PHIL Exam 2

Sartre asserts that when we make choices we involve the whole of humanity. What does he mean?

By choosing an action we are creating an image of what all of humanity should be.

The first Noble Truth is that all of existence is dukkha. The second Noble Truth is that dukkha arises from within. What is the third Noble Truth?

Cessation of dukkha.

What does DMR stand for in the reading?

Deep Moral Responsibility

What thoroughly disgusting idea does Dennett mention in discussing the concept of the boundary between the self and the world?

Drinking saliva that you've spit into a glass.

Which of the following is NOT an element of the Augustinian theodicy?

God allows evil to exist as a challenge to humans.

According to Birsch, which of the following would be the best way to understand the claim that God is transcendent?

God exists outside of space and time.

Which of the following biographical statements about Friedrich Nietzsche is NOT true?

He was born in the year 1900

What is the origin of dukkha?

It's a result of our internal thirst and craving.

According to Walpola Rahula which of the following is an appropriate characterization of the attitude of Buddhism towards life?

Realistic, but light-hearted and joyful

Enlightenment or Nirvana is the "ultimate purpose" of Buddhism. It's described in many ways. Which of the following is NOT among them?

Reincarnation

In Meditation 2 Descartes discovers something that he cannot doubt. What is it?

That he exists as a thinking thing.

Which of the following does Kierkegaard consider the highest stage of human existence?

The religious stage.

Which of the following is NOT one of the fundamental differences between traditional Buddhism and the major Western religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam?

Traditional Buddhists do not believe that humans should be ethical.

What's central to the two main theodicies discussed by John Hick?

Belief in human free will.

What is the main claim of the Irenaean theodicy?

Evil serves the purpose of soul-building.

René Descartes explains his purpose at the beginning of the reading. What is he trying to accomplish?

He's trying to establish a solid foundation for knowledge.

What is a theodicy?

An attempt to reconcile the existence of God with the existence of evil.

In the "Essence of God" reading by Daniel Birsch, we get a list of the traditional properties of God. Which of the following is NOT among them?

God is unpredictable

Sartre says that for humans "existence precedes essence." What does this slogan mean?

In contrast to objects like paper-knives which are created for a specific reason, humans arise in the world undefined and become only what they will themselves to be.

Which of the following is NOT among the criticisms of Kierkegaard presented in the first half of the reading?

It's self-contradictory for Kierkegaard to try to rationally explain why we should embrace an irrational belief.

What does the Buddha say about the human soul or self?

The Buddha says that there is no soul, nor even a self

Which ONE of the following claims does Dennett make in the final section of the paper?

The self is determined by a sort of internal "election" in which the unconscious mind chooses a narratively defined persona to act as "Head of Mind."

Put in a couple of words, what is the best account of the "self" according to Dennett's description?

The subject of our linguistic story-telling.

Which of the following is NOT one of Nietzsche's criticisms of "slave morality?"

Under a system of slave morality people are not treated as equals. Some people are made subordinate to others.

Daniel Dennett uses a lot of analogies to explain his ideas. Which of the following analogies does NOT appear in the Origins of Selves reading?

Understanding the concept "self" is like understanding the concept "here."

What is Nietzsche's doctrine of the Superman? (The German word is "Ubermensch," sometimes translated as "overman.")

A being who represents the next evolutionary stage of man

According to Kierkegaard, what is the only legitimate path to belief in God?

A leap of faith.

Towards the end of the second meditation there is a famous passage in which Descartes describes an object and the way it changes. It's a confusing passage in which he's emphasizing that the existence of the mind is more obvious than the existence of bodies, and that what can be known can only be known through the mind. What's the object he describes?

A piece of wax.

Which of the following is a premise in Strawson's argument against free will?

All of the above.

Which of the following is the best reconstruction of Paley's argument? (Hint: This is a teleological argument, and teleology is about purpose. The argument goes from the recognition of purpose in the world, to the conclusion that God exists.)

All things like watches have a purpose. All things with a purpose have a designer. Nature is like a watch. Therefore nature has a designer.

