PHL Final Exam

• Thales did not appeal to myth or religion, but used onlyhis reason and experience.
• [He predicted a solar eclipse.]

• If P
• Then Q
• P
• Q

• If p, Then q
• not q
• not p

• If P, Then Q
• Q
• P
• [Not a Valid Form]

• If P, Then Q
• Not P
• Not Q
• [Not a Valid Form]

• An argument is valid when the conclusion of the argument must be true if its premises are true.
• An argument if sound when:
• 1) it is valid, and
• 2) all of its premises are true.

An action that is praiseworthy but not obligatory

All moral principles are relative to culture.

Moral principles are not relative to individuals or culture but they apply to everyone, they are universal.

a particular form of moral objectivism that says that there are some moral principles that are non-overridable; they should never be violated.

Everyone ought to perform the act that best serves their own self-interest.

The right thing to do is whatever gives the best consequences for the most people.

Actions are determined right or wrong by the nature of the act itself.

We discover the correct fundamental moral principles by Intellectual Intuition.

moral laws issue from God’s reason or nature.

• 1. Listen with a healthy wariness of what the teacher says. Teachers often say false things.
• 2. Be willing to question the teacher.
• 3. Consult information outside the class.

Knowledge has traditionally been defined as justified true belief.

• 'a priori' - Knowledge that comes to us independent of sense experience.
• 'a posteriori' - Knowledge that comes to us from sense experience, through the
• five senses.

• Reason (not sense experience) is the primary and best source of knowledge about reality.
• Sense experience is an unreliable form of knowledge and an inadequate explanation for knowledge.
• The fundamental truths about the world can be known a priori through innate ideas.

• The only source of genuine knowledge is sense experience.
• Reason that is not grounded in experience is unreliable.
• There are no innate ideas as the rationalist’s claim.

A proposition is true if it corresponds to the facts.

• Being aware of our potential emotional biases.
• Being aware of the background beliefs of people we get information from.
• Being aware of the opposing view’s arguments.
• Getting the opposing view directly from those who hold it.
• Being willing to admit that we were wrong.

Matter and the laws of physics make up and govern all that exists.

There are mental events, but it is mistaken to think of them as a separate substance. Each mental event is really identicalwithsomebrainevent.

The mind (not brain) and body, two distinct substances, interact and causally affect one another.

• Philosophical Argument
• Near Death Experience
• Religion

• Being highly moral would seem to have a significant effect on the well being of others.
• Developing high character gives you the best chance at a good life.
• We may simply have an obligation to be this way.
• Being moral may play a role in pleasing and knowing God, if God exists.

We become virtuous by acting virtuously, examining an ideal of virtue, being aware of our tendency towards self-deceit, being aware of our tendency towards selfishness, strengthening our will, making second order commitments.

• Nihilism
• Atheistic Humanism
• Theism