Quiz 1
Which one is not philosophy? "Live and let live, that's my philosophy!" "Look after number one, that's my philosophy!" "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out, that's my philosophy!"
"Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out, that's my philosophy!"
What are the three definitions of piety (Euthyphro) shared in "Euthyphro" and the issues with the first two?
(1) Euthyphro's definition is just an example saying that his father murdering someone is not right; does not capture the essence of the word (2) Euthyphro says it's what the gods favor; how do we know what the gods favor and they vary (EX: a god can favor killing and another can oppose it= CONTRADICTION) (3) Socrates helps Euthyphro in coming to the conclusion that what ALL gods favor is pious and vice versa
For questions that we don't have direct empirical evidence to settle, what do we do?
1. Shrug our shoulders, say we can't ever know, leave it at that 2. Carry on believing what we believed 3. Attempt to rationally decide
Examples of deductive arguments.
All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Therefore Joe is mortal. Bachelors are unmarried men. Bill is unmarried. Therefore, Bill is a bachelor. To get a Bachelor's degree at Utah State University, a student must have 120 credits. Sally has more than 130 credits.
What is the problem with the view below? If we waited for God(s) to decide what is good and bad, then he would/could decide that murder is bad.
Basically saying that God would not favor murder because it is bad, so you are recognizing that God knows what is good vs. bad NOT that he favors something just based on their opinion.
Example of inductive arguments.
I've only seen white swans. Therefore all swans are white. (Black swans exist) Bob is showing a big diamond ring to his friend Larry. Bob has told Larry that he is planning to marry Joan. Bob must be surprising Joan with the diamond ring tonight. (or not lol) The chair in the living room is red. The chair in the dining room is red. The chair in the bedroom is red. All the chairs in the house are red. (did not check upstairs) Every time you eat peanuts, you start to cough. You are allergic to peanuts. (or they don't sit well with you)
Why is God needed for ultimate purpose? (The Absurdity of Life without God)
If God exist then we are placed here for a reason If the Big Bang actually happened then we are here by accident and for no reason
What may be the issues with this (deductive) argument? Either Joe will stay home, or he will go to a movie. Joe will not stay home. Therefore, he will go to a movie.
If Joe went to a restaurant instead then premise 1 and the conclusion is false
Why is there no ultimate value without immortality? (The Absurdity of Life without God)
If good people are not rewarded after death and evil people are not punished, then what does it matter what type of life you live.
Why does no immortality = no meaning for the universe? (The Absurdity of Life without God)
If the universe will end anyway then so what to if it ever existed to begin with- then the significance of life after death does not exist as well
How does the argument below relate to inductive reasoning? Sample # 1 of water boiled at 100 degrees centigrade Sample # 2 of water boiled at 100 degrees centigrade... ...... Sample # 352 of water boiled at 100 degrees centigrade Therefore all water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.
It is not guaranteed that all water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
What is the meaning on the "Allegory of the Cave"?
It's hard to enlighten others because most of the time those people are not ready to consider the truth; it's hard to break out of an illusion
Summarize the "Allegory of the Cave".
One of the poisoners escapes and is blinded by the light (sunlight). His eyes are able to adjust and he sees how objects can cast shadows. He begins to see the reality of the illusions that he thought as reality. He goes back to the cave to tell his buddies what he saw but they don't believe him. Since it's so dark in the he's tripping and acting weird in their eyes. Since the prisoners think he has gone insane they react violently to him.
What does philosophy literally mean?
Philo= Love of Sofia= Wisdom Philosophy= Love of Wisdom
What is Plato trying to show through "Allegory of the Cave" and what is the goal?
Plato is trying to show that Real Reality is something that goes beyond what is in front of you. The goal is to allow the mind to depart from the world of the senses and go/think beyond that
What are premises? What is a conclusion?
Premises are reasons The conclusion is the main thesis or point trying to be established
Who is there and how are they kept? (Allegory of the Cave)
Prisoners and they are chained up in an underground prison house
What is the difference in the question below? "Is moral goodness good because God loves it or does God love moral goodness because it is (already) good?"
