Philosophy of Religion - Ancient Philosophical Influences

?
Did Plato believe in knowledge a priori or a posteriori?
A priori (knowledge known without experience).
1 of 44
How can we describe the Forms?
A world we have live in priori to, and will return to after our lives have ended.
2 of 44
Plato was a...
Rationalist (doesn't believe in empiricism) and a dualist (believed that mind was separate from body).
3 of 44
How do we gain knowledge according to Plato?
We have knowledge a priori and we do not learn things through sensory experience. We know these things because we have spent time in the Forms.
4 of 44
What are the Forms?
The Forms, are ‘’a perfect version’’ of something that exists in our material world. For everything that we know of in this world, (chairs, tables, horses, cars), we will have seen before in the Realm of the Forms.
5 of 44
What is the Material World/Realm of Appearances?
The Material World is a reflection of the reality in the Realm of the Forms. Everything we see in this world are imperfect copies/reflections/shadows of true reality.
6 of 44
How can we put this into perspective?
If we imagine a cake before we bake it, we know (roughly) what the cake will look like because we have seen its perfect copy in the RoF. The cake we bake is a copy of true reality.
7 of 44
What analogy did Plato use to describe his theory?
The Analogy/Allegory of the Cave.
8 of 44
What is another analogy that could be used to describe Plato's theory?
The story of the fish and the turtle.
9 of 44
What does the escaped prisoner represent in the Analogy of the Cave?
Represents the philosopher, managing to reach the Forms by thinking rationally.
10 of 44
What do the other prisoners and their chains represent?
Represent ordinary human beings, blinded/held back by their ignorance (the chains), believing that the projections on the walls are real things.
11 of 44
What do the shadows represent?
The things we see in our material world - the Realm of Appearances. Shadows/projections of true reality.
12 of 44
What does outside the cave represent?
The Realm of the Forms.
13 of 44
What does the Sun represent?
The Form of the Good - keeps everything going and reveals/illuminates true reality.
14 of 44
What does Plato want to convince us?
That the world around us is an illusion.
15 of 44
What is he trying to tell us?
That there is more to life than physical appearances (after all, even the universals such as beauty, are only skin deep).
16 of 44
What did Plato say about passions/emotions?
They can cloud our judgement. We shouldn't focus on physical beauty because it might give us a warped version of true reality.
17 of 44
Did Plato mean all of this literally?
Yes - our world really is an illusion and we should only seek true reality/the Forms.
18 of 44
What is Plato's Divided Line?
A way of conceptualising the difference between the material world and Plato’s RoF. It also introduces the Sun and the Form of the Good as aspects of his rational theory.
19 of 44
What is the Sun half of the Divided Line?
The Sun half of the Divided Line, represents our material world which is basic and ever-changing.
20 of 44
What does the Good half of the Divided Line represent?
Represents the RoF where there are unchanging ideas or ideals such as mathematical principles, beauty, goodness and justice. Here we begin to exercise our reason and understand things as we see them.
21 of 44
What is the Form of the Good?
The most important Form that all the other Forms rely on. It is central to the existence of our Universe, without it there would be no perfect beauty, perfect justice etc. It structures each form, giving it its own characteristics.
22 of 44
What does the Sun represent in the Allegory of the Cave?
Form of the Good. Just like in our world, everything relies on the Sun, in the RoF, all the Forms rely on the Form of the Good.
23 of 44
What are some criticisms of Plato's theory?
Only works if RoF is real. Can there be Forms of objects not yet existing? Can there be a perfect Form of disease/evil? Possibility of infinite regress. Plato underestimates emotion. Paints a gloomy version of RofA. The mind is private.
24 of 44
What did Karl Popper say about Plato's theory?
Plato sought permanence in the RoF as a way of dealing with the uncertainty of life.
25 of 44
What did Aristotle say about Plato's theory?
There cannot only be one form of good. Good comes in many varieties.
26 of 44
What did Augustine say about evil and good?
There is no such thing as evil - only a privation of good.
27 of 44
What is Aristotle's view on knowledge?
A posteriori - existential.
28 of 44
What is Material Cause?
the substance from which something is created - all matter has the potential to change. e.g, the Material Cause of a painting is paints and a canvas
29 of 44
What is the Efficient Cause?
the cause that brings something into being, for example, the artist brings the painting into being.
30 of 44
What is the Formal Cause?
closest to Plato’s forms. It is the idea or inspiration behind the object, such as the idea to paint the picture or the scene that inspires the artist.
31 of 44
What is the Final Cause?
The purpose of the matter e.g it’s telos (what it’s for). So a painting could be one of many things - entertainment for the viewers, or a sense of achievement for the artist.
32 of 44
What does aitia mean?
Causes
33 of 44
Which two theories is Aristotle's relevant in?
Cosmological Argument, Natural Law.
34 of 44
How did Aristotle define things?
Define objects by their purpose/telos/what they're for. Something is good if it reaches its telos.
35 of 44
What is Aristotle's Prime Mover?
The creator of the universe.
36 of 44
What does ''ex-nihilo'' mean?
From nothing comes nothing.
37 of 44
What is the chain of events which inspires the PM?
For everything to change/be in motion, there must be an uncaused causer. From nothing comes nothing so there must be something. Infinite regress is impossible so there must be a beginning.
38 of 44
Is the PM necessary or contingent?
Necessary.
39 of 44
What is the PM a bit like?
A catalyst - it starts things off and lets thing run their course but it must exist for things to reach their telos/purpose.
40 of 44
Which philosopher said ''You can never step in the same river twice"?
Heraclitus.
41 of 44
What is important to know about the PM?
It's not benevolent and you can't pray to it. It only thinks about itself and has no divine plan for the world.
42 of 44
What are some criticisms of Aristotle's PM?
Not one cause but many? Is the Big Bang a better explanation for an oscillating universe? Russell - universe = brute fact. Fallacy of Composition - Aristotle assumes purpose. Dawkins, nature is blind and has no purpose it simply evolves.
43 of 44
What can we say about infinite regress?
Is it possible to have infinite regress? Hilbert's Paradox of the Infinite Hotel.
44 of 44

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How can we describe the Forms?

Back

A world we have live in priori to, and will return to after our lives have ended.

Card 3

Front

Plato was a...

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How do we gain knowledge according to Plato?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What are the Forms?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Religious Studies resources:

See all Religious Studies resources »See all Philosophy resources »