Philosophy Test 1

Is rigorous, logical analysis of our fundamental concepts, categories, and principles

Branch of philosophy that answers questions such as what exists? what is nature/structure of reality? What am I? Why does anything happen? Why is there anything rather than nothing? Do I ever act freely?

Branch of philosophy that answers questions such as what is knowledge? what do I know? when am I justified in taking myself to know something? Is perception a source of knowledge? Is reason a source of knowlege?

Branch of philosophy that answers questions such as what is right/wrong? What is "right"/"wrong"? What is good/bad? What is "good"/"bad"?

The reasoning is correct

1. The argument is valid 2. The premises are true Invalid arguments can never be sound

If P then Q, P, therefore Q is valid If P then Q, Q, therefore P is invalid

If the premises were true, would the conclusion be necessarily true? I.E. is it possible for premises to be true, and yet the conclusion be false?

A valid argument can have false premises, don't need to know the truth value of premises to determine validity

If p, then q, not q, therefore not p Denying antecedent If p, then q, not p, therefore not q invalid

Argument from Motion, Argument from efficient causation, argument from contingency

P1: "Some things are in motion." P2: "Whatever is moved is moved by another" P3: The relation of mover to moved " cannot go on to infinity." C: A 1st mover is necessary

P1: There are efficient causes P2: Nothing can be the efficient cause of itself P3: The order of efficient causes cannot stretch back to infinity C: There is a first efficient cause

If 2 theories explain some phenomenon equally well, the simpler theory of the two is more likely to be correct. (more can go wrong with more complex theory)

The arm moves the hand. The hand moves the stick. The stick moves the rock.