unit 1 review terms and applications. terminology of philosophy philosophy—the study of truth in...
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Terminology of Philosophy
Philosophy—the study of truth in all its various forms
Epistemology—the study of how and what we can truly know
Metaphysics—the study of the fundamental nature of reality and being
Ethics—the study of right and wrong Aesthetics—the study of the nature and
effect of art
Critical Thinking Skills
Metacognition—thinking about thinking; recognizing one’s own thinking patterns and problems
Reflection—taking time rather than making a snap decision; requires effort—integrity rather than expedience (not always the proper way to go)
Reason, logic—rather than emotion; trying to figure out the truly right answer rather than simply what we want; being dispassionate and objective, scientific method
Source evaluation—being able to find and evaluate sources of information
Terminology of Moral Systems
Puritanism—absolute sovereignty of god, total depravity of humans, unconditional election, God’s intentions are present in the world, Satan’s presence in the world—re: The Crucible
Utilitarianism—the greatest good for the greatest number (quality of “good” considered)
Absolute vs. Relative Ethics—applying ethical precepts to all situations or believing that there could be exceptions
Terminology of Moral Systems
Shermer’s Secular Morality The Ask First Principle—ask the affected
person(s) if behavior is moral; the Golden Rule with more emphasis on avoiding harm
The Happiness Principle—always seek happiness with someone else’s happiness in mind; never seek happiness when it leads to someone else’s unhappiness
Terminology of Moral Systems
Shermer’s Secular Morality The Liberty Principle—it is a higher moral
principle to always seek liberty with someone else’s liberty in mind, and never seek liberty when it leads to someone else’s loss of liberty
The Moderation Principle—when innocent people die, extremism in the defense of anything is no virtue, and moderation in the protection of everything is no vice
Terminology of Moral Systems
Four Standards of “Right Action” Obedience to Authority—”do it because I
say so” Effect on Others—consider how an action
helps or harms other people Model of an Ideal Figure—”WWJD,”
“WWMCD,” basing ethical choices on someone you admire
Intention—considering what the motive was rather than merely the result of an action
Literary Terms
Allegory—a narrative containing a surface story that symbolizes a deeper story, such as Animal Farm or The Crucible
Narrative (Literary) Frame—that stands for something else, as a flag symbolizing a country
Realism—a literary movement in which writers represented ordinary people in extraordinary, but real situations, rejecting the fantastic, heroic, mythic, etc. Began in the 19th century
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence “If I’m taught there is a God I’m responsible
to, I know I have to treat people right. But if there’s no creator to answer to, it changes your whole lifestyle. Then it’s just survival of the fittest. That’s where our society is headed. That’s why we have some of the problems we do.”
Elizabeth Proctor, who never lies, lies to save her husband’s reputation, which ruins it
Literature creates a virtual world that we respond to as if it were real.
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence I know it is true because I am at one with
nature “Sleeping on” a difficult decision Considering who tells us a fact before we
decide to believe it The Puritans’ belief in a corporeal devil
belongs to this branch of philosophy Choosing a new car based on gas mileage
and reliability instead of how “cool” it looks
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence The world is a battleground between good
and evil, and God will ultimately defeat Satan Take no actions that hurt others Using a noose to stand for the corrupt use of
power during the Red Scare in The Crucible To know right, seek to know if it hurts others To know right, emulate Buddha The sum of all knowledge is the search for
truth in all its forms
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Refraining from fighting a religious war If Abby had refused to falsely accuse others The first and last sections of Ethan Frome The Earth is a cold, empty ball—we just live
and die Hurricanes are God’s punishment of evil Finish your essay because Mr. Cook said so Finish your essay because Mr. Cook would
finish his
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Choosing to raise taxes only on the rich Choosing to forego the last cookie because
you know your little sister wants it Forgiving your brother for hitting you because
he was only trying to knock a bee off The “red pen poised” could stand for an
English teacher This could be seen as an introduction and
conclusion to a novel, in a way Ethan Frome is about a farmer, not a king
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Portraying John Proctor as an admirable man
who refuses to lie or give in to protect himself Portraying Ethan Frome is weak and passive Ethan agreeing to sled into the tree rather
than facing his problems Proctor facing hanging bravely rather than
whining or complaining about the unfairness of it all
Practice: Identify the concept or principle identified in each sentence Did The Crucible succeed in showing the
effects of mass hysteria on reason and justice?
Who took Zeena to the train station? Why did Ethan decide not to borrow money
from the Hales? Why did Arthur Miller choose the Salem Witch
Trials for his allegory about the Red Scare? It is always wrong to steal. Stealing may be acceptable if it saves a child
from starving.
The Crucible
What events originally start off the witchcraft hysteria?
What rifts existed in Salem that increased the town’s susceptibility to the cries of witchcraft?
How do Abby’s motives change from the first accusation to later in the play?
What is the state of the Proctors’ marriage at the beginning and end of the play? What caused the change?
What are Putnam’s motivations?
The Crucible
What are John Proctor’s conflicts at the beginning and end of the play?
Explain Giles Corey’s character and actions. How is Rebecca Nurse different from the
other people of Salem? What is Parris’s primary motivation
throughout the play? How is Reverend Hale different from the other
believers in witchcraft? How does this affect his actions?
The Crucible
Explain the Puritan metaphysical beliefs that led to the court’s acceptance of the girls’ testimony.
What belief lies at the bottom of Danforth’s refusal to let Proctor get a lawyer?
Why does Elizabeth lie for John? Why are Parris and Danforth so eager for
Proctor to confess at the end of the play? How is Hale’s motivation different from theirs?
The Crucible
Why does Proctor at first decide to confess? Why does he change his mind? Why does Elizabeth refuse to try to change
his mind? Why do you think Arthur Miller saw Proctor’s
final decision as the right action to take? What parallels exist between this play and the
Red Scare of the 1950’s? What can we learn about our society today
from this play?
Ethan Frome
What is Starkfield like, according to the narrator?
How does Ethan Frome act in the opening frame section?
What is the state of Ethan and Zeena’s marriage as the “past” section begins?
What is Zeena’s illness? What attracts Ethan to Mattie? What are Ethan’s plans for his night alone
with Mattie?
Ethan Frome
What happens during their night alone? What news does Zeena bring back from
Bettsbridge? Why can’t Ethan run away with Mattie? Where will Mattie most likely go? What is the first and only time Ethan stands
up to Zeena? What do Ethan and Mattie talk about on their
ride to the train station?
Ethan Frome
Why do they decide to take the final sled ride?
What does the narrator find at Ethan’s house?
What is Ruth Hale’s judgment of life at the Frome’s?
Explain the symbolism of the pickle dish. Explain the simile of the butterfly in winter. In what ways could Ethan be considered a
tragic hero?