PHI 197 Final

Another translation of the word "eudamonia"

"Flourishing" or "Living well"

"Just by law" vs "Just by nature"

-"Just by law" is not doing wrong by others and not getting more than one's fair share -"Just by nature" is the domination of the weak by the strong

What is the story of the Ring of Gyges's Ancestor?

-A (far fetched) story told by Glaucon that demonstrates an example of one doing injustices because he (Gyges's ancestor) was given the opportunity to do it with impunity. -Shows how a situation like that reveals the true values of someone like Gyges's ancestor

Who is Robert Nozick?

-American philosopher -Was president of the American Philosophical Association -Best known for his book Anarchy, State, and Utopia

Who is Ursula Le Guin?

-American sci-fi author of novels, children's books, and short stories

What is necessary and what is sufficient? (Orange Example)

-Being a normal, ripe orange is a SUFFICIENT condition for appearing orange -Being a normal ripe orange is a SUFFICIENT condition for being a fruit -Being a fruit is a NECESSARY condition for being a normal, ripe orange

What are the main differences between Callicles's theory of the origin of justice as a social practice, and the "common view" of the origin of justice as a social practice according to Socrates?

-Callicles believes that justice originated from the weak and the many inventing uses for words like "justice" and "fairness" out of fear and envy, plus calculated greed -Socrates believes that justice originated from the realization that everyone who had done injustice and suffered it (weak and strong alike) recognized that it was better to institute laws than to live without them. They wanted to create a balance between the best in life and the worst in life

What are the main conditions that the Dalai Lama thinks are really necessary and most important for true happiness?

-Compassionate mental composure (you can't be truly happy if you aren't compassionate and mentally composed.) -Peace and freedom from suffering (one can't be truly happy unless they're free from suffering) -Wealth (a certain degree of wealth in order to meet basic needs is sufficient for being happy)

Who is Jeremy Bentham?

-English philosopher and political radical -He is primarily known today for his moral philosophy, especially his principle of utilitarianism

Who is John Stuart Mill?

-English philosopher, political economist and civil servant -One of the most influential thinkers in the history of liberalism

Who is Jean-Paul Sartre?

-French philosopher acclaiming the freedom of the individual human being -Imprisoned by the Nazis during WWII -Novelist, playwright, and exponent of Existentialism

The three main classes in Socrates's city

-Guardians: the wisest, best educated, most caring and steadfast auxiliaries: the rulers -Auxiliaries: the steadfast, loyal, fierce, courageous citizens: army and police -Workers: everybody else: cobblers, farmers, merchants etc.

Why is Callicles not really a Hedonist?

-He values honor and power, which are not intrinsic goods. -He does't believe that pleasure is always good (i.e. the life of the catamite where pleasure is shameful) - He thinks a Real Man is the highest good that encompasses all the others, including pleasure

What do proponents of the "common view" of justice think are common to all, or nearly all, human brings?

-Humans desire to outdo each other and acquire as much as they can -To do injustice with impunity -Humans can be "forced by law into the perversion of treating fairness with

Main argument of the Ring of Gyges.

-If anyone in the same position as Gyges's ancestor would act the same way and do injustice, then no one thinks justice is good-in-itself. -Anyone in the same position as Gyges's ancestor would act the same way and do injustice. -So, therefore, no one thinks justice is good-in-itself

The main argument of Glaucon's story of the most just man and the most unjust man

-If justice is good-in-itself then the most just man has a better life than the most unjust man. -The most just man doesn't have a better life than the most unjust man. -So, justice is not good-in-itself.

Biological (or Cultural) Compassion

-Natural; arises without much cultivation. -Based on love of family members or contingent group identification -Encourages division into "us" and "them"

What do proponents of the "common view" of justice think is "naturally best" and "naturally worst" in life

-Naturally best- To do injustice without paying a penalty -Naturally worst- Having to face the consequences of injustice and not being able to take revenge

Difference between parts of the soul identified by their "spatial location" and the kind of parts Socrates has in mind when he speaks of "parts of the soul"

-Parts identified by their "spatial location" would be literally where they're located within the soul (or mind) -"Parts of the soul" mean motivational parts, or parts of the soul involved in pursuit of (or retreat) from an object or course of action.

Glaucon

-Plato's brother -Student of Socrates

The three main parts of the soul

-Reason: The thought of what's best -Spirit: Emotion -Appetite: Needs and desires

Universal Compassion

-Requires cultivation, practice, discipline. -Based on selfless recognition of equality with others. -Encourages thought of all as "we".

