Journal
Reason
There are three different types of knowledge. Knowledge from experience, is arriving at conclusions, beliefs, or facts from our own experiences. Knowledge from authority is obtaining knowledge based upon what others, or "authoritative figures," have told us based upon their knowledge from experience. The third type of knowledge, reason, is the power to thinki in such a way that we proceed from what we know to what we do not yet know. There are generally two types of reason--deduction, which is ability to draw new facts from statements which we already know to be true, and induction, which is mamking universal generalizations about something based on a limited number of experiences of that thing. With knowlege, however, comes errors in our thinking. For instance, non sequiturs, is drawing a false conclusion from true premises. Also, our thinking processes and arguments can be made invalid by false or vague premises, attacking the person(Ad Hominem) in order to make the opposing argument seem less valid, using circular arguments(Begging the Question) and avoiding the question by side-tracking(Red Herring.) These thinking errors can be avoided if we learn better approaches at critical thinking such as making sure that we know all the facts and are able to define the terms we use, as well as understanding the Principle of Contradiciton.(It can't be both a and not a.) Also, our critical thinking and reasoning can be bettered if we humble ourselves and learn to see different sides of things.(Blind Men and the Elephant)Also, if we gain an understanding of how our minds come to "know" the world around us, then we can better understand our reasoning. First we perceive, or take in, the world around us(we must remember that we have selective intake.) We then categorize or often stereotype what we perceived and then evaluate, apply the knowledge to our need for it due to our given circumstance, and use words to symbolize this knowledge. Finally, we test our new knowledge.
Three Important Ideas of the Section:
1. Philosophy literally means "love of wisdom." Focusing on the "big questions of human existence, philosphers search for answers to questions asked by humans everywhere--"What does it mean to be human?" "Why does evil exist?" "Does God exist"...and so on. A philospher emphasizes reasoned knowledge(rationally explaining experiences using reason in order to discover truths or insights.) Different branches of philosphy include political philosophy, natural philosphy, and philosophy of God.
2. Human beings are "rational animals." Our capacity to reason is what sets us apart from all other creatures. Humans possess two endowments that animals do not. These endowments are self-consciousness and abstract thought. We are aware of ourselves as separate(look at the good spelling there) beings and aware of our existence. Abstract thought is the ability to think about something as if it existed by itself.(i.e. beauty)
3.Moral virtue is the habit of making the right choices. The right choices must outnumber the wrong ones.(Aristotle.) Three aspects of moral virtue are temperance, courage, and justice. Moral virtue as well as good fortune leads to success in living a good life.
Images of Key Ideas:
Question to think about:
If life happiness and success comes from moral virtue as well as good fortune(Aristotle), then who is in control of "handing out" the good fortune? Is it just part of the "uncontrollable natural world" or is it in God's hands? If it is God who controls it, then why are some people given good fortune and others not?
I think this goes back to the question regarding the problem of evil. Obviously, our free will interacts with our moral virtue. Good fortune, I believe, is not in God's hands, but a result of the uncontrollable natural world that God created. God does not decide for a hurricane to destroy people's homes. Free will and the "free spirit of nature" affect our lives.