Hitler comes up in the conversation. What is he compared to?

An earthquake.

The reading, "Origins of Selves"by Daniel Dennett, starts off with a reference to another philosopher that we have read and his conception of the self. Which of the following does Dennett mention?

Descartes and his belief that the self is an immaterial soul.

Dukkha is a central concept in Buddhism. As the author, Walpola Rahula, points out it's often translated as "suffering." However, it really means something broader and more complex. The Buddha identifies three aspects or categories of dukkha. Which of the following is NOT among them?

Expectation. Having expectations is a recipe for disappointment. This category includes all of the forms of "suffering" that we bring upon ourselves through our hopes and desires.

Descartes claims that all of his beliefs that are derived from the senses can be doubted. Which of the following is the main reason he gives for this claim?

He cannot be certain that he is not dreaming.

Which of the following is NOT a true statement about Jean-Paul Sartre?

He was deeply religious, serving as a Catholic bishop in Paris during the latter part of his life.

In this reading Tamler Sommers, a UH professor of philosophy, interviews Galen Strawson, a professor at the University of Reading in England. What's the main idea that they're discussing?

Humans do not have free will and thus they are not ultimately morally responsible for their actions.

Which of the following is the best one sentence summary of Sartre's main point in Existentialism is a Humanism?

Humans have complete responsiblity for every aspect of their lives.

The second half of the conversation turns to questions about the illusion of free will. What does Strawson suggest about the possibility of living without this illusion?

Living without the illusion of free will is exceptionally difficult, but perhaps through appropriate training an enlightened mind might accomplish it.

Which one of the following is a true statement about Nietzshe's philosophical views?

Nietzsche rejects the idea that there is a universal morality that applies equally to all persons.

There are several extraordinary claims made in Chapter 4. Which of the following is NOT among them?

Nirvana is the perception of the ultimate Reality or "Rädsara," a realm of perfect and unchanging forms.

Nietzsche's distinction between "master morality" and "slave morality" is fundamental to his philosophy. Nietzsche would say that three of the following statements are characteristic of "slave morality," which one is characteristic of "master morality?"

One should do as one will, creating one's own values

Siddhartha Gautama was the founder of Buddhism. He lived in Northern India (present-day Nepal). During what century was he born?

Sixth century B.C.E (500's B.C.E.)

According to the first half of the reading, Kierkegaard's ideas about religion and faith are a response to two concerns about Christianity. What are they?

That Christianity is based on a logical contradiction, and that God's existence cannot be known as an objective truth.

Descartes claims that he has some beliefs which do not derive from the senses, such as the belief that "two and three together always form five," and "squares can never have more than four sides." Nonetheless, Descartes casts doubt even upon these beliefs. Which of the following is the worry he raises?

There may exist an all-powerful evil being who deceives him.

Aquinas offers five proofs for the existence of God, often called the Five Ways. Which of the following is the best summary of the proof from motion?

Things in the world move, and everything that moves has to be moved by something else. But there cannot be an infinite chain of movers, so there must be a first mover, namely God.

Which of the following is NOT an objection to the Irenaean theodicy?

To understand evil we should think of God as a parent. If parents protect their children from every danger, then the children don't acquire the skills to protect themselves.

Kierkegaard is considered one of the founders of the philosophical movement known as existentialism, a philosophy that focuses on the nature of human experience/existence. Both of the readings describe Kierkegaard's portrayal of the fundamental human condition. What is it?

We are alienated from God by sin, and as a result we experience anxiety and despair.

William Paley claims that if we were to find a watch on the ground we would immediately know that it must have had a designer. Which of the following is his main reason for saying this?

We would see that the watch has a purpose.

The Eight-fold Path encompasses practical advice about living a life that is conducive to enlightenment. According to the author of the text, what two characteristics is the Buddha chiefly concerned to develop?

Wisdom and compassion.

Which one of the following philosophical statements would Sartre agree with?

uman free will is a burden that causes anguish.