Socrates vs Callicles on exercising restraint and discipline

-Socrates believes that people must exercise restraint and discipline as means of constraining ones appetites and living the best life -Callicles believes that real freedom in life is freedom from restraint and discipline, and the two are only brought on by shame

Who is Aristotle?

-Student of Plato; teacher of Alexander the Great -Set the agenda for (at least) 18 centuries of inquiry in the West -Works rescued by scholars in the Middle East, whilst Europe was dominated by barbarism after the collapse of the Roman Empire

What does Socrates mean by "city with a fever?" What does it contrast to?

-The "city with a fever" is a city whose populace has appetites (desires) that go beyond what's strictly necessary for healthy living. -It is contrasts with a healthy city whose desires don't reach beyond what's necessary for living

Give a (rough) explanation of the function argument.

-The good of anything that has a function (ergon) lies in performing that activity well -Humans have a function -The function of humans is rational activity -So, the good of humans lies in performing rational activity according to the virtues of rational activity

What are the differences the Dalai Lama thinks there are between two levels of satisfaction, and how do they relate to true happiness?

-The wrong kind of satisfaction are goods that produce only superficial (sensory) satisfaction and can induce suffering, so one shouldn't rely on it for happiness -The right kind of satisfaction are goods that produce more than superficial satisfaction and don't induce suffering, so one should rely on these for happiness

Explain two of the reasons why Nozick thinks that reasonable people wouldn't want to use the Experience Machine.

-We want to do certain things, and not just have the (potentially illusory) experience of doing them. -We want to be in touch with something deeper, beyond a human made reality.

What is the "Gorgias?"

A Platonic dialogue whose major theme is the nature and value of rhetoric, or the art of persuasion.

Explain what Sartre means by a "human universality of condition"

A bunch of general limitations we all have to deal with somehow (i.e. socio-economics or family) -How to deal with these limitations a.) Surpass (an extreme case of widening) b.) Widening c.) Deny d.) Accomodate

Virtue

A general feature of something that makes it a good or better instance of its kind.

What does Aristotle mean by a good being complete?

A good that is chosen for its own sake and never chosen for the sake of something else. Complete goods are original, unmediated sources of value. (Pleasure is not a complete good because it is chosen for the sake of happiness)

What does Aristotle mean by a good being self-sufficient?

A good that makes life worthy of choice and lacking in nothing just by itself. (Knowledge is not a self sufficient good because a life without knowledge would be a better life if it had knowledge)

What is the Experience Machine?

A hypothetical situation used by Nozick in which someone could enter a machine and have any experience they desire

What is a conclusion?

A judgment or decision reached by reasoning (Ex) So, therefore, Bruce Wayne is Batman

What does Glaucon mean by "the most unjust man?"

A man who has all the beneficial consequences of a reputation for justice, without having justice in his soul

What does Glaucon mean by "the most just man?"

A man who has justice in his soul, but has none of the beneficial consequences that usually equivocate to good deeds. (Indeed, he has a terrible reputation, and his life is awful and ends in a horrible, violent way.)

What is the Nicomachean Ethics?

A piece by Aristotle explaining what happiness is and how it is achieved

Argument

A reasoned defense or justification of a claim. It consists of two or more claims, some of which are premises and one of which is a conclusion. Together the premises give (purported) reason to believe the conclusion. (Ex) Freddie Mercury was a flamboyant rock star Freddie Mercury used cocaine and drank vodka So, Freddie Mercury was a flamboyant rockstar because he used cocaine and drank vodka

Raise an objection to Socrate's method for identifying justice

A slave who obeys the orders of his master, is that just? Wouldn't it be unjust for the master to be meddling in the role of the guardians by dominating and ruling another person? Would the slave be meddling in another's affairs by doing another person's work?

Premise

A statement in an argument that provides reason or support for the conclusion. (Ex) -Bruce Wayne has lots of money -Bruce Wayne has an internal drive to help people Bruce Wayne disappears whenever Batman is around

What is Beyond Religion?

A writing by the Dalai Lama that offers a conception of human happiness where freedom from suffering is of great importance.

Begging the Question

An argument for or against something that creates another question or breeds skepticism. (Ex) Telling an atheist to read the bible because god wrote it

Invalid Argument

An argument in which the premises do not provide valid reasons for the conclusion. (Ex) -All robots are musicians -Freddie Mercury is a robot - So, Freddie Mercury is a musician This argument is invalid because it assumes that Freddie Mercury is a robot and that's false

Deductive argument

An argument structured so that if all the premises are true, the conclusion MUST be true. (Ex) -Freddie Mercury had an overly active sex life -Overactive, unprotected sex can cause one to catch an STD -Freddie Mercury died from HIV - So, Freddie Mercury's overactive sex life killed him

Sound Argument

An argument where all the premises must be true and the argument overall is valid. (Ex) -Women are still paid less than men -Women still have to fight for control over their own bodies -Women are still treated unfairly - So, we still need feminism

What is Utilitarianism?

