Question 1

Prior to the wax argument, Descartes used his "dream argument" to show that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   mathematical truths cannot be doubted
B)   God existed
C)   esse est percipi (to be is to be perceived) 
D)   almost anything could be doubted
E)   God is no deceiver D

Question 2

__________ is an example of a conceptual truth.

Accepted Answer

A)   There is a grapefruit in the refrigerator.
B)   Blue is a color.
C)   It is raining outside.
D)   I own two dogs. B

Question 3

In your own words, what does it mean to be a relativist and what does it mean to be an absolutist? Furthermore, discuss how these two positions have shaped great debates in modern western philosophy. In your explanation be sure to cite specific philosophers on opposing sides.

Accepted Answer

Relativism and absolutism are two contrasting philosophical positions that have shaped great debates in modern western philosophy.

Relativism is the belief that truth, morality, and knowledge are not absolute, but rather relative to the individual or culture. This means that what is considered true or moral can vary depending on the perspective or context. Proponents of relativism argue that there are no universal truths and that all beliefs are equally valid. This position has been championed by philosophers such as Friedrich Nietzsche, who argued that there are no absolute moral values and that all values are relative to the individual or culture.

On the other hand, absolutism is the belief that there are objective truths, moral principles, and knowledge that are universally valid and independent of individual perspectives or cultural contexts. Absolutists argue that there are fundamental principles that apply to all people and cultures, regardless of their beliefs or values. Immanuel Kant, a prominent philosopher, advocated for moral absolutism by proposing the existence of categorical imperatives that are universally binding and not subject to individual preferences.

These two positions have sparked great debates in modern western philosophy, particularly in the realms of ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. The relativist perspective challenges traditional notions of morality and truth, leading to discussions about cultural diversity and moral tolerance. Meanwhile, the absolutist perspective raises questions about the existence of objective truths and the nature of moral principles, leading to debates about the possibility of universal knowledge and ethical standards.

Overall, the tension between relativism and absolutism has contributed to the rich tapestry of philosophical discourse in the modern era, with thinkers such as Nietzsche and Kant providing influential arguments on opposing sides of the debate. These contrasting positions continue to shape contemporary discussions in philosophy, ethics, and beyond.

Question 4

Descartes reestablished his system of beliefs because of his famous statement "I am a thing that thinks." What is the function for the thing that thinks in Locke's system? Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning and how it applies to the systems of Descartes and Locke.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Descartes reestablished his system of beliefs because...

Question 5

What type of reasoning did Locke advocate as the best method for making generalizations from experience?

Accepted Answer

A)   Abductive
B)   Deductive
C)   Inductive
D)   Intuitive

Question 6

Descartes's "cogito ergo sum" can be translated as __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Descartes's "cogito ergo sum" can be translated...

Question 7

__________is the belief that there are different rules for different people and therefore different truths.

Accepted Answer

A)   relativism
B)   skepticism
C)   absolutism
D)   atheism

Question 8

Explain why Berkeley thinks his arguments are a response to the skepticism threatened by Locke's epistemology. Then argue that Berkeley's position creates a further skeptical problem. How might Berkeley respond?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why Berkeley thinks his arguments are...

Question 9

Gadamer's hermeneutics rejects the influence of tradition in the notion of truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Before he introduced the evil deceiver, Descartes's dream argument had shown that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   I can doubt all of the information of my senses
B)   I can doubt mathematical truths and extension
C)   I think, therefore I am
D)   the mind is a thinking thing
E)   substance can be better known than quality

Question 11

Hermeneutics is a term used in philosophy to refer to the discipline of interpreting and understanding the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Descartes used the wax argument to prove that __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   we know mental things with greater clarity and distinctness than material things
B)   we know bodily things with greater clarity and distinctness than mental things
C)   universals are predicated of particulars
D)   identity may change over time
E)   objects are vague

Question 13

Debate the issue of whether we all begin life as a blank slate, knowing nothing until we have experiences, or whether we come "hardwired" with some principles, rules, doctrines, expectations, and so forth, independent of learning (this is the philosophical version of psychology's nurture/nature debate). If all our learning comes from a combination of some percentage of these two sources, then where does creativity fit in? Is it possible to learn something that was never perceived by the senses or captured by our innate cognitive faculties?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Debate the issue of whether we all...

Question 14

__________ concluded that the idea of cause and effect must be derived from our experience of the constant conjunction of two events.

Accepted Answer

A)   Russell
B)   Gettier
C)   Berkeley
D)   Hume

Question 15

The Americans, Charles Peirce, William James and __________ are the three philosophers most easily identified with pragmatism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Americans, Charles Peirce, William James and...

Question 16

__________ was a continental rationalist.

Accepted Answer

A)   Hume
B)   Aristotle
C)   Descartes
D)   Russell
E)   Peirce

Question 17

Can you think of any way for Locke to defend his claim that substances exist but we do not know what they are? How would Locke respond to Berkeley's conclusion that we can know only ideas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Can you think of any way for...

Question 18

Hume refuses to accept the existence of __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   God
B)   rational thought
C)   matter
D)   emotion

Question 19

According to Hume, the predicted outcome of your intention to hit one billiard ball with another is based on pure reason.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

When Chuang-tzu wrote about his dream of being a butterfly almost 2,400 years ago, he penned one of the most profound epistemological conundrums ever written. He said that when he woke up, he did not know whether he was a man dreaming that he was a butterfly or whether he was a butterfly dreaming he was a man. How could he know? Discuss Chuang-tzu's dream and the issues it raised.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Chuang-tzu wrote about his dream of...

Exam 3: Truth Knowledge

Prior to the wax argument, Descartes used his "dream argument" to show that __________.

__________ is an example of a conceptual truth.

In your own words, what does it mean to be a relativist and what does it mean to be an absolutist? Furthermore, discuss how these two positions have shaped great debates in modern western philosophy. In your explanation be sure to cite specific philosophers on opposing sides.

Descartes reestablished his system of beliefs because of his famous statement "I am a thing that thinks." What is the function for the thing that thinks in Locke's system? Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning and how it applies to the systems of Descartes and Locke.

What type of reasoning did Locke advocate as the best method for making generalizations from experience?

Descartes's "cogito ergo sum" can be translated as __________.

__________is the belief that there are different rules for different people and therefore different truths.

Explain why Berkeley thinks his arguments are a response to the skepticism threatened by Locke's epistemology. Then argue that Berkeley's position creates a further skeptical problem. How might Berkeley respond?

Gadamer's hermeneutics rejects the influence of tradition in the notion of truth.

Before he introduced the evil deceiver, Descartes's dream argument had shown that __________.

Hermeneutics is a term used in philosophy to refer to the discipline of interpreting and understanding the world.

Descartes used the wax argument to prove that __________.

__________ concluded that the idea of cause and effect must be derived from our experience of the constant conjunction of two events.

The Americans, Charles Peirce, William James and __________ are the three philosophers most easily identified with pragmatism.

__________ was a continental rationalist.

Can you think of any way for Locke to defend his claim that substances exist but we do not know what they are? How would Locke respond to Berkeley's conclusion that we can know only ideas?

Hume refuses to accept the existence of __________.

According to Hume, the predicted outcome of your intention to hit one billiard ball with another is based on pure reason.