bad things happening without proof. (domino effect) Red Herring: diverts argument with other irrelevant points. Hasty Generalization: creating a general conclusion from one incident alone. Ad Populum: someone argues that something is true simply because many people believe it or agree with it. Bandwagon Approach - many agree Patriotic Approach - something is right or good just because it’s linked to national pride Snob Appeal - claimed to be better just because it’s associated with high status METHODS OF PHILOSOPHERS Socratic: student - teacher, teacher asks many questions to student to test knowledge 1. Wonder: Ask questions to explore a topic. 2. Reflect: Think about the answers you get. 3. Define and Cross-Examine: Clarify terms and check the answers for consistency. 4. Restate: Summarize what you’ve learned. 5. Repeat: Go through these steps again to deepen your understanding. Scholastic: debating big ideas in a detailed and structured way. applying what is learned in religion. Machinery: using tools or methods, such as logic, to check if arguments make sense. Formula for Pattern: - Statement of the Problem - Definition of Terms - Contrary Opinions - Invocation of Sacred Scriptures - Proof of Thesis (Sources) Disputations: formal debates aimed at resolving specific questions or problems often involving structured argumentation Dialectics: understanding ideas by discussing and resolving contradictions between opposing viewpoints. THESIS > ANTITHESIS > SYNTHESIS > NEW THESIS Deductive: starts with general premises and reaches a specific, certain conclusion. If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. Inductive: starts with specific observations and generalizes to form a broader conclusion. The conclusion is likely but not guaranteed to be true. NATURE OF HUMAN PERSONHOOD Dualism: The mind and body exist in separate worlds. MIND: Non-physical, source of thoughts and emotions BODY: Physical, does not think or feel TYPES OF DUALISM: 1. Substance: mind or soul is separate from the body, but influences each other through interactions. 2. Occasionalism: mind and body don’t interact directly with each other, but is it God that mediates the action between them. 3. Conceptual: mental and physical are similar, where thought reflects that physical action from the brain. 4. Disembodied: body is dependent on the spirit, but the spirit is independent of the body. 5. Embodied Spirit: body and spirit are dependent on each other and can’t survive separately. PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS ON DUALISM PLATO Body is like a prison for the soul that limits its full potential True understanding comes only after death when the soul is free. Body and soul are separable  3 Body: material, physical, changeable, dependent to soul. Soul: immaterial, indestructible, independent to body. RENE DESCARTES: “i think, therefore i am” Mind: thinks, feels, makes decisions Body: physical, follows the mind’s instructions Pineal Gland: connects mind and body, transfers signal between mind and body. ex: mind sends commands to the pineal gland that the body follows. DUALISM VS MATERIALISM Dualism: mind or soul is immaterial, body is physical MARY’S ROOM THOUGHT EXPERIMENT shows the difference between objective scientific facts and subjective personal experiences (qualia). Qualia: personal experience of things like the smell of a flower Materialism: everything, including thoughts and feelings, has a physical explanation. so, what can’t be seen or touched is not real. (can be explained by science) CHARLES DARWIN: his book explained how species changes naturally, where everything is explained by physical matter. ARISTOTLE’S CONCEPTS OF HUMAN, PERSON, AND HUMAN PERSON Human: living humans under mammalia Person: individual with self-awareness, rationality, and ability to interact with others. Human Person: individual distinguished by unique attributes. (isn’t an embodied spirit) Parts of the Soul: 1. Rational: head, guides spiritual and appetite, function is to think, analyze, and conclude. 2. Spiritual: chest, experiences hate, anger, and emotional feelings. 3. Appetitive: stomach, physical wants such as hunger and taste. ”anything that has life has a soul” SOUL = animator of body BODY = matter of soul SOUL + BODY = HUMAN PERSON Level of the Soul: 1. Vegetative: plants capacity to grow, reproduce, feed itself. 2. Sensitive: animals capability of sensation and react to its surroundings. 