Question 1

One implication of Foucault's claim that truth is relative to culturally-determined forms of discourse in which problems are set and truths are presented,is that

Accepted Answer

A)  there is no progress in the social sciences. 
B)  all interpretations are valid. 
C)  the correspondence theory of truth is correct. 
D)  we are,as a society,moving closer to the truth. 
A)  there is no progress in the social sciences. 
B)  all interpretations are valid. 
C)  the correspondence theory of truth is correct. 
D)  we are,as a society,moving closer to the truth.

Question 2

What is David Hume's argument against our supposed knowledge of the principle of universal causality?

Accepted Answer

The principle of universal causality mus

Question 3

If rationality means "thinking and acting in accordance with reason" then someone can be rational

Accepted Answer

A)  only if that person has true beliefs. 
B)  even if that person's beliefs turn out to be false. 
C)  even if that person's beliefs are not coherent. 
D)  only if that person has no presuppositions. 
A)  only if that person has true beliefs. 
B)  even if that person's beliefs turn out to be false. 
C)  even if that person's beliefs are not coherent. 
D)  only if that person has no presuppositions.

Question 4

It's often stated that we should "seek the truth." 
Write a fictional dialogue in which two (or more)people attempt to understand whether and why this is so.
The dialogue should address the meaning of "truth," exploring rationalism,empiricism,theories of truth (correspondence,coherence,pragmatic),rationality,and the notion of relativism.
It should grapple with the value and importance of the pursuit of truth: 
what areas of life depend on seeking the truth? 
What would change if we ceased to believe in this value? 
Your interlocutors can approach the issue cooperatively,as a joint inquiry,or they can try to persuade one another about the best approach to understanding truth.

Accepted Answer

Dialogical essay on

Question 5

If every idea is as good as any other,then the claim that every idea is as good as any other is no better than the claim that any one idea is the absolute truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

A central conclusion of this chapter is that

Accepted Answer

A)  if there is knowledge it must be empirical. 
B)  knowledge is innate. 
C)  knowledge is subjective. 
D)  knowledge requires reasons and understanding. 
A)  if there is knowledge it must be empirical. 
B)  knowledge is innate. 
C)  knowledge is subjective. 
D)  knowledge requires reasons and understanding.

Question 7

In Quine's view,knowledge is holistic,and not a collection of piecemeal observations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

According to Hume,when we observe two billiard balls colliding

Accepted Answer

A)  we understand causation as a truth of reason. 
B)  we grasp the principle of universal causality. 
C)  we see the actual cause. 
D)  we only see that two events are regularly found together,in constant conjunction. 
A)  we understand causation as a truth of reason. 
B)  we grasp the principle of universal causality. 
C)  we see the actual cause. 
D)  we only see that two events are regularly found together,in constant conjunction.

Question 9

Write an argumentative essay answering the question: What is knowledge? 
Your argument should have a clearly stated conclusion ("Knowledge is ..."),and develop an argument with separate premises/reasons that support the conclusion.
It should raise and answer one objection or counterargument.
Your argument should address the following issues: 
What is knowledge,and how do you know when you have it? 
How is knowledge linked to truth? 
How is knowledge linked to rationality? 
Why is knowledge worth having? 
Feel free to draw on any of the philosophers and ideas explored in chapter five,although you are not limited to these resources.

Accepted Answer

Argumentative essay,

Question 10

Until recently,most philosophers have believed that if there is an answer to any philosophical question (or any other question of knowledge),it is either an empirical truth based on experience or an a priori truth that is both necessary and a product of reason.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Briefly distinguish rationalism and empiricism.

Accepted Answer

Rationalism is a broad designation for a

Question 12

One problem with the correspondence theory of truth is that it seems only to fit mathematical statements or statements in logic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

We believe that we know universal statements such as "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction."
Why do rationalists think that such statements imply we have innate ideas?

Accepted Answer

The problem is how do we get from what w

Question 14

Assuming that knowledge is "justified true belief," then,if you know something

Accepted Answer

A)  it's enough for it to be true. 
B)  besides being true,it also has be justified. 
C)  it must be an empirical truth. 
D)  it must be a necessary truth. 
A)  it's enough for it to be true. 
B)  besides being true,it also has be justified. 
C)  it must be an empirical truth. 
D)  it must be a necessary truth.

Question 15

Describe Descartes' method of doubt,and how he learned that there was something that indubitable.

Accepted Answer

Doubt everything,Descartes resolved; ass

Question 16

Descartes and Spinoza are rationalists.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

According to John Locke,the human mind at birth

Accepted Answer

A)  is a blank tablet (tabula rasa). 
B)  comes furnished with innate ideas. 
C)  has a clear and distinct idea of God. 
D)  is already in possession of philosophical knowledge. 
A)  is a blank tablet (tabula rasa). 
B)  comes furnished with innate ideas. 
C)  has a clear and distinct idea of God. 
D)  is already in possession of philosophical knowledge.

