Narrator's Basis of Beliefs Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does Descartes consider as the two chief issues that should be demonstrated with the aid of philosophy?

  • The nature of good and evil
  • The power of God and the creation of the soul
  • The existence of God and the immortality of the soul (correct)
  • The existence of heaven and hell

What does Descartes hope readers will do before realizing that his principles in the Meditations contradict Aristotle's principles?

  • Ignore his principles
  • Gradually get used to his principles (correct)
  • Immediately reject his principles
  • Publicly criticize his principles

According to Descartes, which should be proven to unbelievers first before they can be persuaded of any religion or moral virtue?

  • The nature of heaven and hell
  • The existence of God and immortality of the soul (correct)
  • The essence of matter or bodies
  • The power of God and creation of the soul

What does Descartes reveal to Mersenne about the content of his Meditations in their letter?

<p>They contain all the foundations of his physics (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to Descartes' view, what does Aristotle believe is the essence of matter or bodies?

<p>There are four basic kinds of elements: Earth, Water, Air, Fire (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Aristotle, what determines whether matter will remain at rest or be in motion?

<p>Matter at rest or in motion will remain at rest or in motion (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of First Philosophy according to the text?

<p>Discovering innate knowledge through reasoning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In Descartes' First Meditation, what does the narrator doubt?

<p>The reliability of the senses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator conclude in Descartes' Second Meditation?

<p>He cannot doubt that he exists as a 'thinking thing' (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Descartes' explanation for the possibility of error in the Fourth Meditation?

<p>God would never deceive us (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Descartes, what can we know for certain in the Third Meditation?

<p>Everything that is clearly and distinctly perceived (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Descartes assert as being the only things we can clearly and distinctly recognize exist?

<p>God and the mind (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the basis of all of the narrator’s beliefs according to the text?

<p>Senses or sensory experiences (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator suggest that it is unwise to completely trust their senses?

<p>Because the senses are not completely certain or indubitable (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Skeptical Argument 1, what should one do if their senses are sometimes deceptive?

<p>Withhold assent from beliefs not completely certain (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator believe will happen if the foundations of their beliefs are not completely certain and indubitable?

<p>Their beliefs will crumble (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator mention that it is endless to survey each opinion individually in the text?

<p>Because surveying each opinion would be an endless task (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator aim to achieve by attacking the principles that supported their previous beliefs?

<p>To cause their previous beliefs to crumble (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Cogito argument?

<p>To demonstrate the certainty of one's own existence (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Descartes, what is the certainty provided by 'Cogito, ergo sum'?

<p>Thinking thing's own existence (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Rationalism, as explained in the text, emphasize for recognizing certain beliefs as true?

<p>The faculty of reason independently from sense experiences (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Can an evil demon trick you into doubting your own existence according to Descartes?

<p>Yes, because doubt can be induced about everything, including one's own existence (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Cogito according to Descartes?

<p>To demonstrate that rationalism allows us to know things through reason alone (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key element that the Cogito argument proves beyond doubt?

<p>The certainty of one's own thinking and existence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Descartes argue that the knowledge of the self as a thinking thing is acquired?

<p>By using intellect or reason alone (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Descartes differentiate between what is provable by the Cogito argument and what remains dubitable?

<p>The Cogito proves the existence of a thinking thing but leaves many other aspects open to doubt (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Descartes introduce the evil demon in his philosophical meditations?

<p>To challenge the existence of an external world (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What foundational belief does Descartes discover through his meditations that he cannot doubt?

<p>His own existence as a thinking being (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Descartes aim to strengthen the shaky foundation of the Cogito for scientific knowledge?

<p>By establishing the existence of an external world beyond doubt (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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