Introduction to Ethics Lecture 1-a What is philosophy?

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Introduction to EthicsLecture 1-aWhat is
philosophy?

• By David Kelsey

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What is philosophy?

• The word Philosophy
• Philo-
• sophy
• Philosophy is the systematic investigation into
  the foundational concepts and principles of any
  subject matter.
• A subject matter is

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Explaining a subject matter

• So philosophy consists of the investigation of
  any subject matter.
• Understanding and Explaining a subject matter
• Example Epistemology and knowledge

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The disciplines of philosophy

• The disciplines of philosophy include
• Philosophy of religion
• Philosophy of mind
• Ethics
• Metaphysics
• Others

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The tasks of philosophy

• A philosopher investigates the concepts and
  principles of any subject matter by use of
• Conceptual analysis Argumentation
• Conceptual analysis is the analysis of concepts.
• Concepts
• 2 definitions words vs. ideas about a bit of the
  universe
• Examples

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The extensions of concepts

• Concepts have extensions
• For something to be in the extension of (or to
  fall under) a concept
• the thing must be an instance of the concept.
• The thing must fall under the concept
• If X is in the extension of a concept then
• Example
• The concept knowledge picks out lots of things in
  the world
• The extension of any concept defined as a set of
  things

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A view on Concepts

• A view on concepts You might also think that
  concepts are abstract objects which are
  instantiated in our world.
• The picture
• LOVE KNOWLEDGE
  STUDENT
• PHILOSOPHY
  SCHOOL
• WORD
  TRUTH GRADE
• --------------------------------------------------
  ------------------------------------------------
• L W P K
  T Sc G St
• W L P K T
  Sc St G
• L P W K T
  Sc G St
• Above the line abstract objects
• Below the line our world.
• Where do concepts lie?
• Where is a concept instantiated, above or below
  the line?
• The extension of a concept then is just all of
  its instantiations.

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Conceptual analysis

• If you will remember, one of the main tasks of
  philosophy is the analysis of concepts.
• To analyze a concept is
• An explanation
• A definition
• To define a concept
• Examples in the dictionary
• The philosophers task
• To provide more detailed, full and clear
  explanations of concepts you can find in your
  what?

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Analytical Definitions their form

• An Analytical definition is composed of a
  definiendum and a definiens.
• The definiendum
• The definiens
• Form the form of a definition is this
• X df _____
• Which is the definiendum and which is the
  definiens?
• For example,
• Bachelor df unmarried adult male

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Necessary andsufficient conditions

• We can think of a definition as a set of
  necessary and sufficient conditions.
• X is a necessary condition of Y if and only if
  (or iff) we cannot have Y without also having X.
• Oxygen and Combustion
• X is a sufficient condition of Y iff X is all
  that is needed to get Y.
• Being born in the US and citizenship

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Necessary and Sufficient Conditions 2

• X is both a necessary and sufficient condition of
  Y iff both
• 1) we cannot have Y without also having X
• 2) X is all that is needed to get Y.
• Bachelorhood and being an unmarried adult male

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The Goal of Philosophy FindingCorrect
Definitions

• For a definition to be adequate the definiendum
  and definiens must be co-extensive.
• For the defiendum and definiens of any definition
  to be co-extensive it must be the case that
• Everything in the extension of the definiendum is
  in the extension of the definiens and vice versa
• What is the extension of a concept?

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Co-extensivenessAn example

• So if your definition of BACHELOR as UNMARRIED
  ADULT MALE is correct then
• Everything in the extension of BACHELOR is in the
  extension of UNMARRIED ADULT MALE and vice versa.

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Testing definitions

• To determine if a definition is adequate
• determine if its definiendum and definiens are
  co-extensive.
• Is there any item in the extension of one that
  isnt in the extension of the other?
• Example Car df 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive
• All Cars are 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive.
• All 4 wheeled vehicles one can drive are Cars.
• Universal generalizations and counterexamples
• A counterexample a case that violates a
  universal generalization.

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Counterexamples

• 2 examples
• Defining Car as 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive
• We need to find either a Car that isnt a 4
  wheeled vehicle one can drive
• Or a 4 wheeled vehicle one can drive that isnt a
  Car
• Thoughts?
• Defining Knowledge as true belief
• We need to find either
• a case of knowledge that isnt what?
• Or a case of true belief that isnt what?
• A counterexample
• The Belief Game

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Counterexamples 2

• Love Say I define Love as a deep seated feeling
  composed of compassion care which one can have
  for another human being.
• Can anyone find a counterexample to this
  definition?
• We are looking for either
• a case of love that isnt ____________
• a case of having this feeling for another human
  which isnt ______________
• Any thoughts?