Philosophy Exam 2

Cardinal Bellarmine

-rejected the Copernican theory

Galileo

-said his book was written in the language of mathematics -improved telescopes -set to prove the copernican theory right that the Earth revolves around the Sun

Meditation 2: What is the first proposition Descartes discovers that cannot be doubted? Why cant it be doubted? What is the phrase in Latin?

"I exist" is what cannot be doubted because if a god was deceiving him, then he must exist to be deceived. Cogito ergo sum = I think, therefore i am

Aristotle

-proposed the 5th element, Ether, which created the Earth in the center of the universe -did not believe in the atomic theory (atoms) but believed in the 4 elements and believed everything was made of those small elements -believe heavier objects fell faster than lighter objects, which Galileo disproves -believed in Earth as center of universe

Copernicus

-formulated a model that put the Sun at the center of the universe, not the Earth

Giordano Bruno

-his work built on the copernican theory -later tried for heresy and burned on a stake

Rene Descartes

-mathematician of analytic geometry -wrote the "Meditations" -had a "Method of Doubt" in order to find something that could not be doubted which can be used as a foundation of a new world view

Martin Luther

-rejected copernican theory -said "So it goes now. Whoever wants to be clever must agree with nothing that others esteem. He must do something of his own. This is what that fellow does who wishes to turn the whole of astronomy upside down. Even in these things that are thrown into disorder I believe the Holy Scriptures, for Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth [Josh. 10:12]"

Meditation 1: What reasons does Descartes give for doubting mathematical knowledge?

1. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, even when feeling most certain 2. I might be the victim of an all-powerful evil deceiver

Meditation 1: What is the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reason Descartes gives for doubting sensory knowledge?

1. The senses sometimes deceive us 2. I might be insane 3. I might be dreaming

Archimedes

A greek thinker who Galileo studied at an early age and influenced many of Galileo's ideas.

Meditation 2: What does Descartes discover himself to be, essentially?

A thinking thing.

Ptolemy

Ancient astronomer who suggested that the planets moved around in a epicycle, or spiral-like motion.

How did Galileo's view of science differ from Aristotle's?

Aristotle's theory was that the earth was the center of the universe and Galileo's theory was that our sun was the center of the universe. Both were wrong, but Galileo's theory had fewer things wrong. Aristotle also believed that heavier objects fell to the Earth faster, but Galileo proved that it does not matter the weight of the object, everything falls at the same rate.

Meditation 3: Why does Descartes say that proving the existence of God, and that God is not a deceiver, is important to Descartes' project?

Because if Descartes can prove God exists and that he is not a deceiver, Descartes' observations would be true.

Meditation 5: What is the significance of the fact that Descartes has proven God's existence? That is, why does he think its important? How can this be seen as a response to Pope Urban's argument against Galileo?

Descartes believes the existence of God to be extremely important because it proves that God cannot be a deceiver, so all that Descartes observes must be real and true so the Catholic church cannot denounce it as false. The reason Pope Urban said Galileo's observations were not valuable is because the Pope said God could be deceiving Galileo, which Descartes proved he does not deceive.

Meditation 5: Why does Descartes think that existence necessarily follows from the nature of God; i.e. that God necessarily exists? What analogies does Descartes use to help explain this? What is the traditional name for the argument in this section? To which premise of the argument does Kant object?

Descartes says I have a concept of an APB, and an APB is perfect in every way, a God that did not exist would not be absolutely perfect, therefore an APB must exist. Descartes inserts mathematics in this argument to help explain it. This argument is called The Ontological Argument. Kant objects by saying existence is not a real predicate, and existence is not a real characteristic of a thing. To say that a being "exists" adds nothing to the concept of what kind of thing it is; it only tells us THAT it is.

Meditation 3: Why does Descartes think his idea of God can only be explained by the actual existence of God? Why does he think that other ideas he has do not require an equivalent explanation? Why can the idea of God only be explained by the existence of God, while the idea of man - for instance - does not require the existence of man? what principle does this argument rest on?

Descartes thinks his idea of God can only be explained by God's existence because the idea of God cannot have originated in himself, he concludes that God must be the cause of this idea and must therefore necessarily exist. Descartes does not use this argument for the existence of man because man is a corporeal thing and he never discovered anything in them that he is not capable of originating. This is The Principle of Sufficient Reason.

Both of Descartes' arguments for God's existence are an "a priori" arguments, why?

Descartes' arguments for God's existence are a priori argument because they are based on reason and not observation

Meditation 1: What is Descartes' "evil deceiver" hypothesis? What kinds of knowledge does it make doubtful? What assumptions about God's omnipotence does it depend on?

