Ancient Philosophical Influences-Philosophy

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What was Plato's understanding of reality?
He believed that there was a greater reality beyond the world we experience. He used a priori reasoning to understand the world. He used the analogy of the cave to explain his views
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Plato: What is the analogy of the cave?
In his story, he asks us to imagine a group of prisoners who are chained in a cav. They can only see shadows projected on the wall by fire. They believe that shadows are real. One day, a prisoner is freed, sees the outside world and gains knowledge.
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Plato: What does the analogy mean?
Reflects humans and how we lack knowledge and reject this knowledge.
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Plato: What are the features of the cave story?
Prisoners=people. Cave=world. Chains=senses. Shadows=sense experience. Outside world= reality. Sun=Form of Good.
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Plato: What are the key messages of the cave?
Ethics= The philosopher finds the true good. Metaphysics=World isn't real and real world is unchanging
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Plato: What are the criticisms of his analogy?
He doesn't offer any proof of the existence of the FOG. He argues that our sense experience is unimportant. He doesn't show the interaction between the two worlds.
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Plato: What are Forms and Particulars?
Forms= concepts that exist in reality. Particulars= objects in empirical world which reflect the Form.
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What is Aristotle's understanding of reality?
The world around us is real. He uses empirical evidence to explain. He uses the four causes to explain it.
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Aristotle: What are the four causes used for?
There is a constant movement from potentality to actuality.To explain this movement, Aristotle used the four causes.
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Aristotle: What are the four causes?
1. Material= What something is made of (begins the process) 2. Formal=the form/structure of the object. 3. Efficient= the maker of the object (e.g. parents). 4. Final=purpose of the object/telos
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Aristotle: Why do the four causes matter?
It provides a purpose and shows us the importance of empiricial knowledge and how it can explain the world. It gives a logical outlook on life which is strive to be perfect.
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Aristotle: Why is the final cause the most important?
The other causes would not be logical without a final cause.
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Aristotle: What is the Prime Mover?
It causes all the changes in the world but is immutable (unchangable). The PM is perfect as it has completed actuality. It doesn't experience emotuion
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Aristotle: How does the PM affect the world?
The Prime Mover's perfection draws attraction to things. All things that desire perfection recieve attraction. This relates to the cat analogy where the cat attracts to the unmoved milk.
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Aristotle: How can the PM be compared to God?
He compares the PM yo the deistic view of God which is immutable and unaware of the world
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Aristotle Evaluation: What are the criticisms of the four causes?
Not everything in life has a purpose or his view is subjective
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Aristotle Evaluation: What are the criticisms of the PM?
How can someone be perfect yet know nothing about the world? Religious thinkers disagree with the idea of "God" that is not involved.
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Aristotle: Why does the PM matter?
Avoids the traditional question of why the problem of evil exists because it doesn't cover this. An impassive PM is more logical than one that has changing emotions
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What do both Plato and Aristotle have in common?
Both have an explanation for the world and chains of causes which seems like common sense.
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Plato VS Aristotle: What is better, rationalism or empiricism?
A priori gives us certainty with regard to maths and science. However, a posteriori is more useful as it shows us knowledge revelant to us (around us).
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Plato VS Aristotle: What is better, the FOG or PM?
Both are influential to Christian thought and both reflect same ideas- eternal and necessary beings. However, the PM has consciousness- thinks about nature whereas the Form is a idea
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Plato: What is the analogy of the cave?

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In his story, he asks us to imagine a group of prisoners who are chained in a cav. They can only see shadows projected on the wall by fire. They believe that shadows are real. One day, a prisoner is freed, sees the outside world and gains knowledge.

Card 3

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Plato: What does the analogy mean?

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Card 4

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Plato: What are the features of the cave story?

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Card 5

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Plato: What are the key messages of the cave?

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