Philosophy Study Guide

Study the following from the various philosophers:

I. Socrates:

Explain his death.

Greek word for virtue is arête.

Explain concept of “universal definitions” and apply to morals.

Explain the problems associated with defining piety.

II. Plato:

Student of who?

Explain the allegory of The Cave. What’s he trying to teach humans?

III. Aristotle:

Who did he teach?

He is the “King of ______”

Plato dealt with ______thought while Aristotle was ______relying on ______observation using ______(instrument by means of which we know anything.

Aristotle says humans are linked in ______context.

IV. Descartes:

“I ______therefore I ______.”

Explain the method of doubt.

Connect Descartes with Ayn Rand’s Anthem.

V. Hegel:

Complete: Thesis ______= ______

Give an example of this philosophy:

Explain the paradoxical dilemma of Ethics and Moral Rules.

VI. Schopenhauer:

Explain the concept of the human will.

Was Schopenhauer a pessimist or optimist/ idealist? Explain.

VII. Kant:

Define empiricism and rationalism.

What’s the difference between us understanding the world and how the world comes to be understood by us?

3 reasons why we “kan’t” explain the metaphysical.

(1)

(2)

(3)

Difference between the heteronomous will and autonomous will.

VIII. Kierkegaard:

What rhetorical device did he rely on?

Define existentialism.

It does not seem like absolute freedom would be a negative thing, but explain Kierkegaard’s concept of freedom and despair.

How would he react to peer pressure or the “crowd”.

IX. Nietzsche:

How would he respond to someone who imposes moral laws?

Explain the super humans. What is the composer who’s music represented his philosophy?

Define nihilism.

What are his thoughts on religion?

X. Sartre:

“Sartre described the human condition in summary form: ______entails total ______, in the face of which we experience ______, forlornness, and ______.

Each of us ______in the world; what we will become is ______up to ____.

Sartre is the father of ______ism (existence precedes essence).

XI. Wittgenstein:

Language is ______. Explain what this means.

Whereof one cannot ______; one must remain ______.

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