An ethical philosophy in which the happiness of the greatest number of people in the society is considered the greatest good

Motivational Conflict

An example of motivational conflict would be deciding between using your $20 to buy a concert ticket for a band you love, or buying a meal because you haven't eaten all day. Reason would tell you to buy food because it's what's best, while your appetite would tell you to buy the concert tickets because it's what you desire.

What is the Republic?

An extended dialogue about the definition of justice (also: the nature of knowledge, the immortality of the soul, ideal political and psychological structures, ...)

Why does the Dalai Lama believe we need "universal compassion" in order to be truly happy?

Because he wants to stress interdependence and unity. He thinks that everyone would be truly happy if we relied on each other's happiness

By what method does Socrates propose to identify justice in his imaginary city?

By ensuring that everyone does the job that they are naturally best suited for and not meddling in other's affairs

Explain Mill's criterion for one kind of pleasure being more desirable than another.

Experienced folk give a decided preference to the pleasure of one thing over another (i.e. seeing a concert over eating a piece of toast)

What is the main principle that Socrates uses to identify different parts of the souls?

Functionalism: The idea that you individuate parts of the mind primarily by their function

Summary of Glaucon's story of the most just man and the most unjust man

Glaucon compares the lives of the most just man and the most unjust man as means of showing that justice is not good-in-itself as the most just man has a horrible life while the most unjust man has a good life.

What is Glaucon's main challenge to Socrates in Book II of the Republic?

Glaucon's challenge is for Socrates to explain what's so good about justice "in itself" when it is "by itself in the soul".

How does happiness differ from eudamonia

Happiness often refers to someone feeling happy while eudamonia refers to one who is flourishing. (One can feel happy without flourishing or living well)

What is "Rational Activity?"

Having beliefs, doing things, or feeling things, for reasons that make one's life better (ex: happiness or knowledge)

Why does the Dalai Lama thinks that bodily health is neither necessary nor sufficient for true happiness?

He believes that happiness comes from a state of mental being rather than physical ability

Explain why Mill thinks that ordinary mature humans think the "pleasures of the intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of the moral sentiments" are qualitatively superior to the kind of pleasures of sensation that both a human and a pig could enjoy.

He believes that these pleasures are superior because once you have these higher faculties and are mildly competent in their exercise you can no longer be happy without a chance to exercise them well

What does Aristotle conclude that happiness (eudaimonia) primarily consists of in Book I Chapter 7 of the Nicomachean Ethics?

He concludes that a happy life consists of virtuous rational activity

Explain what Mill means by "the pleasures of the intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of the moral sentiments."

He is talking about "higher pleasures" which depend on "higher" capacities than those possessed by non-human animals (i.e. feeling affection or love of power)

What does Aristotle mean by a "function" or "characteristic activity?"

He means rational activity: doing, thinking, or feeling things for reasons (ex. Friendliness as it gives one a pleasant disposition towards others)

What does the Dalai Lama mean when he says that "we are all equal?"

He means that we all desire happiness, and freedom from suffering. Out of this comes a shared humanity

What does Socrates think is the original cause of war?

He thinks having desires for luxuries is the origin of war, because one needs to seize items (i.e. land) to satisfy these out-of-control desires

How does Glaucon extend the story of the Ring of Gyges's Ancestor to make a philosophical point?

He uses the story to argue his point that no one practices justice willingly

Explain what "radical freedom" is

In nearly every life situation, you are free to choose between a bunch of options.

What the "nobel falsehood" is supposed to show about the role of education (or indoctrination) in our lives

It is supposed to show that indoctrination is the natural route people will take when seeking answers, though at the same time, education can dissolve indoctrination. It is human nature for one to want easy answers to their lives, so if they are indoctrinated with information about their life that isn't to be questioned, they won't question it. But, as soon as they receive education that counters the indoctrination, they'll question it.

How is the analogy between the imaginary city and the soul in the "Republic" supposed to help respond to Glaucon's challenge?

It is supposed to show that justice within the soul is to establish the parts of the soul in a natural relation of control and that whatever part of the soul becomes dominant determines whether the soul-carrier is just or unjust

Raise a strong objection to hedonism.

Just because pleasure is the only intrinsic good doesn't mean that all pleasure is of the same value

Explain the main difference between Mill's hedonism and Bentham's hedonism.

