Question 1

George Berkeley
-If ideas are inert,then how,according to Philonous,can we have an idea of an active God?

Accepted Answer

A) We have no ideas about God,spirits,or even ourselves. 
B) Our ideas about God are active because God is the one causing them. 
C) God is not material,but spirit,therefore we can have an active idea of God. 
D) God reveals in inactive ideas and we abstract from that to an active idea of God.

Question 2

Ludwig Wittgenstein
-Which of the following best summarizes Wittgenstein's example of a builder calling out "Slab!"?

Accepted Answer

A) The same word can have multiple meanings and uses depending on the context. 
B) Tradespeople have very simple languages. 
C) Every word has a definitive meaning which philosophers seek to discover. 
D) Primary nouns are always object-oriented and refer to sense-data.

Question 3

René Descartes
-How does Descartes attempt to convince Princess Elizabeth that she can,in fact,conceive of the soul and body as having contact and causal relations?

Accepted Answer

A) by drawing a parallel between his claim and her statement about the plausibility of a soul with extension 
B) by presenting examples of cases in which the soul and the body were in clear interaction 
C) by appeal to the laws of physics 
D) by identifying instances of confusion between soul-caused and bodily-caused events

Question 4

Gottfried Leibniz
-From a human point of view,given that God determines our natures,how ought we approach situations in which we must will a decision?

Accepted Answer

A) Leave everything to fate,for God has determined everything already. 
B) Choose wisely,for a determined nature does not mean a determined will. 
C) Do what you know to be right,even though you can never do anything against God's will. 
D) Humans are free,therefore,what you do causes many consequences.

Question 5

David Hume
-The difference between thoughts and impressions is that

Accepted Answer

A) thoughts are less powerful perceptions in the mind while impressions are more powerful. 
B) thoughts are boundless in scope while perceptions are limited to experience only. 
C) thoughts come from within the mind,and impressions from outside of it. 
D) there is no difference,they are the same.

Question 6

Soren Kierkegaard
-Kierkegaard states that faith is

Accepted Answer

A) believing what isn't really true. 
B) holding onto that which your reason once showed to be true,even in times of uncertainty. 
C) a subjective belief in uncertain truth. 
D) believing in a doctrine which,while unproved,offers the best explanation of the world as it appears to us.

Question 7

Thomas Hobbes
-Hobbes concludes that the only effective way to be safe is to

Accepted Answer

A) give your rights away to the government. 
B) seek to gain totally power for yourself. 
C) form alliances with a few people. 
D) form a governing body of representatives who will listen to all people's concerns.

Question 8

Augustine
-The primary purpose of Augustine's treatment of the concept of time is to

Accepted Answer

A) show that time is a measurable,understandable law in God's knowable,orderly universe. 
B) demonstrate that time is purely a human construct,and has nothing to do with God. 
C) explain how God experiences time just as we do. 
D) show that humans are frail and time-bound while God is eternal.

Question 9

John Locke
-According to Locke,perception,which accounts for all human knowledge,is

Accepted Answer

A) a passive taking in of raw data. 
B) an act by which the mind considers objects and organizes ideas. 
C) present in all people. 
D) arises in the senses whenever stimulation is present.

Question 10

Socrates and Plato 
-In his defense,Socrates acknowledges that the most dangerous accusations against him are the

Accepted Answer

A) charges of Anytus and his supporters. 
B) actions of the youth of Athens who enjoy seeing their superiors mocked. 
C) claims of impiety. 
D) reputation he developed because of Aristophanes and other Athenian satirists.

Question 11

Augustine
-At the beginning of the Confessions,the root of Augustine's spiritual conflict is the struggle between

Accepted Answer

A) his desire to know God by intuition only and his desire to know God by reason only. 
B) God and Satan for the supremacy of his soul. 
C) his will to sin and his will to serve God. 
D) his desire to perfect himself through faith and his desire to perfect himself through works.

Question 12

Hildegard of Bingen
-What does Hildegard say about the role of reason?

Accepted Answer

A) Reason is the same thing as intellect. 
B) Only God possesses reason. 
C) Reason is present and detectable both in the actions of humans and in the work of God. 
D) None of the above.

