Modern Philosophy

• statement/proposition 


  sentences that are either true or false
• argument 


  collection of statements, at least one offers support for another one
• premise 


  the support for a conclusion
• validity 


  if the premises are true than the conclusion must be true
• deductive argument 


  argument aims for certainty; are either valid or invalid
• inductive argument 


  important for science, observations
• metaphysics 


  the true nature of reality
• epistemology 


  study of knowledge
• hylomorphism 


  metaphysical view that objects(substances) are a combination of matter and form (ex.Aristotle and Scholastics)
• soundness 


  argument that is valid and has true premises
• substantial forms 


  the theoretical view that all phenomena can be explained by substantial forms
• substances


  thing that has properties
• essential properties 


  if these change, the substance is no longer the same thing; makes something what it is
• accidental properties 


  the properties a substance has that can change without the thing changes
• true accident 


  whether or not it belongs to the substance
• corpuscularianism


  the metaphysical view that everything is composed of tiny particles(corpuscles) that have shape, size and motion
• mechanism 


  theoretical view that ALL phenomena in nature can be explained
• innate ideas 


  ideas that we are born with
• a priori 


  knowledge prior to experience
• a posteriori


  all knowledge comes after experience
• rationalism 


  view that some knowledge can be had prior; not always requires having prior experience
• empiricism 


  somebody who believes all knowledge comes from experiences