Exam (elaborations) PHIL MISC Greek Philosophers Unit 1 Sophia with ra

Exam (elaborations) PHIL MISC Greek Philosophers Unit 1 Sophia with ra The Phaedo is a conversation between Socrates and his students about death. It takes place just before his execution. During this conversation, Socrates demonstrates why philosophers should not fear death, which he defines as the end of the life of the body, but not of the soul. He believes that there is no value in preserving the life of the body if preservation comes at the expense of the soul's pursuit of wisdom (i.e., what is right). CONCEPT The Phaedo: The Death of Socrates 2 Nancy is a cashier at a grocery store. A boy from her school, who she knows is underage, attempts to buy beer. Nancy hesitates before completing the transaction. According to Aristotle’s ethics, which question should Nancy ask herself? Are there possible consequences of this action that could harm me? What kind of person should I be? How can I reach a compromise? Why is this action right, and why is it wrong? RATIONALE 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome Aristotelian ethics are primarily concerned with character. As a result, Nancy should ask herself “What kind of person should I be?” rather than “How should I act?” According to Aristotelian ethics, actions are evaluated based on how they inform your character. Therefore, Nancy must determine what kind of person she wants to be and what virtues she wants to cultivate, and then act accordingly. CONCEPT Applying Aristotle's Ethics 3 Which of the following is the most important tenet of Stoicism? To resist playing a role To understand that reality is either good or bad To feed our desires To let go of what we cannot control RATIONALE Stoicism is a philosophy that encourages us to focus only on what we can control (e.g., our desires, emotions, judgments, and reactions). We should not be upset by things that are beyond our control. Stoicism encourages us to reduce desire and to view reality as neither good nor bad. CONCEPT 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome Stoicism: The Ethics of Dispassion 4 Choose the example that best demonstrates a central tenet of Stoicism. Carlene is devastated when her outdoor party is interrupted by a thunderstorm. Stephanie is a good nurse because she is skillful and always remains composed. Bob is such a rabid Cubs fan that it isn’t fun to watch a baseball game with him. Mr. Donovan insists that he begin each morning with pastry and a cup of sweet tea. RATIONALE Stoicism is a philosophy that encourages people to focus only on what they can control (e.g., their desires, emotions, and reactions). Because Stoicism focuses on eliminating desires, and emphasizes control of emotions, it leads people to perform their assigned jobs (or roles) skillfully and dispassionately. CONCEPT Stoicism: The Ethics of Dispassion 5 Which branch of philosophy examines the ultimate nature of reality? Metaphysics 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome Epistemology Cosmology Natural philosophy RATIONALE Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that is concerned with discovering and describing the ultimate nature of reality. Cosmology is the study of the universe in its totality, natural philosophy examines nature and the universe, and epistemology analyzes and defends concepts of knowledge. CONCEPT What is Philosophy? 6 What kind of a thing is an orchid? It is a type of flower. What distinguishes an orchid from other flowers? The female and male parts of an orchid are fused together. According to Aristotle, answering both of these questions reveals the __________ of an orchid. essence organization 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome ontology genus RATIONALE According to Aristotle, we can discover and describe essences by identifying a genus and a differentia. The genus (in this example, a flower) tells us what kind of thing an orchid is. The differentia tells us what sets an orchid apart from other things of the same kind. CONCEPT Aristotle on What There Is 7 Which of the following statements about Aristotle’s metaphysics is FALSE? The distinction between form and matter is purely conceptual— one does not, and cannot, exist without the other. Examining the nature of being, and knowing what kinds of things exist, is a sensible beginning point for philosophical inquiry. Humans have the natural capacity to know many things without divine revelation or empirical evidence. In order for a statement to be true, one must state that an object exists, what the object is, and the state in which it exists. RATIONALE 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome Aristotle would agree with all of these statements except the suggestion that we can have knowledge without empirical evidence. To Aristotle, all knowledge is grounded in human experience and flows from empirical evidence. CONCEPT Aristotle on What There Is 8 Kendra believes that women have a right to choose to have an abortion. Select the statement that is consistent with Kendra's belief. “Every woman should be a mother; it is our function and purpose as human beings.” “I voted for this presidential candidate because she supports a woman's right to have an abortion.” “Some women use abortion as a form of birth control, which is wrong.” "The man should have an equal say in whether or not a woman ends her pregnancy.” RATIONALE To live philosophically, a person must examine his or her beliefs to ground them in knowledge, and then act according to those beliefs. By voting for a presidential candidate who supports a woman's right to have an abortion, Kendra displays a consistent philosophical worldview. CONCEPT 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome Philosophical Analysis as a Way of Life 9 For Plato and his Doctrine of Forms, a person can determine whether an act is courageous if he or she can __________. explain what courage means in the real world imagine an unambiguously courageous action clearly understand the value of courage accurately describe the Form of Courage RATIONALE According to Plato, the Forms are the basis of our knowledge of reality. All worldly objects participate in (i.e., imitate) their corresponding Form that exists in Platonic Heaven. We can determine whether an act is courageous if we know, and can describe, the Form of Courage. CONCEPT Applying Plato's Metaphysics 10 Water is a __________ condition for staying alive. Apply conceptual analysis to this statement and choose the answer that correctly describes the relationship. 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome sufficient, not necessary necessary, not sufficient both necessary and sufficient neither necessary nor sufficient RATIONALE Water is a logical requirement for staying alive, therefore it is a necessary condition. However, water is not a logical guarantee for staying alive, so it is not a sufficient condition. CONCEPT Plato: An academic approach to concepts 11 In the Apology, what does Socrates do when he is found guilty and sentenced to death? He agrees that his actions were immoral and that the decision of the judges is just. He tries to convince the jury to accept his defense. He asks Plato to record his life. 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome He is willing to face death rather than violate the principles of his moral philosophy. RATIONALE The Apology is Plato's transcription of the defense Socrates presented at his trial on charges of "denying the gods" and "corrupting the youth of Athens." When found guilty and sentenced to death, Socrates accepts his sentence. He argues that it is more important to live rightly, which he believes he has done, than to avoid death by compromising one's moral philosophy. CONCEPT The Apology: A Defense of Philosophy 12 The philosophical value of the Socratic Method is described in all of the following statements, EXCEPT: Students learn from interacting with each other, and the teacher facilitates this process. Students answer questions to which they know the answers, and are led by the teacher to new truths. The emphasis is on finding truth, not on “winning” an argument. The Socratic Method guides students to understanding rather than requiring them to memorize facts. RATIONALE 7/5/2020 Sophia :: Welcome The Socratic Method does not facilitate learning through students' interaction with one another. Rather, it is an exchange between student and teacher, in which the teacher uses the student's knowledge to guide him or her to truth. CONCEPT The Socratic Approach 13 Select the statement that would most likely have been made by Aristotle. “We must begin with the world we encounter every day, rather than with the abstraction of metaphysics.”