Metaphysics and Epistemology

An Overview of Metaphysics and Epistemology

(case study tips and philosopher buzzwords at the bottom of this page)

 

DIRECT LINK:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1A1I3DhY0M8FNzdTYX32a4p6hg_Wg0EiOxB7f6Juqyzk/edit?usp=sharing

BUZZWORDS @ THE BOTTOM

How to Approach a Case Study:

First, do what works for you. Every mind works differently, so find your process.

COMMUNICATE. It is so much easier to do these things after talking about it with your classmates; I swear that this is not a ploy to boost your socialization, it’s just true.

What I recommend:

Paraphrase: KEEP IT SIMPLE.*

Questions: Listen listen listen to Claudia’s hints in class.*

The Body:

Make a list of the things each philosopher claims, their BIG ideas. How they view the world.

Now, look at the case. As you highlight the important claims of the case, decide what each philosopher would say ABOUT that based on your list. This keeps it simple and concise, which is much easier to structure.

Philosopher buzzwords/phrases: 

Plato – ultimate reality is immaterial, eidos/ideas/forms: 1) immutable (unchanging) and 2) immortal (undying), knowledge is imprinted on our should, we just have to cognize and remember it, Allegory of the Cave

Aristotle – “being qua being”, understanding the physical (natural) world, how things change, FOCUS is on Substances (primary category), everything has a purpose, “nature does nothing in vain”

Descartes – Goal is 100% certainty, certainty=truth, Substance Dualism: material substances (body, physical world) and immaterial substances (Mind/soul, God), METHOD OF DOUBT, “I think, therefore I must necessarily exist as a thinking thing,” truth by clear and distinct

Locke – inductive reasoning can be useful, FAIRLY CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE – not absolute certainty, Blank Slate analogy, primary (Objective) and secondary qualities (Subjective), THE MATERIAL WORLD EXISTS 

Berkeley – Subjective Idealism, Everything is subjective/perceptive, “esse est percipi,” EXISTENCE IS COMPOSED OF IMMATERIAL IDEAS, Notions: self & God, God is the ultimate, conducting mind.

Hume – Skeptic, our knowledge does come from our senses, all subjective – so can’t claim to know the objective world, (we can’t know), epistemic claim, 3 unjustifiable beliefs: Universal Causation, Induction, Belief in the External World.