3. Rational: humans highest level of soul, ability to feel and think logically. LIMITATIONS OF A HUMAN PERSON no one is perfect Omniscient - all knowing Omnibenevolent - all good Omnipotent - all powerful SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITATIONS: restrictions put by society or environment BODY LIMITATIONS: mind or spirit wants us to do things our body can’t that makes life more challenging. TRANSCENDENCE: going beyond physical limits Philosophers believe we shouldn’t let limitations stop up, our goal is to free our souls from the body and reach enlightenment. HUMAN PERSON IN EASTERN PHILOSOPHY Four Noble of Truth 1. Dukkha: life is full of sufferings 2. Samudaya: suffering is caused by desires 3. Nirodha: suffering ends when desires are eliminated  4 4. Magga: follows the eightfold path that frees us from sufferings Nirvana: - end of desire that lead to freedom from suffering and rebirth - means “blowing out” or putting end to flame - state of complete peace where a person feels calm and has perfect wisdom forever. ESSENTIALISM VS EXISTENTIALISM Essentialism: - Everything has an essence. - suggests the God provides the essence that gives meaning to our lives. - having faith in the higher power Existentialism: - People are responsible for creating their own meaning in life since there is no inherent meaning given by God. - free will to choose our actions and define our own purpose. Existential Crisis: - uneasy feeling when we realize we have no essence in life. JEAN-PAUL SARTRE A 20th century french philosopher in existentialism. Existence Precedes Essence: nature is shaped by experiences and not predetermined. Existential Freedom: even though your situation affects you, you still have the power to make your own choices, while also understanding the weight of that freedom. Self-Definition: people define them through actions. Sartre on humanism shows how we determine right from wrong. We are free to make choices, create our own values rather than relying on pre-existing rules. Values wouldn’t exist until we act on what's important. Emphasized that ethics are based on our actions and commitment we make to those actions. MARTIN HEIDEGGER German philosopher 1. Das Sein (Being): how fragile our existence is; avoiding the idea of death makes us unhappy. 2. Das Nichts (Nothing): death; escape the reality of death. 3. Das Gerede (Endless Chatter): trivial conversations that distract us from death. 4. Eigentlichkeit (Authenticity): being fully aware of death 5. Uneigentlichkeit (Inauthenticity): avoid the idea of death and focus on distractions. CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT INVOLVEMENT helps understand the world allows abstract idea become personal find our place in environment without it, we have lack of care (apathy) WILLIAM JAMES: 19th-century philosopher who highlighted that a lack of connection with the subject of experience can lead to inaction and apathy. ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY: focuses on humanity’s place in the natural world, examine roles of human in nature. PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWS ON RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE 1. Anthropocentrism: human are the most significant species on Earth 2. Deep Ecology: relationship between living species (ex: food web, food chains) 3. Gaia Hypothesis: non organic element plays an important role in maintaining environmental balance  5 4. Theological Views: God created humans, giving them dominion over all species and the responsibility to take care of Earth. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) companies strive to balance environmental concerns in their business practices. DEATH End of all biological functions that keep living organisms alive, affects not just one but also their family and community. Medical View: stop of all brain functions, “brain dead”. Natural Process: as people age, they decline in health. (senescence: aging) REINCARNATION person’s spirit is reborn in another body after death ETERNAL OBLIVION person’s consciousness disappears after death PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH Death is Not to Fear: death shouldn’t be feared. SOCRATES Death as Dreamless Sleep: peaceful and restful Passage to Another Life: meeting others who died Purpose of Death: motivates us to reach our goal and appreciate life while also preparing us for the afterlife. EPICURUS Death is Nothing to Fear: end of sensation Good and Evil: makes sense if we’re alive; death is both good and bad Focus on Living: happiness comes from being free of the fear of death REMINDER! 1. Bad things are only bad if they cause bad experiences. 2. Dead people have no experience. 3. Nothing can be bad for the dead. 4. Irrational to fear what won’t be bad 5. Irrational to fear death. THOMAS NAGEL Fear of Missing Out: some fear death since they feel they’ll miss out experiences. Fear of Loved Ones’ Death: fear of losing those we care about than our own death ZHUANGZI (DAOIST PHILOSOPHER) Acceptance of Death: death is natural part of life Celebration of Life Changes: instead of mourning, celebrate loved one’s life and see their death as a beginning of a new journey.