PHIL 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Meta-Ethics
Document Summary
Began when someone decided to challenge mystics/challenge each other. The word philosophy comes from the ancient greeks. Not a useful definition because it doesn"t distinguish philosophy from other scholarly beliefs. Claim: for each of us, there are things we could have done, but did not do. The cause has to precede the event. Philosophy in its noun form is like a guiding principle, a set of core convictions, or a set of beliefs. We use philosophy in its verb form. To philosophize is to try to understand how different ideas relate to each other. Philosophers are interested in the abstract questions. Practical ethics- examines controversial issues like abortion and the death penalty. One does philosophy by mapping connections between ideas. Two types of claims: premises and conclusions. Bill, you need to see a doctor. It"s not normal to have a 24 hour erection. Premise/assumption: it"s not normal to have an erection for 24 hours.