Question 18

What two impressive claims can be made in support of science's current status as the "royal road" to truth?

Accepted Answer

First,its success in predictin

Question 19

Suppose that scientific theories A and B are equally supported by the evidence and that both fit equally well our other beliefs.If you embraced the pragmatic theory of truth,you could still say A is true if it

Accepted Answer

A)  corresponded to the facts. 
B)  could be more easily tested and encouraged further experimentation. 
C)  corresponded to our religious beliefs. 
D)  helped us solve the "two world hypothesis." 
A)  corresponded to the facts. 
B)  could be more easily tested and encouraged further experimentation. 
C)  corresponded to our religious beliefs. 
D)  helped us solve the "two world hypothesis."

Question 20

That "The world exists" and that "Everything that happens has a cause" are examples of

Accepted Answer

A)  presuppositions of knowledge. 
B)  innate ideas. 
C)  empirical ideas. 
D)  the tabula rasa. 
A)  presuppositions of knowledge. 
B)  innate ideas. 
C)  empirical ideas. 
D)  the tabula rasa.

One implication of Foucault's claim that truth is relative to culturally-determined forms of discourse in which problems are set and truths are presented,is that

What is David Hume's argument against our supposed knowledge of the principle of universal causality?

If rationality means "thinking and acting in accordance with reason" then someone can be rational

If every idea is as good as any other,then the claim that every idea is as good as any other is no better than the claim that any one idea is the absolute truth.

A central conclusion of this chapter is that

In Quine's view,knowledge is holistic,and not a collection of piecemeal observations.

According to Hume,when we observe two billiard balls colliding

Until recently,most philosophers have believed that if there is an answer to any philosophical question (or any other question of knowledge),it is either an empirical truth based on experience or an a priori truth that is both necessary and a product of reason.

Briefly distinguish rationalism and empiricism.

One problem with the correspondence theory of truth is that it seems only to fit mathematical statements or statements in logic.

We believe that we know universal statements such as "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Why do rationalists think that such statements imply we have innate ideas?

Assuming that knowledge is "justified true belief," then,if you know something

Describe Descartes' method of doubt,and how he learned that there was something that indubitable.

Descartes and Spinoza are rationalists.

According to John Locke,the human mind at birth

What two impressive claims can be made in support of science's current status as the "royal road" to truth?

Suppose that scientific theories A and B are equally supported by the evidence and that both fit equally well our other beliefs.If you embraced the pragmatic theory of truth,you could still say A is true if it

That "The world exists" and that "Everything that happens has a cause" are examples of

Philosophical Questions

The Meaning of Life

God

The Nature of Reality

Self

Freedom

Morality and the Good Life

Justice and the Good Society

Non-Western Philosophy

Beauty

Filters

Exam 5: The Search for Truth

One implication of Foucault's claim that truth is relative to culturally-determined forms of discourse in which problems are set and truths are presented,is that

What is David Hume's argument against our supposed knowledge of the principle of universal causality?

If rationality means "thinking and acting in accordance with reason" then someone can be rational

If every idea is as good as any other,then the claim that every idea is as good as any other is no better than the claim that any one idea is the absolute truth.

A central conclusion of this chapter is that

In Quine's view,knowledge is holistic,and not a collection of piecemeal observations.

According to Hume,when we observe two billiard balls colliding

Until recently,most philosophers have believed that if there is an answer to any philosophical question (or any other question of knowledge),it is either an empirical truth based on experience or an a priori truth that is both necessary and a product of reason.

Briefly distinguish rationalism and empiricism.

One problem with the correspondence theory of truth is that it seems only to fit mathematical statements or statements in logic.

We believe that we know universal statements such as "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Why do rationalists think that such statements imply we have innate ideas?

Assuming that knowledge is "justified true belief," then,if you know something

Describe Descartes' method of doubt,and how he learned that there was something that indubitable.

Descartes and Spinoza are rationalists.

According to John Locke,the human mind at birth

What two impressive claims can be made in support of science's current status as the "royal road" to truth?

Suppose that scientific theories A and B are equally supported by the evidence and that both fit equally well our other beliefs.If you embraced the pragmatic theory of truth,you could still say A is true if it

That "The world exists" and that "Everything that happens has a cause" are examples of

Philosophical Questions

The Meaning of Life

God

The Nature of Reality

Self

Freedom

Morality and the Good Life

Justice and the Good Society

Non-Western Philosophy

Beauty

Filters