Philosophy 201 Midterm

Examination of Euthyphro's second proposal, that the pious is what the gods love, reveals A. that Euthyphro's stories about the gods lead him, together with this definition, into contradiction B. that we don't know what the gods love C. that it only tells us how the gods regard the pious, not what it is

A

In his conversations, Socrates A. often professed ignorance of the subject being discussed B. tried to teach others the truth as he saw it C. confessed that if an opinion seemed true to you, then that settled the matter - for you. D. tried not to antagonize people

A

In the Myth of the Cave, A. the prisoners represent all of us before we begin to search for wisdom B. the prisoners are forced to look directly at the fire, though that hurts their eyes C. no one who escapes and sees reality as it is would ever return to that dismal place

A

One thing Socrates does not say during his defense speech at the trial is that A. life is the greatest good B. a good man cannot be harmed C. it is wicked and shameful to do wrong

A

Suppose I do something wrong, but offer an excuse. Which of these excuses, if true, would be acceptable, according to Aristotle? A. I didn't know that was wrong B. My parents mistreated me when I was young C. I did it to Jones because Jones did it to me D. I was forced to do it

A

The first principles of a science are A. the clearest and most certain things we know B. arrived at by demonstration C. proved to be true through syllogistic reasoning D. unknowable

A

The lesson of the sailors-on-the-ship analogy is that A. statesmanship, like navigation, requires knowledge B. sailors are generally an unruly lot C. whoever has power in a state had better watch out, for there are always others ready to snatch it away D. democracy is the best form of government

A

The philosopher, Plato says, cultivates dying. He says this because A. philosophizing attaches us to intelligible realities, and so separates us from the body B. he realizes we all fear death and need help to approach it with courage C. philosophers hate life D. the wise Silenus has said that the best thing for a human being is not to be, and the next best is to die soon

A

Virtue, Aristotle says, is defined by a mean relative to us. He means that A. facts about an individual and her circumstances are relevant to what should be done B. we all have different values C. if you think x is the right thing to do, who's to say you are wrong? D. there are no virtues common to all

A

Forms are related to visible things by being A. mirror images of them B. ideas of them in our minds C. their cause and explanation D. identical with the class of things having something in common with a given thing

D

In Aristotle's account of the four causes, A. the efficient cause of the world is God B. the final cause Is pure potentiality C. the formal cause is the three-dimensional shape (or form) that a material object has D. the material cause is the one that explains the individuality of things

D

In discussions with others, Socrates A. held that victory would go to the best speaker B. used the arts of rhetoric as taught by the Sophists C. asked for payment before he began the discussion D. preferred to be criticized and refuted rather than to refute others

D

Socrates is unlike the Sophists in that A. he took very little pay for his teaching, and as a result remained poor, while they grew rich B. he was interested in the question of human excellence C. the youth of Athens sought out his company D. he thought winning was not the main thing

D

Socrates refuses Crito's offer of escape from prison because A. he is already seventy years old and would die soon anyway B. it would be dangerous for his family if he tried to escape C. he doesn't want to be a burden on those who would have to take him in after the escape D. in escaping he would do injury to the laws of Athens

D

Soul, according to Aristotle, is A. the unique possession of rational creatures such as humans B. a primary substance C. common to all nature-facts D. the form of a living body

D

The main thing Socrates wants Euthyphro to teach him is A. why it is just to prosecute your father for murder B. why the gods quarrel C. the form of justice D. what makes something pious

D

The soul, Plato tells us, has distinct parts, each of which has a function. For instance: A. the ego, which is the reality principle B. the id, or set of unconscious desires present in every soul C. the superego, or one's conscience D. reason, which guides

D

Rationalism

knowledge based on reason and rational argument

Epiricism

knowledge based on senses

Nomos

law based on human decision

Physis

law of nature, independent of human decision

Either/or

oversimplifying an argument by reducing it to only two sides or choices

Straw man

oversimplifying an opponent's viewpoint and attacking that hollow argument

False authority

quoting an expert instead of evidence

Logic

reasoning based on principles of reality

Deduction

reasoning from general to specific

Induction

reasoning from specific to general

Circular argument

restates argument rather than proving it

Metaphysics

study of the nature of reality

In a syllogism, A. the conclusion follows from the premises B. there are always exactly three terms C. the premises must be true if the conclusion is true D. if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true

B

One of Socrates' settled convictions is that A. it is useless to search for the truth; that is for the gods alone to know B. someone who knows what justice is will be just C. when a person does evil, it is because their will is corrupt D. the most important thing is to take care of your family

B

The oracle at Delphi told Socrates' friend that A. Socrates should spend his life questioning the Athenians about virtue B. no one was wiser than Socrates C. Oedipus would kill his father

B

Euthyphro meets Socrates before the court because A. he is being prosecuted for the murder of his father B. he is prosecuting his father for murder C. he has charged Socrates with impiety D. his reputation as an expert on piety has beenchallenged, and he is in court to defend it

B

God, Aristotle says, A. cares for his creatures as a father cares for his child B. functions as the final cause for the world C. knows the number of hairs on each person's head D. is a moved unmover

B

Aristotle differs from Plato in A. believing knowledge is different from opinion B. holding that something like a puppy is as real as anything can be C. loving wisdom less D. being more otherworldly than Plato

B

According to Plato, education is A. fun and painless B. a one-time event C. difficult and sometimes uncomfortable

C

Aristotle defines happiness(eudaemonia) as A. harmony in the soul B. a feeling of excellence (arete) pervading the soul C. activity of the soul in accord with reason D. whatever makes you feel good about yourself

C

Happiness, according to Plato, is A. a matter of how you feel B. determined by how many of your desires are satisfied C. a condition of harmony among the parts of the soul D. something even a bad person can experience

C

Nature is purposive, Aristotle says, in virtue of A. the plan God had in mind when he created nature B. intentions resident in every nature-fact C. the entelechy resident in things D. our using nature for own purposes

C

Pleasure, for Aristotle, is A. never to be sought as an end B. the end that humans are naturally motivated by C. unsuitable as the principal end for rational creatures D. the reason we should be virtuous

C

The reason Socrates concludes that death is not an evil is that A it is either a dreamless sleep or conversation with those that died before B it is not wise to fear something when you do not know whether it is bad C all of the above

C

According to Plato, the characteristics of knowledge are that it is A. true B. unchanging C. backed up by reasons D. all of the above

D

Aristotle explains change in terms of A. atoms and the void B. flux and opposition C. the vortex motion of the universe D. actuality and potentiality

D

A moral person A. may have a rough time in life, but will be admired by all in the end B. may or may not be a happy person C. is the person considered by a community to be moral D. will be a happy person

D

A statement, according to Aristotle, is A. like a prayer B. composed of three or more terms C. like knowledge, always true D. either true or false

D

Ad populum/bandwagon appeal

an appeal that presents what most people think in order to persuade one to think the same way

Ad hominem

an attack on the character of a person rather than their opinions or arguments

Red herring

a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues by avoiding opposing arguments

Skepticism

attitude of doubt

Relativism

belief that ethics and morals are relative to the individual, culture, and/or time period

Idealism

belief that objects only exist to those that perceive them

Materialism

belief that reality is composed of matter

Moral equivalence

compares minor misdeeds with major atrocities, suggesting that both are equally immoral

False analogy

comparing arguments that are not comparable

Hasty Generalization

conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence

Begging the claim

conclusion is validated within the claim

post hoc ergo propter hoc

conclusion that a sequence in time implies a cause and effect

Slippery Slope

conclusion that taking a first step will lead to subsequent steps that cannot be prevented

Epistemology

theory of knowledge