Question 13

John Stuart Mill
-Mill states that good must be something which is desired as an end in itself and concludes that the only thing which is so desired is

Accepted Answer

A) a life lived in accordance with virtue. 
B) the increase of pleasure and the decrease of pain. 
C) that which is desired for the sake of duty only. 
D) things which have utility.

Question 14

Mary Wollstonecraft
-According to Wollstonecraft,what,ultimately,will liberate women?

Accepted Answer

A) the right use of reason 
B) a longer period of education 
C) a relationship with a virtuous man 
D) a deeper societal understanding of the differences in women's ways of thinking and men's ways of thinking

Question 15

Martin Heidegger
-Which of the following is not part of the meaning of being as it was originally understood by the Greeks?

Accepted Answer

A) that which changes on the basis of our questions 
B) that which continues on in existence 
C) that which comes to be 
D) that which emerges

Question 16

René Descartes
-Descartes concludes by returning to his former doubts and finds them to be

Accepted Answer

A) totally ridiculous. 
B) exaggerated,but well founded. 
C) unanswered. 
D) barely even scratching the surface of what ought to be doubted given the limits of reason.

Question 17

Martin Heidegger
-According to Heidegger,the proper role for philosophy is

Accepted Answer

A) to challenge historical being there. 
B) to provide a foundation on which a nation can build its historical life and culture. 
C) to accelerate the practical and technical business of culture. 
D) All of the above.

Question 18

Soren Kierkegaard
-Which person would Kierkegaard regard as being closer to truth?

Accepted Answer

A) A scholar who studies philosophy extensively. 
B) A Christian who regularly attends his church every Sunday. 
C) A social butterfly who does whatever he wants and goes to every party. 
D) A hermit who has withdrawn from society to worship tree spirits.

Question 19

Thomas Hobbes
-The "rights of nature" which each person possesses,includes

Accepted Answer

A) the right to do anything except that which goes against God's eternal law. 
B) the right to preserve one's own life. 
C) everything that is morally right. 
D) the right to kill your best friend in his or her sleep.

Question 20

Socrates and Plato 
-To Socrates question about the nature of piety,Euthyphro initally

Accepted Answer

A) gives a clear definition,but cannot come up with examples. 
B) claims he knows exactly what it is,but only gives examples. 
C) claims that he is unsure what it is,but develops a clear definition based on his conversation with Socrates. 
D) claims he is unsure what it is,and never does get an adequate definition.

Exam 1: Ancient Greek Philosophy

George Berkeley -If ideas are inert,then how,according to Philonous,can we have an idea of an active God?

Ludwig Wittgenstein -Which of the following best summarizes Wittgenstein's example of a builder calling out "Slab!"?

René Descartes -How does Descartes attempt to convince Princess Elizabeth that she can,in fact,conceive of the soul and body as having contact and causal relations?

Gottfried Leibniz -From a human point of view,given that God determines our natures,how ought we approach situations in which we must will a decision?

David Hume -The difference between thoughts and impressions is that

Soren Kierkegaard -Kierkegaard states that faith is

Thomas Hobbes -Hobbes concludes that the only effective way to be safe is to

Augustine -The primary purpose of Augustine's treatment of the concept of time is to

John Locke -According to Locke,perception,which accounts for all human knowledge,is

Socrates and Plato -In his defense,Socrates acknowledges that the most dangerous accusations against him are the

Augustine -At the beginning of the Confessions,the root of Augustine's spiritual conflict is the struggle between

Hildegard of Bingen -What does Hildegard say about the role of reason?

John Stuart Mill -Mill states that good must be something which is desired as an end in itself and concludes that the only thing which is so desired is

Mary Wollstonecraft -According to Wollstonecraft,what,ultimately,will liberate women?

Martin Heidegger -Which of the following is not part of the meaning of being as it was originally understood by the Greeks?

René Descartes -Descartes concludes by returning to his former doubts and finds them to be

Martin Heidegger -According to Heidegger,the proper role for philosophy is

Soren Kierkegaard -Which person would Kierkegaard regard as being closer to truth?

Thomas Hobbes -The "rights of nature" which each person possesses,includes

Socrates and Plato -To Socrates question about the nature of piety,Euthyphro initally