Deck 15: The Pragmatist: William James

Question 1

Much of James s work is couched in feminine terms.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

James was never a product of his times in any way.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

James believed that it was impossible to be too sentimental.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

James gave credit for his success to his brother.

Question 5

William James and Henry James, the novelist, were brothers.

Question 6

James was invited to give the Gifford lectures in Scotland.

Question 7

James was affiliated with Harvard for all his professional life.

Question 8

James called on persons to be consciously responsible for their lives.

Question 9

The first expression of pragmatism appears in the work of C. S. Pierce.

Question 10

Peirce endorsed James s version of pragmatism.

Question 11

James taught and liked Teddy Roosevelt.

Question 12

Pragmatism is a rationalist philosophy.

Question 13

Pragmatism is a male philosophy.

Question 14

James was on the verge of suicide as a student.

Question 15

William James said that we necessarily disbelieve any facts that are not useful to us.

Question 16

Most early pragmatists were Scottish.

Question 17

The word pragmatism is from the Greek for deed .

Question 18

William James attended Harvard.

Question 19

James was an important figure in the early history of modern psychology.

Question 20

William James was a pragmatist.

Question 21

James saw pragmatism as a

A) collection of beliefs
B) method
C) will to power
D) source of confusion

Question 22

Peirce wanted to develop a philosophy free of meaningless abstractions.

Question 23

James referred to theories as conceptual shorthand .

Question 24

Who did James think had historically dominated philosophy?

A) Pragmatists
B) Empiricists
C) Moderates
D) Extremists

Question 25

Peirce advocated pragmaticism.

Question 26

James used pragmatism to reject religion.

Question 27

William James held that all of our scientific ideals are

A) mistaken
B) correct
C) drains to confusion
D) altars to gods

Question 28

According to James, one of the regular fruits of overstudious philosophy is

A) wisdom
B) religion
C) skepticism
D) reality

Question 29

Pragmatism has no theory of meaning.

Question 30

James saw pragmatism primarily as a collection of truths.

Question 31

What is not a tough-minded trait?

A) Pluralistic
B) Skeptical
C) Empiricist
D) Optimistic

Question 32

James held that the philosophy which is important to us is a technical matter.

Question 33

What is not a tender-minded trait?

A) Fatalistic
B) Religious
C) Monistic
D) Idealistic

Question 34

Which philosophical approach contradicts itself?

A) pragmatism
B) pragmaticism
C) strict relativism
D) act utilitarianism

Question 35

What settles our opinions, according to James?

A) Truth
B) Society
C) The will to power
D) The will to believe

Question 36

How many temperamental types did James identify?

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 37

Peirce claimed that the only differences between the meanings of words arose from their etymology.

Question 38

Peirce rejected the views of the empiricists.

Question 39

Pragma means an act or without consequences .

Question 40

What does life present us with, according to James?

A) Truth
B) Meaning
C) Forced options
D) Voluntary choices

Question 41

Is science any more objective than religion, according to James? What implications might his view have for current discussions on teaching creationism in science classes? Do you agree with James here?

Question 42

What can be proved, according to James?

A) Nothing
B) That we have free will
C) That God exists
D) Morality

Question 43

For James, truth is always

A) clear
B) personal
C) difficult
D) pleasant

Question 44

What creates truth, according to James?

A) Life
B) Religion
C) Belief
D) Will

Question 45

How many times must sick souls be born, according to James?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 46

Which of the four major ancient schools of thought is James pragmatism closest to? In answering this question you should outline the relevant aspects of each school of thought, and show how it is similar to, or different from, that of James pragmatism.

Question 47

How do the views of James and Peirce differ? Which do you think is the most persuasive, and why?

Question 48

What is individual action, according to Peirce?

A) Impossible
B) An end
C) A means
D) necessary

Question 49

Whose emphasis on strength of will did James admire?

A) Epicureanism
B) Christian
C) Stoic
D) Aristotelian

Question 50

What did James believe we have a basic obligation to do?

A) Be egoistic
B) Be utilitarians
C) Maximize satisfactions
D) Maximize frustrations

Question 51

Do you believe that you have free will? Justify your view, taking into account the arguments of both James and Stace as you do so.

Question 52

Do you believe that pragmatism is a subjective approach to philosophy? Explain your answer.

Question 53

What according to James is a necessary condition for moral responsibility?

A) Free will
B) Compatibilism
C) Determinism
D) God

Question 54

Rationalists believe that truth is

A) Universal
B) Dependent
C) Subjective
D) Context dependent

Question 55

What is pragmatic truth ?

A) Human truth
B) Empirical truth
C) Subjective value
D) Objective value

Question 56

Who claimed that the problem of free will was not a real one?

A) James
B) Russell
C) Stace
D) Peirce

Question 57

What is man a subject for, according to Mark Twain?

A) Punishment
B) Blame
C) Pity
D) Love

Question 58

Which two beliefs are unproveable?

A) Free will and determinism
B) Free will and causation
C) Causation and determinism
D) Causation and truth

Question 59

The view that everything that happens is governed by cause and effect and follows the laws of nature, so that it must happen just as it does, is called

A) Libertarianism
B) Compatibilism
C) Determinism
D) Freedom

Question 60

What, according to James, are vital elements of the good life?

A) Struggle and love
B) Struggle and effort
C) Effort and love
D) Love and religion

Question 61

Outline the distinction between being healthy-minded and morbid-minded. Do you believe that this is (a) an accurate distinction, and (b) a useful one?

Question 62

Of the three theories of truth that you have encountered so far in this volume, which do you believe is the most accurate, and why? Explain your answer, outlining each of the three theories of truth as you do so.

Question 63

Outline the pragmatic method. Do you think that this would be useful in your own life? Explain your answer.