1What is analytic philosophy?
An approach to philosophy that emphasises analysis, definitions, logic and careful examination of language.
2What is metaphilosophy?
Philosophical inquiry into the nature, aims and methods of philosophy itself.
3Why does the lecturer reject the idea of a single philosophical tradition?
Because philosophy has multiple traditions and methods, rather than one universally accepted way of doing philosophy.
4What is decomposition in philosophical analysis?
Breaking a concept, statement or object into components to examine them and develop a better understanding.
5What is the difference between identity and predication?
Identity states that two expressions refer to the same entity, whereas predication attributes a property to an entity.
6How do “Tim is good” and “Clark Kent is Superman” illustrate different uses of “is”?
“Tim is good” attributes a property to Tim, whereas “Clark Kent is Superman” expresses identity between two names for the same person.
7What is a predicate?
An expression that attributes a property or characteristic to something, such as “is good” in “Tim is good”.
8What is the difference between semantic atomism and semantic holism?
Atomism examines the meanings of individual terms separately, whereas holism holds that meaning depends on relationships within a wider system of meanings.
9What is the difference between semantics and pragmatics?
Semantics concerns linguistic meaning, whereas pragmatics concerns how language is used in context.
10What is metaphysics?
The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of being, reality and what exists.
11What is an abstract object?
An entity, such as a number, that is not a physical object located in space and does not exercise causal powers.
12What is the difference between realism and anti-realism in the lecturer's discussion of colour?
A realist may regard colour as a mind-independent feature of the world, whereas an anti-realist may understand it as dependent on our experience or perception.
13What are an object's persistence conditions?
The conditions under which an object can undergo changes while remaining the same object.
14What is the difference between necessary and sufficient conditions in a definition?
A necessary condition must be met for something to qualify, while a sufficient condition guarantees that it qualifies.
15Why does the lecturer use unconventional artworks such as Duchamp's Fountain and Stanley Brouwn's shoe-shop exhibition?
To test proposed definitions of art and show how difficult it can be to include genuine artworks while excluding things that are not artworks.