Philosophy and Critical Thinking Flashcards

Which ethical theory holds that the morality of an action is determined solely by its consequences?

Answer: Consequentialism

Consequentialism evaluates actions based on their outcomes or consequences, with utilitarianism being the most well-known consequentialist theory.

The 'straw man' fallacy occurs when someone:

Answer: Misrepresents an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack

A straw man fallacy involves distorting or exaggerating an opponent's position to make it easier to refute, rather than addressing the actual argument.

In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, the prisoners in the cave represent people who:

Answer: Perceive only shadows and mistake them for reality

The prisoners symbolize those who mistake appearances and sensory perceptions for true reality, unaware of the deeper philosophical truths outside the cave.

Which term describes a statement that is true by definition and cannot be denied without contradiction?

Answer: Analytic proposition

An analytic proposition (e.g., 'All bachelors are unmarried') is true by the meaning of the terms involved and is necessarily true.

Aristotle's concept of the 'Golden Mean' suggests that virtue is:

Answer: The midpoint between excess and deficiency

Aristotle argued that virtuous traits (like courage) represent a mean between two extremes (recklessness and cowardice), and are developed through habit.

The philosophical problem of the 'mind-body problem' concerns:

Answer: How mental states relate to physical brain states

The mind-body problem explores how and whether mental phenomena (thoughts, feelings) are related to or caused by physical brain processes.

Which philosopher wrote 'Meditations on First Philosophy' and is famous for the statement 'I think, therefore I am'?

Answer: René Descartes

René Descartes wrote the Meditations and used radical doubt to arrive at the foundational truth 'Cogito, ergo sum' — proof of the thinking self's existence.