philosophy midterm

Which is an example of a Final Cause?

the construction of a bridge to facilitate trade

Skeptics do not believe that there is a clear path to happiness. The closest thing to it is being comfortable with knowing that there is no proven path to find happiness. What would Epicurus say about this idea?

Anyone can tell if something is pleasurable or not.

Socrates believed the role of the philosopher was to help people think for themselves. How is this different from the thinking of the Pre-Socratic philosophers?

It emphasizes the role of people rather than the gods.

Which BEST explains why an element of doubt is good for scientists and philosophers?

It pushes them to challenge assumptions and learn from them.

Which BEST explains why Plato wrote his work in dialogue?

It was Socrates's method.

Shari is very interested in ideas about right and wrong. She thinks that people would make better choices if they better understood morals. Which branch of philosophy should Shari focus on?

ethical

During the Hellenistic era, philosophers moved away from searches for universal truths and toward happiness. This led them to contemplate issues previous philosophers had considered in which branch of philosophy?

ethics

Which describes what "logic" means as a method of philosophy?

examining the structure of an argument

Which statement BEST describes Greek gods?

human-like figures with flaws and exceptional ability

What did Heraclitus mean when he said, "You never see the same river twice"?

A river will change from one time you see it to the next.

Ivan is contemplating the power of the mind to heal the body. He knows that stress can cause physical harm and that practices like meditation have positive effects. He thinks that this reveals a lot about human nature and how people are meant to live. Which of the methods is Ivan using?

speculation

Who would Socrates think was smarter: a young child, an accomplished general, a wise old scholar, or one who questions knowledge?

one who questions knowledge

In philosophy, asking questions often results in different, and even contradictory, answers. Is this a problem for philosophers?

No, the different responses build knowledge and that is the point.

Why is it not surprising that the Socratics are the first philosophers to be concerned with ethics?

They were more focused on the nature of man than previous thinkers.

How would Stoics react is something really wonderful happened to them?

They would accept it with a minimal reaction.

"Why is it wrong to lie?" is an ethical question.

True

Socrates was not very interested in the natural world.

True

Thales believed that everything was some form of water.

True

Aristotle's theories are considered to be the foundation of which discipline?

science

If Socrates had to choose a Hellenistic philosophy to follow, which would BEST match his ideas?

skepticism

The phrase "Nothing can be known, not even this" embodies which philosophy?

skepticism

Socrates believed that only nobility could understand philosophy.

False

Syllogisms are always true.

False

The Epicureans believed that money and luxuries are at the root of all evil.

False

Which is the BEST interpretation of the statement "Fate is...the formula by which the world goes on"?

Fate runs the world.

Which BEST explains how Greek myths were "the cradle of philosophy"?

Myths were the stage before philosophy emerged.

Which explains how morals and mythology mix in Hesiod's Works and Days?

Work is good because it is what the gods do.

One of the skills that studying philosophy builds is learning to use structures for arguments and analysis. How might this help in other situations?

Recognizing structure helps analyze arguments outside of philosophy.

Based on the methods of philosophy, what would a philosopher do with an obviously false statement like "The sky is green"?

Analyze the statement before making a judgment.

Which philosopher emphasized the role of opposites (hot and cold, wet or dry, etc.) in the formation of matter?

Anaximander

Which BEST compares and contrasts Thales and Anaximenes?

Both believed in one essential element, but they differed on which element it is.

Which BEST explains Socrates's beliefs about ethics?

Both individuals and the state should act ethically.

What does philosophy have in common with religion?

Both seek to explain larger truths.

How did Pythagoras combine math and philosophy?

He believed that math could be used to explain the entire universe.

Epicurus emphasized the physical life and meeting the needs of the body. Why was he opposed to overindulging the body?

He wanted to avoid pain, and excess causes discomfort.

Aristotle made this statement: "I will not allow Athens to sin twice against philosophy." What does it mean?

He would not let himself be killed like Socrates.

Which is the BEST interpretation of the statement "In philosophy, the process of trying to answer questions is more important than the answer"?

Inquiry is the most important part of the philosophical process.

How did understanding atoms help Epicurus deal with fear of death?

Knowing that the body became particles meant it had no feeling.

How does materialism differ from naturalism?

Naturalism focuses on natural law and materialism on how matter is formed.

Does Hesiod's Theogony have a moral lesson?

No, it focuses on power struggles among the gods.

Which BEST explains why the history of Western philosophy is also the history of Western civilization?

Philosophy reveals how people thought in different eras.

What was Plato's reason for deciding that the senses were less reliable than the world of forms?

Physical form could change, so it could not hold truth.

How were the philosophers different from those who believed in myths in ancient Greece?

The philosophers sought answers in this world rather than in supernatural figures.

One of the reasons that the Greeks focused on philosophy was that they were beginning to question the role of their gods. Yet during the classical period, many temples and structures were dedicated to the gods. What BEST explains this contradiction?

Some questioned religion, but it was still an essential part of Greek culture.

Diogenes had no problem being compared to a dog, and Pyrrho argued that a pig could be a role model. Both of these seem to indicate that animals are better than or equal to humans. What point were they trying to make?

They were highlighting the animals' ability to be content.

Greek mythology might not have emerged if which of the following were true?

The gods were great moral examples for humans.

The death of Alexander the Great marked the end of Greek dominance in the region. What is the BEST argument to suggest that this is not necessarily the case?

The influence of the Greek philosophers lasts to this day, so it was not really the end.

According to Plato, what is the difference between the world of forms and the physical world?

The world of forms is abstract while the physical world is concrete.

What did Socrates have in common with the Hellenistic philosophers?

They believed that philosophy should enrich daily lives.

What does Pyrrho have in common with Socrates?

They both thought peace came from recognizing what you don't know.

Which statement BEST explains the function of myths in ancient Greece?

They could explain natural phenomena.

What aspect of The Iliad and The Odyssey make it clear that these works are NOT historically accurate?

They describe interference from the gods.

Which is TRUE of the kinds of questions that philosophers ask?

They seek to address big, often complex, questions.

Which BEST explains the paradox of freedom?

Western societies believe in predetermination and choice.

How would Socrates MOST likely respond to someone who made this statement?

What do you mean by "horse"?

Which "why" question would a philosopher ask?

Why does mankind create art?

Would a cynic believe that a person in prison can be happy?

Yes, because happiness is a choice that no one can take from individuals.

What was Aristotle's "Ladder of Life"?

a way of organizing all of the species

Which disciplines were developed based on the Greek questioning of the elements?

chemistry and biology

Moriah believes that she has seen a ghost. Her friend Marcos is a philosophy student, and he tells her that she raises an interesting question that covers two branches of philosophy. Which two branches is he referring to?

metaphysics and epistemology