Deck 31: Daniel Dennett: Postmodernism and Truth

Question 1

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-According to Dennett, Rorty's view of truth and reality is that it is all about

A) objectivity.
B) science.
C) conversations.
D) ignorance.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-According to Dennett, the claim that the Holocaust happened during World War II is

A) a metaphor.
B) a truth about an event that really happened.
C) a subjective truth.
D) a mind game.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-According to Dennett, the point of asking questions is to

A) discover answers that members of a community can agree on.
B) play a language game.
C) continue the conversation.
D) find true answers.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-According to Dennett, the methods of science are not foolproof, but they are

A) indefinitely perfectible.
B) useful though false.
C) infallible.
D) relative to cultures.

Question 5

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett says that the recognition of the difference between appearance and reality is a human discovery.

Question 6

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett points out that, like science, religion is willing to abandon its orthodoxy in the face of irresistible evidence.

Question 7

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett maintains that doubt has provoked humans to seek better truth-seeking methods.

Question 8

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett is repulsed by the professor who wanted an epistemology whether or not it was true.

Question 9

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett says philosophers need not hold themselves responsible for what they say.

Question 10

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett mostly agrees with Rorty.

Question 11

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett says Rorty encourages a postmodernist skepticism about truth.

Question 12

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett says that we are not the species that discovered doubt.

Question 13

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett rejects cognitive relativism.

Question 14

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett doesn't think that Rorty deserves his large and enthralled readership in the arts and humanities.

Question 15

In this essay Dennett argues that postmodernist ideas, such as Rorty's, fail to understand the importance of truth. They either reject the concept in favor of an irrational cognitive relativism or undervalue truth, giving it minor importance.
-Dennett says there is a gap between appearance and reality.