Rene Descartes believed that there is at least one truth that can be known with absolute certainty.
True
False
The method of Cartesian doubt, when applied by Rene Descartes in Meditations I, leads Descartes to conclude that even though he can doubt beliefs from his childhood, he can at least be certain about beliefs derived from his senses (such as: "There is a paper in my hand", "I am seated in front of a fire", "These hands and body are mine").
True
False
Rene Descartes believed that the essential nature of pain could be located in the activity of the body's nervous system in response to “painful” external stimuli.
True
False
Rene Descartes believed that though there exist two fundamentally different kinds of substances (physical and non-physical), these substances never interact with each other.
True
False
If I am a behaviorist (in philosophy), I likely believe that the non-physical soul of the Christian faith does NOT exist.
True
False
According to the compatibilist, a free act cannot be determined by prior events or causes.
True
False
If I am a causal determinist, I necessarily believe that compatibilism is true.
True
False
In his 1982 paper "What Mary Didn't Know", Frank Jackson argues that reductive explanations of mental states in psychology and neuroscience are possible.
True
False
A major difference between ancient skepticism (400 BC-200 AD) and modern skepticism (1600-onward) is that modern skepticism directs individuals to distance themselves from their beliefs and judgments.
True
False
Of the three theories covered in the mind, body, consciousness unit, which is/are consistent with the views of someone who believes in "naturalism"?
Only Cartesian dualism
Both Cartesian dualism and behaviorism
Only behaviorism
Only mind-brain identity theory
Both behaviorism and mind-brain identity theory
The most well-known problem facing Cartesian mind/body dualism is best reflected by which of the following questions
How can humans have free will if determinism is true?
How can the mind enter into a dream?
How can something non-physical (mind) affect something physical (the body)?
How can the mind and the body be the same thing?
How can God exist?
Which of the following best reflects the materialist's response to the problem of mind-body interaction?
"The mind and body interact with each other by way of a miracle"
"The mind and body interact with each other through waves of communication through space (like radio waves)"
"The mind and body do not interact with each other, even though they are two fundamentally different kinds of substances"
"There is no problem of mind-body interaction because the mind is a physical thing just like the body."
"There is no problem of mind-body interaction because nonphysical and physical things interact all the time in the world."
A mind-brain identity theorist is likely to define pain as:
Behavior such as screaming, wincing, crying
Brain states
Nonphysical states of the soul
A social construction
None of the listed
Which of the following cases offers a basis for criticizing behaviorism's definition of mental states?
A child cries upon receiving a tetanus shot
A tai chi master master exhibits pure calm and equanimity upon being stabbed by a hunting spear
A child bites another kid upon provocation
An alcoholic overcomes his addiction by undergoing shock therapy
A woman whose leg required amputation suffers from bouts of depression
In a behaviorist's explanation for why a child bit another child in a daycare center, which of the following items would be most emphasized in the explanation?
The child's soul
The child's character traits
The child's past experiences (including his upbringing)
The child's neurochemistry and hormone balance before the incident
The will of God
According to the mind-brain identity theorist, a reductive explanation of pain or love would make reference to:
Only a non-physical soul
Only outward behavior and movement of the physical body
Both a non-physical soul and outward behavior and movement of the physical body
Only neurochemical activity in the brain
Only God and his will
Which of the following works is most likely to offer a reductive explanation of a person's experience of love?
A science (neuroscience) textbook
A Lord Byron love poem
A Selena Gomez song (on re-pe-pe-peat)
Religious scripture
A painting from the Romantic period
The problem of free will, as discussed in the free will unit, is a problem of trying to explain how causal determinism can co-exist with our belief in free will as well as the appropriateness of our tendency, as humans, to do which of the following?
Our tendency to believe in a higher power
Our tendency to strive for wealth and power
Our tendency to want to blame the driver who just recklessly cut us off on the highway
Our tendency to love our offspring
None of the listed
Suppose I am a causal determinist. Which of the following can you necessarily conclude about what I believe?
I believe free will does not exist
I believe free will does exist
I believe there are no alternative possibilities; things could not be other than they are
I believe that God exists
None of the listed
Causal determinism is defined as:
The view that all events (including human action) are the result of prior events and the laws of nature
The view that humans have no free will
The view that humans have free will
The view that the mind and brain are identical
The view that the mind and brain are separate substances
Libertarianism is committed to the truth of which of the following?
Humans do not have free will
Humans have free will
Causal determinism is false
Free will and determinism are compatible
Some combination of the above
Though a hard determinist and a libertarian differ in many respects, with which of the following do they agree?
Causal determinism is true
Causal determinism and free will can coexist
Humans have free will
Humans do not have free will
Causal determinism and free will cannot coexist
How does the compatibilist define a ‘free act’?
An act performed in line with God’s will
An act that is causally determined
An act that is not causally determined
An act that could have been otherwise
An act done from one’s own desires, wants, values in the absence of impediments
Which of the following theories below would affirm that alternative possibilities exist?
Compatibilism only
Causal determinism only
Libertarianism only
Both compatibilism and causal determinism
Both compatibilism and libertarianism
Some people argue that causal determinism cannot be true because they “feel free”. A common response covered in class to this argument by a causal determinist, however, would be:
These people have offered no definite proof that causal determinism is false
These people are relying on irrational religious beliefs
These people are simply ignorant of the numerous and complex web of causes that determine their behavior and move them to act as they do
These people would feel the force of causal determinism if they simply were more mindful
All of the above
Which of the following are reason(s) Rene Descartes initially casts doubt on beliefs from his sense experience?
He notices that he has bad eyes
He poses the possibility that he could be dreaming
He poses the possibility he is on an acid trip
He poses the possibility that he is being deceived by an evil being
None of the listed
Without specifying which type of skepticism (ancient or modern), broadly speaking, is a philosophical theory that does which of the following?
Argues that morality is defined in terms of producing happiness
Questions our ability to have knowledge
Argues that we should suspend all belief and judgment
Argues that knowledge is absolute
States that all knowledge is a priori
What is the ultimate aim (the end goal) of ancient skepticism, according to Sextus Empiricus?
To achieve forgiveness in the eyes of the gods
To achieve a life of pleasure or happiness
To achieve recognition that one knows nothing
To achieve a mind characterized by tranquility and lack of disturbance
To overcome temptation for bodily pleasures
According to Sextus Empiricus, which of the following describe(s) a central characteristic of a person who has achieved tranquility?
The person experiences pleasure on a regular basis
The person is able to feel empathy for others on an ongoing basis
The person never feels physical pain
The person is able to avoid identifying with beliefs or judgments about the world
The person is able to meditate for long hours