Philosophical Views on Reality Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What did the author deny about external reality?

It is only perceived by God

It consists of inert matter (correct)

It is entirely made up of secondary qualities

It is entirely made up of primary qualities

What concept does the author propose when stating 'To be is to be perceived'?

Reality is based on primary qualities

Primary qualities are ideas or perceptions

External reality exists independently of perception

All reality consists of our perceptions (correct)

In the text, what does the rejection of primary qualities imply?

Primary qualities do not exist, only secondary qualities do (correct)

Primary qualities are the only attributes of physical things

Secondary qualities are dependent on primary qualities

Primary qualities are superior to secondary qualities

How does the text suggest that the existence of the physical world is sustained?

Through the perceptions of humans Signup and view all the answers

What idea does the text propose about reality and perception?

All reality consists of secondary qualities Signup and view all the answers

How are experiences recorded in the brain?

As an interrelated package Signup and view all the answers

What process is responsible for converting simple ideas into complex ideas according to the text?

Association Signup and view all the answers

How does involuntary behavior gradually become voluntary according to the text?

As a result of the law of contiguity Signup and view all the answers

What did Hartley's brand of associationism focus on primarily?

Biological correlates of mental events Signup and view all the answers

How long was Hartley's brand of associationism considered the authoritative psychological account?

80 years Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately reflects Hartley's view on the formation of complex ideas?

Simple ideas become complex through the process of association. Signup and view all the answers

What was David Hartley's goal as a philosopher?

To explain how vibrations from sensory experiences in nerves lead to sensations and ideas. Signup and view all the answers

According to David Hartley's account of association, what are 'vibratiuncles'?

The lingering vibrations in the brain that correspond to ideas. Signup and view all the answers

What did David Hartley propose about simple and complex ideas?

Complex ideas develop from lingering vibrations in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

How did David Hartley apply the laws of association to voluntary behavior?

By explaining how simple reflexes are connected to complex behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

How did John B. Watson's views differ from David Hartley's on the development of complex behaviors?

Watson rejected the notion that reflexes were the foundation for skilled coordinated performances. Signup and view all the answers

In what way were David Hartley's ideas about the development of behaviors validated?

His ideas were ultimately not validated Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientist's job in describing the physical world?

Describing the relationships among mental phenomena without metaphysical speculation Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher believed in the process of mental chemistry where individual sensations combine to form new sensations?

James Mill Signup and view all the answers

According to James Mill, what do all mental events consist of?

Sensations and ideas held together by association Signup and view all the answers

Who disagreed with James Mill about reducing all complex ideas to simple ideas?

John Stuart Mill Signup and view all the answers

What did John Stuart Mill propose as a way complex ideas could be distinctly different from simple ideas?

A process of mental chemistry Signup and view all the answers

According to Positivism, what should science study?

Only publicly observed events or overt behavior Signup and view all the answers

What did Comte emphasize in his utopia?

Happiness of the group Signup and view all the answers

According to Comte, which science is considered the most comprehensive in his hierarchy?

Sociology Signup and view all the answers

What did Ernst Mach, the physicist, focus on in his second type of positivism?

Relationship among sensations Signup and view all the answers

Which belief states that all mental phenomena can be explained by laws of association?

Associationism Signup and view all the answers

In what way did Comte reduce psychology according to the text?

To physiology Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

External Reality and Perception

The author denies the existence of an external reality independent of perception.
The concept "To be is to be perceived" suggests that existence hinges on being observed or experienced.

Primary Qualities and Physical Existence

The rejection of primary qualities implies that physical properties do not exist outside of perception.
The text indicates that the existence of the physical world is sustained through collective perception and agreement among observers.

Reality and Experience

Reality is intertwined with perception; it posits that what one perceives shapes their understanding of existence.
Experiences are recorded in the brain as neural changes triggered by the sensory information received over time.

Ideas Formation and Behavior

A process of association is responsible for converting simple ideas into complex ideas, utilizing learned patterns.
Involuntary behaviors gradually become voluntary through repeated practice and reinforcement of habits.

Hartley's Associationism

Hartley's brand of associationism focused primarily on how mental processes link through associations formed by experiences.
This approach was considered the authoritative psychological account for an extended period.

Complex Ideas and Philosophical Goals

Hartley believed that complex ideas form by the combination of simpler sensations; he aimed to explain these phenomena through association.
'Vibratiuncles' are the vibrations in the nervous system that Hartley posited as essential in linking sensory experiences to ideas.

Application of Association Laws

Hartley applied the laws of association to demonstrate how voluntary behaviors could be shaped through experience and reinforcement.
Contrarily, John B. Watson dismissed Hartley's views by emphasizing a behaviorist perspective focused on observable actions over internal thoughts.

Validation and Scientific Approach

Hartley’s ideas regarding behavior development found validation in later psychological research.
The scientist's job in describing the physical world involves forming hypotheses based on observable, empirical evidence.

Philosophical Contributions

James Mill asserted that all mental events consist of simple sensory experiences, while John Stuart Mill disagreed, arguing for the possibility of complex ideas being distinct.
Mill proposed that complex ideas could arise from unique arrangements of simple ideas rather than mere combinations.

Positivism and Scientific Hierarchy

According to Positivism, science should study observable phenomena rather than abstract concepts or metaphysics.
Comte emphasized a structured hierarchy of sciences, placing sociology at the pinnacle of this hierarchy as the most comprehensive field.

Ernst Mach and Mental Phenomena

Ernst Mach focused on the empirical nature of sensations in his second type of positivism, often regarding them as primary data for scientific inquiry.
The belief that all mental phenomena can be explained by laws of association supports the reductionist view championed by earlier philosophers and psychologists.

Reduction of Psychology

Comte's reduction of psychology centered on aligning it closely with other physical sciences, emphasizing the need for empirical validation and systematic study.

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Description

Test your knowledge on different philosophical views on reality, including concepts such as external reality, perceptions, primary and secondary qualities, and the role of God in giving existence to the physical world.