Mill- Thought that there are QUALITATIVE pleasures, off of which distinctions could be made between "higher" and "lower" pleasures Bentham- Thought that pleasures could be QUANTIFIED, so as to estimate their relative value

Raise an objection to the Dalai Lama's implicit claim that in order to have a deep sense of purpose one must practice universal compassion.

One might believe that universal compassion isn't necessary for having a deep sense of purpose as they might not identify with the whole of humanity at all. Instead, they find purpose in their own groups.

Why might one think that Socrates's response to Glaucon's challenge equivocates on the term "justice?"

One might think this because Socrates thinks of justice as something that is produced through reason dominating the other parts of the soul, whereas Glaucon thinks justice is a character trait which makes people honest, fair, etc.

Explain Mill's criterion for one kind of pleasure being qualitatively superior to another.

One prefers an infinite quantity of one pleasure over any chance of experiencing another pleasure (i.e. choosing an infinite amount of sex over ever experiencing eating a good meal)

Why do people come to live together according to Socrates?

People come to live together to help satisfy each other's basic needs

Where is Jeremy Bentham's head?

Preserved and stored in a wooden cabinet called the "Auto-icon" at the University College London

What does Socrates say that justice in the soul is?

Reason dominating all other parts of the soul

What does the Dalai Lama means by a "cycle of craving"

Seeking out sensory pleasures that produce only superficial satisfaction ad nauseam which can eventually lead to suffering (i.e. going to sporting events)

In what main respects does Socrates think that his imaginary city and a soul are alike?

Socrates thinks that each part of the city represents an individual part of the soul -Guardians = Reason -Auxiliaries = Spirit -Workers = Appetite

How are the spirited and appetitive parts of the soul different?

Socrates uses the example of two horses pulling a chariot. One horse (the white horse) represents spirit and doesn't need to be whipped because the emotion it hypothetically has is noble and good. The other horse (the dark horse) represents appetite and must be whipped as means of controlling the desires it has. Suggests that spirit is inadvertently good while appetite is not.

Explain whether Socrates's account of justice in the soul is a good account of mental health

Socrates's account of justice in the soul is a good account of mental health because it shows that rationale prevails above all else. For someone whose soul (mind) is dominated completely by emotion or appetite would be considered irrational and potentially mentally unstable (i.e. schizophrenics' spirit or mind is dominated entirely by emotion, causing them to be mentally unhealthy)

Give an example of someone who is not an existentialist.

Ted Cruz because he is a Jesus freak who believes that we live according to "God's plan"

What do proponents of the "common view" of justice think is the origin of justice?

That it was created as means of protecting the weak from domination by the strong

What do proponents of the "common view" of justice think about people who have power to do injustice with impunity, but don't?

That they are "wretched and stupid"

What is the principle that determines the division of of labor in Socrates's imaginary city?

The division of labor in the city is founded on the principle that everyone should do the one job to which they are naturally best suited.

Explain why the fact that reasonable people would not want to use the Experience Machine is supposed to show that hedonism is false

The fact that reasonable people wouldn't want to use the experience machine is supposed to show that pleasure is not the only intrinsic good, therefore disputing hedonism

Who is the Dalai Lama?

The head of the Buddhist faith

Why might someone who holds the "common view" of justice think that Socrates begs the question of whether justice is a virtue?

They might argue that justice isn't a virtue because it is not morally good and it is not a principle for moral being

Explanation of Socrates's "Life of the Catamite" argument

This argument is supposed to prove that Callicles is not truly a hedonist -A life that maximizes pleasure (of any kind) is the best kind of life -The life of the catamite maximizes (sexual) pleasure -So, the life of the catamite is the best kind of life The catamite is a passive, sexual partner who is dominated by another, something that is considered shameful by Callicles. Since he thinks that one cannot live the best life if they are dominated, Callicles would think the conclusion is absurd

Strong objection to the main argument in Glaucon's story of the most just man and the most unjust man

This argument is unfair as it gives advantages to the most unjust man and denies them to the most just man. The differences between the two men's lives muddy the issue, therefore, a clear conclusion cannot be drawn.

Equivocation

To use the same term in a premise in different ways (Ex) -If something is shady, you should be suspicious of it - The tree outside is shady - So, you should be suspicious of the tree

Charity

Trying to analyze every aspect of an argument generously to get to its core. (Ex?) -Anyone in the same position as Gyges's ancestor would act the same and do injustice. -How could we charitably refine this claim, so that it comes out true, or at least a lot more plausible? -Most/many/some people in the same position as Gyges's ancestor would act the same and do injustice.

Explain what Sartre means by saying that "in choosing for one, one chooses for all"

When we choose to do something we construct an example that is an image of humanity as we would have it be. (i.e. marrying and having children as it commits humanity as a whole to the practice of monogamy)