Philosophical Exam Questions PDF

1. Which of the following statements regarding Thales of Miletus and his philosophical ideas are true? * 2 points Thales rejected the idea of monism and advocated for a pluralistic view of the universe. Thales proposed that the fundamental substance of the cosmos is water and asserted the existence...

1. Which of the following statements regarding Thales of Miletus and his philosophical ideas are true? * 2 points Thales rejected the idea of monism and advocated for a pluralistic view of the universe. Thales proposed that the fundamental substance of the cosmos is water and asserted the existence of an underlying order.. Thales asserted that the universe consists of various elements that cannot be reduced to a single substance. Thales' philosophy was primarily based on the concept of dualism. 2. Which of the following statements accurately describes Laozi? * 2 points Laozi's philosophy asserted that you can achieve the dao through wu wei Laozi advocated for living in harmony with nature and finding internal peace through the teachings of the Daode Jing. Laozi rejected the idea of living in harmony with nature, instead advocating for domination over it. Laozi's philosophy centered around the idea of detachment from worldly desires to attain spiritual fulfillment. 3. Which of the following statements accurately describe Heraclitus' philosophical thoughts? 2 points Heraclitus believed in the logos as a universal cosmic law governing the balance of material elements in the universe. Heraclitus famously stated, "You can never step into the same river twice." Heraclitus said that the ultimate stuff is fire. Heraclitus asserted that everything is in a constant state of flux 4. Which statement accurately reflects Parmenides' philosophical perspective? 2 points Parmenides argued that change is the only constant in the universe. Parmenides proposed that the universe is in a perpetual state of flux and transformation. Parmenides believed that reality is an illusion and that true being is unchanging and indivisible. Parmenides is an Italian philosopher who crafted the idea that the world is in order 5. Which statement accurately reflects Socrates' beliefs and actions? 2 points Socrates wrote numerous philosophical treatises that outlined his teachings and beliefs. Socrates was primarily concerned with accumulating wealth and power throughout his life. Socrates believed that knowledge is acquired through experience and does not exist within every individual. Socrates advocated for questioning and critical thinking as a means to uncover truth and wisdom. 6. Which statement accurately describes Plato's philosophy and contributions? 2 points Plato primarily advocated for empiricism as the foundation of his epistemological approach. Plato was a student of Socrates and authored the famous work "The Republic" Plato's Allegory of the Cave illustrates the distinction between the physical realm and the world of forms. Plato believed that truth is solely attainable through earthly knowledge and empirical observation. 7. Which statements accurately reflect Aristotle's philosophy and teachings? 2 points Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics introduces the concept of Mesotes as the virtue of moderation or the "golden mean". Aristotle posited that things in the material world are imperfect copies of an ideal Form of themselves. Aristotle believed that the goal of life, Eudaimonia, is achieved through the cultivation of virtue and flourishing. Aristotle asserted that truth resides solely in the world around us, rather than within inherent forms. 8. Which statements accurately reflect St. Augustine of Hippo's philosophy and beliefs? 2 points St. Augustine's perspective on the problem of evil aligned with J.L. Mackie's critique, asserting that God is directly responsible for the existence of evil. St. Augustine of Hippo was a proponent of utilitarian ethics, emphasizing the maximization of pleasure and minimization of pain. St. Augustine's Christian Platonist approach suggests that evil is an inherent aspect of God's creation, contradicting traditional Christian beliefs. St. Augustine of Hippo was a Christian philosopher renowned for his work "Confessions". 9. Which of the following statements are true about St. Thomas Aquinas? 2 points St. Thomas Aquinas was a philosopher and theologian. St. Thomas Aquinas' philosophical approach was greatly influenced by Christian Aristotelianism. St. Thomas Aquinas is renowned for his work "The Summa Theologica" and "Confessions" St. Thomas Aquinas formulated the "Five Ways," a series of philosophical arguments, aiming to establish the existence of God through reason and natural theology. 10. Which of the following statements accurately describe René Descartes? 2 points René Descartes was a French philosopher and mathematician who is famous for his cartesian doubt.. René Descartes' philosophical branch was primarily focused on metaphysics and epistemology. René Descartes primarily employed a rationalist approach in his philosophical inquiries, although he did make some concessions to empiricism. René Descartes is renowned for his work "Meditations on First Philosophy" and his statement "I think, therefore I am (Cogito, ergo sum)." 11. Which of the following statements accurately describe the Mind-body problem? 