Philosophy Quiz 3

At the beginning of the Third Meditation, before Descartes has argued for God's reality, Descartes wonders whether he can rely on the fact that "two plus three equals five" seems clearly and distinctly true to him. Which one of the following best expresses Descartes' answer? Yes: because "two plus three equals five" seems clearly and distinctly true to me, I know with certainty that it is true. Although I can't psychologically doubt that "two plus three equals five", there is a slight possibility that I am dreaming. Although I can't psychologically doubt that "two plus three equals five", there is a slight possibility that an evil demon is deceiving me about that proposition. Yes: because I have good reason to believe "two plus three equals five", it is reasonable for me to rely on that fact as I go forward with my project of getting knowledge.

Although I can't psychologically doubt that "two plus three equals five", there is a slight possibility that an evil demon is deceiving me about that proposition.

Which one of the following principles of adequate reality does Descartes endorse in the Third Meditation? Any cause of an idea must have at least as much intrinsic reality as the idea has representative reality Any cause of an idea must have more intrinsic reality than the idea has representative reality. Any cause of an idea must have more representative reality than the idea has representative reality. Any cause of an idea must have at least as much representative reality as the idea has intrinsic reality.

Any cause of an idea must have at least as much intrinsic reality as the idea has representative reality

Which scenario--Descartes' evil genius scenario or Descartes' dreaming scenario--is the most radical skeptical scenario (i.e., the scenario such that, were you in it, you would have the least knowledge)? Neither Descartes' evil genius scenario nor Descartes' dreaming scenario is a more radical skeptical scenario than the other. Descartes' evil genius scenario. Descartes' dreaming scenario

Descartes' evil genius scenario.

Descartes believed that an evil demon was deceiving him as much as it was possible for Descartes to be deceived. True or False

False

In Meno, Socrates says that true belief is prized just as highly as knowledge is prized. True or False

False

According to the "Argument Interpretation" of Descartes' cogito passage, the first thing that Descartes came to know with epistemic certainty was proposition p ("I exist"), and the way he came to know p with epistemic certainty was by utilizing the "Cogito Argument" (see below). One major problem with the Argument Interpretation is that Cogito Argument 1. I think. 2. Anything that thinks exists. C. I exist. [1, 2] The Cogito Argument is invalid. Premise 2 of the Cogito Argument is false, because something could think without existing. If the Argument Interpretation is correct, then Descartes would have to know with certainty the premises of the Cogito Argument before he came to know p with certainty. If the Argument Interpretation is correct, then Descartes came to know p by intuition.

If the Argument Interpretation is correct, then Descartes would have to know with certainty the premises of the Cogito Argument before he came to know p with certainty.

Which of the following is not among Descartes' four rules of method? Never accept anything as true unless it has been corroborated by at least one other expert on the relevant issue. Never accept anything as true unless it is clearly and distinctly true. Go from the simple to the complex. Divide complex problems into their component parts.

Never accept anything as true unless it has been corroborated by at least one other expert on the relevant issue.

The following argument is one interpretation of Descartes' cosmological argument in the Third Meditation. 1. I have an idea of God. 2. Every idea has a cause. 3. My idea of God has a cause. [1, 2] 4. All causes must have at least as much intrinsic reality as their effects have representative reality. 5. The cause of my idea of God must have at least as much intrinsic reality as my idea of God has representative reality. [3, 4] 6. If (5), then God is the only possible thing with enough intrinsic reality to cause my idea of God. 7. God is the only possible thing with enough intrinsic reality to cause my idea of God. [5, 6] 8. If (7), then God exists. C. God exists. [7, 8] Which objection shows that the argument above fails to prove its conclusion? Premise 4 is false, because some effects are not about anything at all. Premise 5 is false, because Descartes has at least as much intrinsic reality as his idea of God has representative reality. Premise 6 is false, because Descartes has at least as much intrinsic reality as his idea of God has representative reality. The argument is invalid.

