GCU PHI-103 Exam 1 Study Guide
Questions and All Actual Answers
2026.
What is philosophy? (def) - Answer is the attempt to provide for oneself an outlook on life
based on broad fundamental principles underlying everything
What is philosophy? (explanation) - Answer defined by a concern of normative issues (what
we ought to do) than is found in other objects
Branches of Philosophy - Answer 1 Logic (think or argue) 2Knowledge (Epistemology) 3Ethics
(right from wrong) 4Political Philosophy (government form) 5Aesthetics (beauty)
Constructive task of philosophy - Answer attempting to find the answers to the basic and
important issues in life
Analytical task - Answer rational examination of important concepts and their meaning and
use (ex;murder)
Major sub-disciplines of philosophy - Answer logic, epistemology, metaphysics, & ethics
Logic (1st sub-discipline) - Answer asks what it means to think logically, and what makes for a
good arguement
Epistemology (2nd sub-discipline) - Answer asks whether one can know anything &what one
can know and how one can know it
Metaphysic (3rd sub-discipline - Answer nature of reality; what exists/what does it mean to
exist?
Ethics (4th sub-discipline) - Answer nature of right and wrong
3 primary Laws of Logic - Answer 1-Law of identity
, Components of a "sound"/"good" deductive argument - Answer -it is formally &informally
valid
- it has true premises
-leads us to a sound conclusion which means it is true/valid
Deductive argument (def) - Answer the premise guarantee the truth of their conclusion
5 Types of valid logical arguments - Answer 1Modus Ponens
2Modus Tollens
3Hypothetical syllogism
4Disjunctive syllogism
5Constructive dilemma
Modus Ponens (MP) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. P
3. Q (therefore, Q)
ex; If yellow is brighter than purple, then it is brighter than black
Modus Tollens (MT) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. not Q
3. not P
ex; 1 if it is monday, then it is a weekday
2. its not a weekday
3. therefore, it is not monday
Hypothetical Syllogism (HS) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. If Q then R
--------------
3. Therefore, If P then R
ex; 1 If it is V day, Oscar will invite Julia to dine @ a restaurant
Questions and All Actual Answers
2026.
What is philosophy? (def) - Answer is the attempt to provide for oneself an outlook on life
based on broad fundamental principles underlying everything
What is philosophy? (explanation) - Answer defined by a concern of normative issues (what
we ought to do) than is found in other objects
Branches of Philosophy - Answer 1 Logic (think or argue) 2Knowledge (Epistemology) 3Ethics
(right from wrong) 4Political Philosophy (government form) 5Aesthetics (beauty)
Constructive task of philosophy - Answer attempting to find the answers to the basic and
important issues in life
Analytical task - Answer rational examination of important concepts and their meaning and
use (ex;murder)
Major sub-disciplines of philosophy - Answer logic, epistemology, metaphysics, & ethics
Logic (1st sub-discipline) - Answer asks what it means to think logically, and what makes for a
good arguement
Epistemology (2nd sub-discipline) - Answer asks whether one can know anything &what one
can know and how one can know it
Metaphysic (3rd sub-discipline - Answer nature of reality; what exists/what does it mean to
exist?
Ethics (4th sub-discipline) - Answer nature of right and wrong
3 primary Laws of Logic - Answer 1-Law of identity
, Components of a "sound"/"good" deductive argument - Answer -it is formally &informally
valid
- it has true premises
-leads us to a sound conclusion which means it is true/valid
Deductive argument (def) - Answer the premise guarantee the truth of their conclusion
5 Types of valid logical arguments - Answer 1Modus Ponens
2Modus Tollens
3Hypothetical syllogism
4Disjunctive syllogism
5Constructive dilemma
Modus Ponens (MP) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. P
3. Q (therefore, Q)
ex; If yellow is brighter than purple, then it is brighter than black
Modus Tollens (MT) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. not Q
3. not P
ex; 1 if it is monday, then it is a weekday
2. its not a weekday
3. therefore, it is not monday
Hypothetical Syllogism (HS) - Answer 1. If P then Q
2. If Q then R
--------------
3. Therefore, If P then R
ex; 1 If it is V day, Oscar will invite Julia to dine @ a restaurant
