Question 1

According to Lammenranta, "The _______________ is often understood as a form of formal or logical circularity, in which the conclusion appears as one of the premises."

Accepted Answer

A)  Cartesian Circle 
B)  Descartes Triangle 
C)  Medieval Method 
D)  Ancient Oracle

Question 2

How does Masham define "absolute atheism"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How does Masham define "absolute atheism"?...

Question 3

Do you agree with Anselm when he says, "For, it is one thing for an object to be in the understanding, and another to understand that the object exists"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you agree with Anselm when he...

Question 4

Berkeley says, "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view; and so likewise as to the hearing and other senses; the ideas imprinted on them are not creatures of my will."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the second in virtue of which we hold that there can be no fact unless there be a ________________, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

Accepted Answer

A)  relation 
B)  sensation 
C)  sufficient reason 
D)  contradiction

Question 6

Philo says, "Now, according to this method of reasoning, it follows, (and is, indeed, tacitly allowed by Cleanthes himself) that order, arrangement, or the adjustment of final causes is not, of itself, any _____________; but only so far as it has been experienced to proceed from that principle."

Accepted Answer

A)  proof of design 
B)  metaphysical doctrine 
C)  law of nature 
D)  idea in the mind

Question 7

Explain how Pascal supports the following claim: "It is incomprehensible that there should be a God, and incomprehensible that there should not be a God."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how Pascal supports the following claim:...

Question 8

Explain Masham's point when she says, "It is indeed only a rational fear of God, and desire to approve ourselves to him, that will teach us in all things, uniformly to live as becomes our reasonable nature; to enable us to do which, must be the great business and end of a religion which comes from God."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Masham's point when she says, "It...

Question 9

Discuss Philo's point when he says that we are not justified in transferring from parts to the whole.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss Philo's point when he says that...

Question 10

Paley says, "Nor, fifthly, would it yield his inquiry more satisfaction to be answered, that there existed in things a magnitude of disorder, which had disposed the parts of the watch into their present form and situation."

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

For James, the decision between two hypotheses is ...

Accepted Answer

A)  an option. 
B)  a conjecture. 
C)  a guess. 
D)  an exclusion.

Question 12

Descartes says, "when I think of it more attentively, it appears that the _________ can no more be separated from the _______ of God, than the idea of a mountain from that of a valley, or the equality of its three angles to two right angles."

Accepted Answer

A)  idea; matter 
B)  truth; falsity 
C)  extent; perfection 
D)  existence; essence

Question 13

According to Parsons, "if any (even one) actual evil is gratuitous, that is, if a perfectly good, all-powerful creator would not have a morally sufficient reason for permitting it, then God ..."

Accepted Answer

A)  is not omnipotent. 
B)  is not omniscient. 
C)  cannot be an object of faith. 
D)  cannot exist.

Question 14

Explain what Cleanthes means in this passage: "There is no being, therefore, whose non-existence implies a contradiction. Consequently there is no being, whose existence is demonstrable."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Cleanthes means in this passage:...

Question 15

Why does Joyce believe that "Of man, it is true that the balance is immensely on the side of happiness"? Do you agree with Joyce? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does Joyce believe that "Of man,...

Question 16

Paley argues that if you find a watch while you are out walking, upon inspecting it you would probably conclude that it was recently lost by its owner.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Explain Kierkegaard's claim that although we think our proofs get close to proving God's existence, the final step is always a leap of faith. Do you agree with Kierkegaard? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Kierkegaard's claim that although we think...

Question 18

Clifford asserts that "the question is not whether their belief was true or false, but whether they entertained it on ..."

Accepted Answer

A)  a mere whim. 
B)  wrong grounds. 
C)  a fallacious opinion. 
D)  religious beliefs.

Question 19

Kierkegaard says, "For if God does not exist it would of course be ..."

Accepted Answer

A)  impossible to prove it. 
B)  impossible for free will to exist. 
C)  impossible for ethics to have a foundation. 
D)  impossible to understand human rationality.

Question 20

Do you agree with Parsons when he says, "if any (even one) actual evil is gratuitous, that is, if a perfectly good, all-powerful creator would not have a morally sufficient reason for permitting it, then God cannot exist"? Explain your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you agree with Parsons when he...

Exam 4: Plato the Beginning of Everything

According to Lammenranta, "The _______________ is often understood as a form of formal or logical circularity, in which the conclusion appears as one of the premises."

How does Masham define "absolute atheism"?

Do you agree with Anselm when he says, "For, it is one thing for an object to be in the understanding, and another to understand that the object exists"?

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the second in virtue of which we hold that there can be no fact unless there be a ________________, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

Philo says, "Now, according to this method of reasoning, it follows, (and is, indeed, tacitly allowed by Cleanthes himself) that order, arrangement, or the adjustment of final causes is not, of itself, any _____________; but only so far as it has been experienced to proceed from that principle."

Explain how Pascal supports the following claim: "It is incomprehensible that there should be a God, and incomprehensible that there should not be a God."

Discuss Philo's point when he says that we are not justified in transferring from parts to the whole.

Paley says, "Nor, fifthly, would it yield his inquiry more satisfaction to be answered, that there existed in things a magnitude of disorder, which had disposed the parts of the watch into their present form and situation."

For James, the decision between two hypotheses is ...

Descartes says, "when I think of it more attentively, it appears that the ___ can no more be separated from the _ of God, than the idea of a mountain from that of a valley, or the equality of its three angles to two right angles."

According to Parsons, "if any (even one) actual evil is gratuitous, that is, if a perfectly good, all-powerful creator would not have a morally sufficient reason for permitting it, then God ..."

Explain what Cleanthes means in this passage: "There is no being, therefore, whose non-existence implies a contradiction. Consequently there is no being, whose existence is demonstrable."

Why does Joyce believe that "Of man, it is true that the balance is immensely on the side of happiness"? Do you agree with Joyce? Explain your answer.

Paley argues that if you find a watch while you are out walking, upon inspecting it you would probably conclude that it was recently lost by its owner.

Explain Kierkegaard's claim that although we think our proofs get close to proving God's existence, the final step is always a leap of faith. Do you agree with Kierkegaard? Explain your answer.

Clifford asserts that "the question is not whether their belief was true or false, but whether they entertained it on ..."

Kierkegaard says, "For if God does not exist it would of course be ..."

Do you agree with Parsons when he says, "if any (even one) actual evil is gratuitous, that is, if a perfectly good, all-powerful creator would not have a morally sufficient reason for permitting it, then God cannot exist"? Explain your answer.