Philosophy Study Guide
Philosophy Exam Review
Positive and Negative Freedoms
Positive freedom – Refers to people’s power to control their own lives and to make their own decisions.
Negative freedom – Refers to freedom from physical or emotional coercion, or force. No person, institution, or government can pressure someone to act in a certain way.
Satyagraha
Who – developed by Mahandas Gandhi
What – A philosophy and a tool of political action, which means holding to the truth, and refers to non-violent civil disobedience. Gandhi believed that the philosophy of non-violence was ethically superior to the rule of force. He also maintained that it represented the first step in people’s liberating themselves from tyranny.
Libertarianism
Who – Robert Nozick’s idea
What – Libertarianism is an extreme version of liberal individualism. Libertarians believe that the purpose of the state is to defend the lives, liberties, and property of citizens, and argue that the state should not be involved in redistributing wealth.
Categorical Imperative
Who – Immanuel Kant’s theory
What – An idea of personal ethical conduct to which everyone should aspire. In ethics and social and political philosophy, categorical imperative is a moral rule that is absolute.
Challenges to Essentialism
Essentialism – theory that states the ability to reason is the distinguishing feature of human beings
The Buddhist Challenge – Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the self does not exist, all things are constantly changing and moving, nature of self is pointless
The Scientific Challenge – Reduce human nature to basic elements of matter and mechanical processes
The Feminist Challenge – Challenged western ideas about abilities of women, reason is not superior to emotions
The Existentialist Challenge – Existence proceeds essence, God does not exist, there is no human nature
Natural Law (Thomas Aquinas)
Natural Law – governs natural and social orders, the eternal law that is the basis of morality,
Positive and Negative Freedoms
Positive freedom – Refers to people’s power to control their own lives and to make their own decisions.
Negative freedom – Refers to freedom from physical or emotional coercion, or force. No person, institution, or government can pressure someone to act in a certain way.
Satyagraha
Who – developed by Mahandas Gandhi
What – A philosophy and a tool of political action, which means holding to the truth, and refers to non-violent civil disobedience. Gandhi believed that the philosophy of non-violence was ethically superior to the rule of force. He also maintained that it represented the first step in people’s liberating themselves from tyranny.
Libertarianism
Who – Robert Nozick’s idea
What – Libertarianism is an extreme version of liberal individualism. Libertarians believe that the purpose of the state is to defend the lives, liberties, and property of citizens, and argue that the state should not be involved in redistributing wealth.
Categorical Imperative
Who – Immanuel Kant’s theory
What – An idea of personal ethical conduct to which everyone should aspire. In ethics and social and political philosophy, categorical imperative is a moral rule that is absolute.
Challenges to Essentialism
Essentialism – theory that states the ability to reason is the distinguishing feature of human beings
The Buddhist Challenge – Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the self does not exist, all things are constantly changing and moving, nature of self is pointless
The Scientific Challenge – Reduce human nature to basic elements of matter and mechanical processes
The Feminist Challenge – Challenged western ideas about abilities of women, reason is not superior to emotions
The Existentialist Challenge – Existence proceeds essence, God does not exist, there is no human nature
Natural Law (Thomas Aquinas)
Natural Law – governs natural and social orders, the eternal law that is the basis of morality,