plato + aristotle

• Who was Heraclitus?

  An ancient Greek philosopher
• What concept did Heraclitus introduce regarding the world?

  The world is in a state of constant change
• What does Heraclitus mean by saying a person never steps in the same river twice?

  Both the river and the person change
• How did Plato interpret Heraclitus' challenge to knowledge?

  Knowledge cannot be gained if everything changes
• What does Plato conclude about gaining knowledge from experience?

  True knowledge cannot be gained empirically
• What does Plato suggest we should rely on to gain knowledge?

  A priori reason alone
• What is the world of forms according to Plato?

  The true reality of perfect, eternal forms
• How does Plato describe particulars in the world of appearances?

  Imperfect representations of forms
• What does Plato mean by 'partaking' in the form of treeness?

  A particular tree gains characteristics from the form
• What does Plato's allegory of the cave illustrate?

  Our ignorance of the true reality
• What do the shadows in the cave represent?

  The objects we experience in reality
• What happens when a prisoner escapes the cave?

  They see the real world and the forms
• How does Aristotle respond to Plato's theory of forms?

  He argues it lacks empirical evidence
• What does Aristotle think about the necessity of Plato's forms?

  They are an unnecessary hypothesis
• What is the form of the Good in Plato's philosophy?

  The highest form that illuminates all others
• How does understanding the form of the Good affect a philosopher?

  It makes them incapable of doing wrong
• What does Aristotle argue about the cause of immorality?

  It is not solely ignorance of the good
• What is the third man argument against Plato's theory of forms?

  It leads to an infinite regress of forms
• How does Plato counter the third man argument?

  Forms cannot partake in anything but themselves
• What is the argument from recollection?

  Knowledge of forms is innate and pre-birth
• What does Plato conclude about the source of knowledge?

  It must be a priori
• How does Aristotle's theory of the four causes explain change?

  By analyzing causal processes
• What are the four causes according to Aristotle?

  Material, formal, efficient, final causes
• What is the material cause of a chair?

  The material it is made from
• What is the final cause of a chair?

  To be sat on
• How does Aristotle's view of form differ from Plato's?

  He does not separate form from things
• What did Francis Bacon criticize about Aristotle's final causation?

  It has no place in empirical science
• How does modern science view purpose in the universe?

  It operates without purpose
• What does McGrath point out about modern science and telos?

  It explains change without telos
• Who criticized Aristotle's views on causation?

  Modern science
• What does modern science reject regarding causation?

  Formal and final causation
• How does modern science view the universe?

  As deterministic and without purpose
• What is the telos of a seed according to Aristotle?

  To grow into a tree or bush
• Who argues that science cannot answer all questions?

  McGrath
• How does Dawkins view the 'why' question in science?

  As a silly question regarding purpose
• What can science tell us according to McGrath?

  What the universe is like
• What analogy does Dawkins use to illustrate his point?

  What is the color of jealousy?
• What does Dawkins say about the limits of science?

  Science may not explain everything
• Who wrote about the workings of the universe a century after Bacon?

  Laplace
• What did Laplace claim about the hypothesis of God?

  He had no need for it