Explain the Following Terms; no less than 75 words for each question 1. Epistemology2. Axiology3.Correspondence Theory of Truth 4. Plato & The Republic5.Socrates & Apology6. Ethical Relativism Section...

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Section I
1. Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of what knowledge is. This means finding out what it
required for something to be classified as being known, rather than simply thought or
supposed. Although there are some kinds of knowledge that people accept that others do not,
such as divine revelation (which underlies religious knowledge, but is not accepted as
knowledge by the non-religious), most epistemologists agree that for something to be
knowledge it must be a true, justified belief.
2. Axiology
Axiology is the study of value. This means working out both what kind of value
something has and how much of that value it has. It is usually split into two main branches,
which look at whether a thing has practical or conceptual value –that is, whether its value is
ethical or aesthetic. In both cases, the particular value of a chosen thing is different. Ethical
values, are judged on the basis of the good they promote, looking at value in terms of direct
action in the world. Aesthetic value is much harder to identify, and is often much more
personal.
3. Correspondence Theory of Truth
The correspondence theory of truth is the idea that for something to be true it must
have a clear, definable relationship to a specific thing in the world. There are different ways
in which this reference can work, but there must be a clear relation between the statement and
a real thing. It is a realist view, in that it does not accept that things that people believe in but
cannot show correspondence for, such as religion and justice, are not „real‟.
4. Plato & The Republic
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In The Republic, Plato discusses the nature of the ideal state. This requires the
discussion of justice and whether having true justice makes people happier. This discussion
ends in the recommendation of the philosopher-king as the ideal ruler, and compares how life
under such a ruler would be to the existing political and state systems of the time. The
Republic also covers several other major topics, such as the idea that every real thing is a
reflection of geometrically perfect „ideal forms‟ and the nature of the soul.
5. Socrates & Apology
Socrates was condemned to death for the crime of corrupting the youth and not
believing in the gods of the state. The Apology is Plato‟s version of that story, and
specifically of Socrates‟ speech before his death outlining his beliefs and positions. It is an
apology in the sense of apologetics (speaking in defence of an idea or thing) rather than
presenting excuses. Three different people present arguments against Socrates, and he rebuffs
each of them on turn.
6. Ethical Relativism
Ethical relativism is the idea that things are judged to be good or bad depending on
their context rather than any greater idea of what is good or bad. This is in contrast to ethical
schemes that require a firm commitment to certain actions as being good and bad; for
example, religious ethics are absolute, and inflexible. For example, killing is broadly
considered to be wrong; but if killing a person is the only way to stop them from killing other
people, then ethical relativists would say that killing the person was right.
7. Metaphysic and Cosmology
Metaphysics is the study of the underlying conditions of knowledge and the world. It
is very controversial within philosophy, with some claiming that metaphysics is the core of
all philosophy and others such as the positivists rejecting it completely. Cosmology is the
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study of the universe. Metaphysical cosmology considers those questions about the universe
that cannot...