Intro to philo

• Contingent truth:

  • Statements that could have been false under different circumstances
• Necessary truth:

  • Statements that are true in all possible circumstances
• Rationalism:

  • Philosophical position that emphasizes the role of reason and innate ideas in acquiring knowledge
• René Descartes (1596-1650):

  • Famous for the statement "Cogito, ergo sum"
• Epistemology is the philosophical investigation into the nature, scope, and validity of knowledge.
• Opinion is a formal expression of judgment of an individual
• Opinions can also be very subjective
• Fallacies are considered to be false arguments
• The term "fallacies" comes from the Latin word "falleve," which means to deceive
• There are two types of fallacies: Verbal and Nonverbal
• Verbal fallacies are also known as linguistic fallacies
• Equivocation is an inference that is valid because of its dependence on an ambiguous word and phrase
• Equivocation can lead to confusion in understanding
• The fallacy of division occurs when one incorrectly infers that what is true for a whole group must also be true for its individual parts
• Figure of speech:

  • Occurs when the syllogism makes sure the sentence structure has the same or similar form, leading to a hastily derived conclusion
• Non-verbal:

  • Due to psychological reasons or the arguer making an unjustified assumption
• Accident, also known as hasty generalization, occurs when a general rule is applied to a specific case
• False calice:

  • Causes illegitimately assuming that one possible cause of a phenomenon is the cause
• Argument ad hominem: attempting to persuade a person or group by appealing to the desire to be accepted or valued by others
• Argumentum ad populum: instead of providing rational critique of an argument, it directly attacks the person who advances the arguments
• Appeal of Pity: attempting to support a conclusion merely by evoking pity in one's audience
• Appeal of Force: attempting to defend a conclusion by threatening the well-being of those who do not accept it
• Argument ad hominem: attempting to persuade a person or group by appealing to the desire to be accepted or valued by others
• Argumentum ad populum: instead of providing rational critique of an argument, it directly attacks the person who advances the arguments
• Appeal of Pity: attempting to support a conclusion merely by evoking pity in one's audience
• Appeal of Force: attempting to defend a conclusion by threatening the well-being of those who do not accept it