Descartes' evil deceiver hypothesis states that there could be an omnipotent being who deceives Descartes so that his sensory & mathematical knowledge are wrong. It assumes that God is able to make humans perceive mathematics completely different than it really is.

What is esoteric writing? What are some of the methods of esoteric writing?

Esoteric Writing: A two-level writing, there is a surface level that everyone will understand and a hidden doctrine only few people will comprehend. Methods used: convoluted style (difficult to understand), borrowing terms from opposition, evil deceiver hypothesis challenges the Pope (why would an APB deceive?)

What is essentialism?

Essentialism is the view that things have essences (the attribute, or set of attributes, that make an object or substance what it fundamentally is). Thus, for any specific kind of entity, there is a set of characteristics (or properties or traits), all of which any entity of that kind must have.

What is the 5th element? What are the qualities?

Ether (quintessence): stars & planets

What are the 4 basic elements and their essential nature?

Fire: hot & dry Air: hot & wet Water: cold & wet Earth: cold & dry

Pope Urban VIII

Friend of Galileos who said if he was going to publish his work, to make it hypothetical. -former Cardinal Barberini

What is geocentrism? Geostatism? What is the celestial sphere?

Geocentrism: the belief that the Earth is at the center of the universe Geostatism: the belief that the Earth is still and not moving Celestial Sphere: an imaginary sphere of infinite size of which the observer is the center and on which all celestial objects are considered to lie.

Meditation 2: To what famous Greek thinker does Descartes compare himself? What is the comparison? What is Descartes' "firm and immovable point" that Archimedes asked for?

He compares himself to Archimedes. They both demand a point that is "firm and immovable". Descartes says this "firm and immovable" point is himself.

Meditation 3: To what does Descartes compare the idea of God? How does he think he got the idea?

He compares the idea of God with the ideas of sensible objects. He believes God implanted the idea of an omnipotent being in his head.

Meditation 1: What is Descartes' stated purpose for his project? What IS the project?

His purpose is to overthrow all of his former opinions and the project is a foundation based on science

Descartes' metaphysics is a type of metaphysical dualism. What does this mean? What is its significance for his hidden purpose?

Metaphysics dualism: Any view of the world that divides the world into 2 different kinds of views. Descartes' purpose of this is to divide mental and material substance so they can both exist and so he can not be punished by the Catholic Church for saying only his observations are true.

What was Pope Urban VIII's argument against the Copernican view?

Pope Urban said in the end, his (copernicus) evidence did not matter because God could make him view his findings under falseness. (God made him view these even though they were not real)

Meditation 2: Before discovering this firm and immovable point, Descartes mentions another statement that might be the only indubitable truth, what is it?

That absolutely nothing is certain.

Meditation 3: What general rule does Descartes believe can be taken as a guide for truth?

That all that is very clearly and distinctly apprehended is true.

In what way is the Aristelian view a "Worldview", as opposed to just a collection of unrelated ideas?

The Aristelian view is a "worldview" because Aristotle created this by using information from everyone and all of the ideas are connected similar to the web of belief

What are the details of the Galileo Affair?

The Galileo affair was a sequence of events, beginning around 1610, culminating with the trial and condemnation of Galileo Galilei by the Roman Catholic Inquisition in 1633 for his support of heliocentrism. In 1610, Galileo published his Sidereus Nuncius (Starry Messenger), describing the surprising observations that he had made with the new telescope, namely the phases of Venus and the Galilean moons of Jupiter. With these observations he promoted the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus (published in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium in 1543). Galileo's initial discoveries were met with opposition within the Catholic Church, and in 1616 the Inquisition declared heliocentrism to be formally heretical. Heliocentric books were banned and Galileo was ordered to refrain from holding, teaching or defending heliocentric ideas. Galileo went on to propose a theory of tides in 1616, and of comets in 1619; he argued that the tides were evidence for the motion of the Earth. In 1632 Galileo, now an old man, published his Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, which implicitly defended heliocentrism, and was immensely popular. Responding to mounting controversy over theology, astronomy and philosophy, the Roman Inquisition tried Galileo in 1633 and found him "vehemently suspect of heresy", sentencing him to indefinite imprisonment. Galileo was kept under house arrest until his death in 1642.

What is a teleological view of nature?

The philosophical study of nature by attempting to describe things in terms of their apparent purpose

What is the REAL purpose of Descartes' Meditations? Why does he hide this purpose? How does he hide it?

The real purpose is to provide a sound basis for scientific method. He aimed to show that the real source of scientific knowledge lay in the mind and not in the senses. He hides this because he saw what happened with Galileo and the Catholic church. He hides this by writing The Meditations in an esoteric format.

St. Anselm

originator of the Ontological argument

John Calvin

rejected copernican theory

What are the two primary divisions of the cosmos?

the fixed stars and the wandering stars