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Phil. 102: Introduction to Philosophy
The Value of Philosophy and The Meaning of Life
Summer, 2009
1 General Instructions
Do not recopy the questions when you submit the answers to this test. Simply number the questions in accordance with the test sheet. Be sure to review the “Grades” section in the syllabus here:
http://philosophy.lander.edu/intro/syllabusCT_summer/node5.html
Caution: All work on this test must be your own work. Do not discuss objective questions with other members of the class. Be sure to review policy requirements for tests in the syllabus under the sections entitled, “Evaluation,” “Tests,” and “ How to Save with a .doc Extension.” Important: Statistical checks of academic honesty are made on all tests submitted for both objective and essay questions. See ReadMe1 for how this is done.
2 Objective Questions (30 pts.)
Directions: Select the best responses to the following questions. On your test write the just letter of the best answer next to the number of the question. Do not include the question or the text answer on your paper.
- John Dewey argues that in education we should
(a) dedicate our studies to preparing for future challenges. (b) concentrate on our studies in the here and now. (c) dedicate ourselves so that we can master one field of study. (d) study as many different fields as possible in order to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. (e) learn by doing rather than by theory.
2 OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (30 PTS.)
- One of the most important characteristics of philosophical activity is that philosophy is (a) a rejection of all common sense for theorizing. (b) seeks facts, rather than relationships between facts. (c) is an empirical, rather than a conceptual discipline. (d) a systematic inquiry into the assumptions of a subject. (e) one of the newer social sciences like psychology.
- The epistemologist attempts to answer the question:
(a) How do we determine the ultimate nature of reality? (b) What are aesthetics, moral philosophy, and ontology? (c) What is the difference between induction and induction? (d) How do we determine whether our beliefs are true or not? (e) What are the ultimate generalizations of the human intellect?
- Axiology can be briefly defined as
(a) the study of the assumption of any endeavor. (b) the discipline concerned with postulates and axioms. (c) any inquiry into the study of ultimate reality. (d) the attempt to find out about the good life. (e) the study of the nature and scope of value.
- In his trial Socrates is accused of
(a) being an atheist. (b) being a troublemaker or a gadfly. (c) doing the sort of things a scientist does. (d) corrupting the young. (e) all of the above.
- The psychological reason why Socrates is being prosecuted is probably that Socrates (a) believes he is above the law. (b) is a foreigner and does not understand the law. (c) was a bother to the influential people of Athens. (d) sought a virtuous life. (e) was neglectful of his wife.
- Socrates refutes the charge that he corrupts the young by pointing out that
(a) the Delphic Oracle commanded him to know himself. (b) there are no witnesses present to refute him. (c) he believes in the gods and so is good. (d) he could not do wrong unintentionally. (e) his inner voice would not allow him to do so.
3 MATCHING (15 PTS.)
- According to Tolstoy, “the truth” is
(a) art is a decoy of life. (b) rational people cannot provide life’s meaning. (c) our life is limited. (d) a mid-life crisis is inevitable. (e) Christian doctrines give value to life.
- An arrest of life as described by Tolstoy is
(a) a physical illness which limits what we can do. (b) a questioning of a person’s religious obligations. (c) asking the questions, “How?, When?, and Where?” (d) loss of mental and physical powers. (e) a loss of meaning to whatever one does.
- Tolstoy felt that philosophy cannot provide the meaning of life because
(a) philosophical reasoning is really only the statement of identities. (b) philosophy can only express finite ideas. (c) rationality reduces life to the insignificant. (d) philosophy cannot explain the infinite. (e) all of the above are true.
3 Matching (15 pts.)
Directions: Match the philosophical paraphrases in Column 2 with the philosophers in Column 1 by typing the most appropriate number or num- bers next to the typed name of the philosopher.
Column 1 Column 2
Socrates 1. Death is the truth.
Russell 2. Socrates was my teacher.
Tolstoy 3. “Evil” means the same thing as “ignorance.”
Plato 4. Philosophical questions form the origins of science.
Scudder 5. Facts are meaningful only in respect to laws.
4 ESSAY (55 PTS.)
4 Essay (55 pts.)
Directions: Answer any three of the following four essay questions in considerable detail. Be sure to include supporting reasons for your view and explain clearly the philosophical concepts used. Provide specific and thoroughly explained examples illustrating those concepts.
(a) Explain several reasons why we should free ourselves from the prej- udices of the practical individual according to Bertrand Russell. In- clude in your answer what “enlargement of self” is. Be sure to explain specific examples of the philosophical and practical minds. (b) Explain in detail the argument Socrates uses to show that death is a good. Is the argument a good one? Why or why not? (c) According to Socrates, how should a person live? What should be our chief concern? Explain the philosophy called “the Socratic Paradox.” Explain the example of whether Socrates would support seeking ones own interest by cheating on a minor test in order to get graduate on time and obtain a high-paying job. Explain why is Socrates’ belief is called paradoxical. (d) According to Tolstoy, how is it that faith provides life’s meaning, and science, philosophy, and art do not. Provide a detailed explanation. Explain examples of the kind of faith of which Tolstoy would not approve.
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