Philosophy An Introduction What is Philosophy? Why are you taking this class? To you, what is philosophy? What do you think this class will be about? What do you think are some things you will learn in this class? The unexamined life is not worth living what does this mean to you? What is Philosophy? What might this mean? How does one examine life? What does a life worth living look like (i.e. how can a person know she/he is living a life worth living)? What is Philosophy? philos + sophia = love of wisdom What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Why is it not philo-gnosis love of knowledge? What is Philosophy Philosophy as 1 st order -Metaphysics -Epistemology -Ethics -*Logic Philosophy of Art Philosophy of Music Philosophy of Science Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D ) AP Music Theory vs. Band AP Art History vs. Art Philosophy as 2 nd order What is Philosophy? Goals for this class -To learn how to read well -To learn how to write well -Clear and organized -Not about crazy new ideas, but about how well you can communicate your ideas -To grow in our understanding of the world SO THAT you can know the type of YOU you want to be and and the type of YOU you want to become. Logic How to build good arguments Logic What is logic? be logical! Logic = study of reasoning study of arguments Logic Deductive Definitive conclusion Inductive Probable conclusion most likely Logic How do I know what a premise is?? because since due to the fact that the reason being for that reason How do I know what the conclusion is?? Therefore It follows that Thus So it must be Consequently Deductive Reasoning Modus Ponens If P, then Q PP Therefore Q Example: -If Cooper is a dog, then Cooper is a mammal -Cooper is a dog -Therefore, Cooper is a mammal Deductive Reasoning Modus Tollens If P, then Q Not Q Therefore NOT P Example: -If Cooper is a dog, then Cooper is a mammal -Cooper is NOT a dog -Therefore, Cooper is NOT a mammal Deductive Reasoning Example: -If it is raining, then the ground will be wet. -It is raining. -Therefore, the ground will be wet. Example: -If it is raining, then the ground will be wet. -The ground is not wet. -Therefore, it is not raining. Deductive Reasoning A1. If Jane has a cat, then Jane has a pet 2. Jane has a cat 3. Therefore, Jane has a pet B.1. If Jane has a cat, then Jane has a pet 2. Jane has a pet 3. Therefore, Jane has a cat C.1. If Jane has a cat, then Jane has a pet 2. It is not the case that Jane has a pet 3. Therefore, it is not the case that Jane has a cat Deductive Reasoning Example: -If Cooper is a father, then Cooper is a male. -Cooper is a male -Therefore, Cooper is a father. Example: -If Cooper is sneezing, then Cooper has the flu -Cooper is NOT sneezing -Therefore, Cooper does NOT have the flu Deductive Reasoning D.1. If Jane has a cat, then Jane has a pet 2. It is not the case that Jane has a cat 3. Therefore, it is not the case that Jane has a pet E.1. If pigs fly, then hell has frozen over 2. Pigs fly 3. Therefore, hell has frozen over F.1. If Bush is president, then a Republican is president 2. A Republican is president 3. Therefore, Bush is president G.1. If E.T. phones home, then blue is Joe's favorite color 2. It is not the case that blue is Joe's favorite color 3. Therefore, it is not the case that E.T phones home Deductive Reasoning Disjunctive Syllogism P or Q Not Q Therefore P Example: -Cooper is either a dog or a cat -Cooper is NOT a cat -Therefore, Cooper is a dog Inductive Reasoning most likely conclusion 1.90% of students attending this school loves Taylor Swift 2.Jancey attends this school 3.Therefore, Jancey probably loves Taylor Swift Inductive Reasoning most likely conclusion 1.Many oranges from this bad are rotten 2.Therefore, the next orange I pick will likely be rotten 1.Half the students I met at this school does not like Taylor swift 2.Therefore, half of all the students at this school must not like Taylor swift Inductive Reasoning Opinion Polls Science/Social experiments Law Medicine Everyday life best possible explanation Inductive Reasoning 1.The defendant was holding the murder weapon, a pistol, when the police entered the room. 2.The victims blood was on the defendants shirt. 3.An eyewitness saw the defendant enter the room holding the same looking pistol, then heard a gunshot. 4.Best possible explanation is that the defendant committed the murder 5.Therefore, the defendant most likely committed the murder. Inductive Reasoning 1.Why do you believe in God? 2.Why do you believe in evolution theory? 3.Why do you believe everything happens for a reason? Inductive Reasoning Difficult to say either right or wrong. So inductive arguments are assessed/judged on strength: strong or weak Example: 1.The two fish I caught at the beach were both bass. Therefore all the fish in the ocean must be bass samples collected from various locations along the Los Angeles River over a 3-month period all contained pollutants. Therefore, the Los Angeles River as a whole must be polluted. Fallacies of Reasoning Common Errors 1.Argumentum ad Hominem an attack against the other person, not the issue/argument at hand. Example: Jane cannot know anything about Florida because shes never been there! My opponent cannot be trusted to be the next president because he has no experience in politics! Fallacies of Reasoning Common Errors 2. Appeal to Authority Citing an expert on one subject as an expert on another. Using an authority without providing argument. Example: Well, Michael Jordan believes McDonalds is better the Jack in the Box, so McDonalds must be better. Do you want to disagree with him? Many medical associations are opposed to adding fluoride ions to our water. For instance, the Texas Medical Association declined to recommend it. Almost every TV commercial of a celebrity advertising a product. Fallacies of Reasoning 3.Argument from Ignorance -Just because we cannot prove or understand something, does not mean that that something is not true. Example: -The Americans of 1776 were not aware of the existence of black holes. Therefore, black holes did not exist in No person has fully proved that God exists. Therefore, God does not exist. Fallacies of Reasoning 4. False Dilemma Either/Or -suggests that only two choices exist when, in fact, there are more Example: -You are either for gun control or against it. -You either did knock the glass over, or you did not. Which is it? Fallacies of Reasoning 5. Slipper Slope an argument that points to a specific action and claims, without support, that the action will inevitably lead to tragic results. Example: If we allow students to be tardy, they will eventually quit school and never graduate because they will realize they do not have to attend school. If we start letting doctors remove life support systems from terminally ill patients, then whos next? Pretty soon theyll start killing deformed babies. Before you know it, no hospital or rest home in this country will be safe. Its genocide! We cant legalize abortion! If we do, people will eventually become murders! Fallacies of Reasoning 6. Strawman Argument Attaching and destroying an irrelevant point instead of the main subject Taking the other persons argument out of context; misquoting or misrepresenting the other. Example: Fallacies of Reasoning 7. Genetic Fallacy Judging an argument based on its origin and not its content. Example: Chemistry first started off as alchemy. Alchemy was based on superstition. So chemistry is based off superstition. The idea of blitzing came from Germany during World War II. So football plays that involves blitz are evil and should be banned. Fallacies of Reasoning 8. Hasty Generalizations a conclusion based on too little evidence, suggesting a superficial investigation of an issue. Examples: The three people I met in New York were very rude. People from New York are rude. Both my ex-girl/boyfriend were unfaithful. All girls/boys are unfaithful.