2 points The mind-body problem explores how mental states, such as thoughts and emotions, relate to physical processes in the brain and body. It questions whether the mind is an independent entity or fundamentally tied to physical brain activity. Philosophers debate whether consciousness arises from purely physical processes or if it exists as a distinct, non-physical phenomenon. The mind-body problem asserts that mental states have no impact on physical processes in the brain and body. 12. What are the main assertions of the dualist thesis regarding the mind-body problem? 2 points The mind is a non-physical thing, while the body is a physical thing. The mind and body interact in meaningful ways, influencing each other. The mind is purely physical and can be entirely explained by brain activity. Physical and non-physical things do not interact at all. 13. What is the physicalism claims regarding the mind-body problem? 2 points The body is a non-physical thing, separate from the mind. The mind exists in a realm that does not depend on physical conditions or brain function. Physical and non-physical things can coexist without influencing each other. The mind is a physical thing that can be fully understood through the study of the brain and its processes. 14. Which of the following statements best explains the concept that the mind is equivalent to the brain? 2 points The mind operates independently of the brain and does not rely on its physical structure. The mind's processes can be attributed to neural activity in the brain. Brain activity has no effect on mental experiences or consciousness. Mental states, such as thoughts and emotions, correlate directly with brain functions. 15. Which of the following statements accurately describe René Descartes' concepts of res extensa and res cogitans? 2 points Res extensa is the term Descartes used to describe the non-physical aspect of reality that involves thinking. Res extensa refers to the physical substance of the body that occupies space. Res cogitans is synonymous with material objects that exist in the physical world. Res cogitans refers to the non-physical substance of the mind, characterized by thought and consciousness. 16. Which of the following statements demonstrates René Descartes' conceivability argument? 2 points Descartes argued that if we can conceive of the mind existing without the body, then they must be distinct substances. The conceivability argument suggests that it is possible to imagine a scenario where the mind and body are separate. Descartes used the example of dreaming to illustrate that our thoughts can exist independently of our physical bodies. The conceivability argument claims that the mind and body are the same substance and cannot exist apart from one another. 17. Which of the following statements describes the causal closure argument regarding the mind and body? 2 points The causal closure argument posits that every physical event has a sufficient physical cause within the physical realm. The causal closure argument claims that mental events can occur without any physical causes or effects. The argument suggests that physical events can be fully explained without considering mental states or consciousness. The causal closure argument suggest that if mental states cause physical actions, they must be reducible to physical processes. 18. Which of the following statements provides evidence for the claim that alterations in your brain will change your conscious experience? 2 points Conscious experience remains completely unchanged regardless of any physical alterations made to the brain. Phineas Gage's personality changed dramatically after a severe brain injury, demonstrating the connection between brain structure and conscious experience. Neuroimaging studies show that specific brain areas activate during certain emotional experiences, indicating a direct link between brain activity and consciousness. When individuals undergo brain surgery to remove a tumor, their conscious thoughts and behaviors often change significantly afterward. 19. Which of the following statements relates to the hard problem of consciousness? 2 points The hard problem of consciousness claims that all forms of consciousness can be observed and measured without any ambiguity or complexity. The hard problem of consciousness suggests that consciousness can be fully explained through behavioral responses alone, without considering subjective experiences. David Chalmers argues that the hard problem of consciousness involves explaining why and how subjective experiences arise from physical processes. The hard problem of consciousness highlights the difficulty in understanding how mental states correlate with physical brain activity. 20. Which of the following statements accurately describes the phantom limb phenomenon in relation to the mind-body problem? 2 points The phantom limb phenomenon shows that consciousness can exist independently of any physical structure in the body, without any correlation to brain activity. The phantom limb phenomenon occurs when individuals who have lost a limb continue to experience sensations, including pain, in the absent limb. The brain retains a representation of the missing limb, indicating a connection between mental experience and physical body representation. Phantom limb sensations can be triggered by stimuli to other body parts, demonstrating the brain's intricate mapping of the body.