The difference lies from is something good because the gods are telling you it is or because something is innately good independent of what the gods think, then god also thinks its good. (Is something pious until God says it is?)
In the following argument break down identify the premises and conclusion: "All cats are mammals and a tiger is a cat, so a tiger is a mammal"
The premises are: All cats are mammals & A tiger is a cat The conclusion is: A tiger is a mammal
Where value of philosophy be sought? (The Value of Philosophy? by Bertrand Russell)
The value of philosophy can be found in the goods of the mind- creativity, thinking, logic, empathy
Describe the beginning of the "Allegory of the Cave".
There are 3 prisoners trapped inside the cave and they can see there shadows on the wall due to the fire in the cave but they interpret them to be actual human beings
Describe the lost astronaut anecdote. Why does it relate to the point that Craig is trying to get across and what is an issue with his point?
There was an astronaut floating on a rock lost in space. He had two choices: poison himself (death) or immortality (live forever). He chose to die but accidentally drank the vial for immortality. As a result, he continued to live a meaningless and endless life. If you take a meaningless life and make it immortal then it's just a long meaningless life. The issue is that there is something obviously missing, and it may not specifically be God.
How do Socrates and Euthyphro end up meeting? What are their cases? (Euthyphro )
They are waiting to talk to the King about their cases (they're at a courthouse) Socrates is being charged for corrupting youth (making new gods and denying the existence of others) Euthyphro is accusing his father of murdering a slaves
What is the understanding of the Euthyphro Dilemma (relating to the question about piety)?
What the Gods approve or love depends on their opinion. If pious/goodness is already good then it's independent of the God's opinion
What is an argument?
a conclusion supported by a set of reasons; a set of logically related sentences
What is an a priori argument?
an argument that can be verified without sensory experience EX: all bachelors are unmarried; cubes have six sides; if today is Tuesday then today is not Thursday; red is a color; seven plus five equals twelve (reasons to support claims do not appear to derive from experience)
What was traditional philosophy?
attempting to discover what is true about reality, the universe, God, meaning of life, right vs. wrong, nature of ourselves attempting to think methodically- ancient Greek philosophers tried to find different ways to explain phenomena (either through myths (Gods) or "rationally" (nature/science))
Why does no immortality = no meaning? (The Absurdity of Life without God)
if life has no meaning and we're all just waiting to die; ultimate meaning = significance that lasts forever (immortality)
What is an inductive argument?
if premises are true then they give you reason to think that the conclusion is also true BUT if all premises are true then it is STILL possible for conclusion to be false
What is a deductive argument?
if the premises are true then the conclusion is guaranteed to be true BUT is one or more premises are false then the conclusion may or may not be true
What is empirical evidence?
information obtained through our senses (or experience)
What value does physical science have? (The Value of Philosophy? by Bertrand Russell)
it has a direct benefit on people through advancing society; physical science has facts
What is a posteriori argument?
makes essential use of something that can only be verified by sensory experience EX: my belief that it is presently raining, that I administered an exam this morning, that humans tend to dislike pain, that water is H2O, and that dinosaurs existed (reasons to support claims emerge from personal experience or from that of others)
What is philosophy NOT?
not just an opinion EX:
Why is the value of philosophy found in uncertainty? (The Value of Philosophy? by Bertrand Russell)
philosophical questions are left unanswered leading to more questions leading you to think more about things that are not certain
Why does philosophy not consist of a body of truths? (The Value of Philosophy? by Bertrand Russell)
philosophy does not have definite answers- when philosophical questions have definite answers it becomes a part of the physical science world
What is the distinction between inductive and deductive reasoning based on?
their distinction is based on the strength of support the premises give the conclusion
What was the tone of "The Absurdity of Life without God" by Craig based on its imagery?
through imagery the universe part was depressing
What is Free Intellect?
to think and expend your mind without fear or hope of what you will discover; to not be swayed or distracted by your present; freely dissociate while philosophically thinking
What is philosophy?
true opinions can be through direct empirical evidence (but it is not always available)
Why is there no ultimate value without God? (The Absurdity of Life without God)
ultimate value cannot be subjective (personal opinion)