Premise 6 is false, because Descartes has at least as much intrinsic reality as his idea of God has representative reality.

The following theory (T1) is an analysis of knowledge T1. Person S knows that proposition p if and only if (i) S believes p, (ii) p is true, and (iii) S gives an account of the reason why p is true. T1 best describes the theory of knowledge endorsed by which philosopher? Plato in Phaedo. Socrates in Meno.

Socrates in Meno.

In the Second Meditation, Descartes claimed to know with certainty that anything that is wax is extended and flexible. anything that is wax is flexible and solid. anything that is wax is extended and solid. wax actually exists.

anything that is wax is extended and flexible.

A1 (see below) is a correct analysis of "having a certain indication of being awake". A1: Person S has a certain indication of being awake if and only if (i) S has a feature F that cannot be present unless S is awake, and (ii) F is unmistakably present in S's experience. As we noted in class, the feature we described as follows: feeling a pinch from oneself: fails to satisfy condition (ii) of A1, but satisfies condition (1) of A1. fails to satisfy condition (i) of A1, but satisfies condition (ii) of A1. fails to satisfy condition (i) of A1 and fails to satisfy condition (ii) of A1. satisfies condition (i) of A1 and satisfies condition (ii) of A1

fails to satisfy condition (i) of A1 and fails to satisfy condition (ii) of A1.

Everything with representative reality has intrinsic reality. true or false

false

In the Third Meditation, Descartes supposes that he has found the distinguishing mark of knowing something for certain. What is it? having some evidence for a proposition having a reason to think a proposition is true realizing that one is not dreaming feeling sure that a proposition is clearly and distinctly true

feeling sure that a proposition is clearly and distinctly true

According to Socrates in Phaedo, "the philosophical attitude" with respect to arguments is characterized by one's goal of convincing others to agree with one. knowing the truth about a matter. winning the argument. teaching truth to society in order to improve it

knowing the truth about a matter.

As we noted in class, Rene Descartes became disillusioned by his education, because he thought it was full of error. The one subject he was impressed by--and which became his model for gaining knowledge--was philosophy mathematics physics psychology

mathematics

Which one of the following expresses the correct ordering, starting from the least real and moving to the most real, of the scale of "representative reality" that Descartes utilizes in his argument for God's reality in the Third Meditation? nothingness; modes; finite substance; infinite substance infinite substance; finite substance; modes; nothingness modes; nothingness; finite substance, infinite substance nothingness; finite substance; modes; infinite substance

nothingness; modes; finite substance; infinite substance

According to what Socrates says in Meno, one knows that proposition p is true if one's belief that p is true and one gives an account of the reason why p is true. one's belief that p is true. one's belief that p is true and one feels sure that p is true. one's belief that p is true and one has some evidence for p.

one's belief that p is true and one gives an account of the reason why p is true.

A1 (see below) is a correct analysis of "having a certain indication of being awake". A1: Person S has a certain indication of being awake if and only if (i) S has a feature F that cannot be present unless S is awake, and (ii) F is unmistakably present in S's experience. In class we noted that the feature we described as follows: having one's brain waves in a waking-only pattern: satisfies condition (i) of A1 but does not satisfy condition (ii) of A1. satisfies condition (ii) of A1 but does not satisfy condition (i) of A1. does not satisfy condition (i) of A1 and does not satisfy condition (ii) of A1. satisfies condition (i) of A1 and satisfies condition (ii) of A1.

satisfies condition (i) of A1 but does not satisfy condition (ii) of A1.

According to what we called the "Epistemic Discovery Interpretation" of Descartes' cogito passage, Descartes came to know with certainty "I exist" in a moment of intuition (rational insight), as a result of his realization that the ultimate reason to doubt would be that an evil genius occasionally deceives me. I have always been dreaming. something is deceiving me as much as its possible for me to be deceived. my sense perceptions sometimes mislead me into believing false propositions.

something is deceiving me as much as its possible for me to be deceived.