Question 1

Who famously visited Hume as he was dying?
A) St. David
B) Boswell
C) Earl of Hertford
D) Berkeley

Accepted Answer

James Boswell famously visited David Hume on his deathbed and later wrote a vivid account of his death in his biography of Hume.

Question 2

If one accepts Hume s account of the degree to which we have knowledge of causation, is science possible? Explain your view fully.

Accepted Answer

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Question 3

Who held that reason was the ground of all knowledge?
A) Berkeley
B) Locke
C) Hume
D) Descartes

Accepted Answer

Descartes held that reason was the ground of all knowledge. He believed in a method of systematic doubt and sought to establish certain knowledge through reason alone.

Question 4

In what way might Berkeley s idealism support the view that God must exist? Does Berkeley s idealism necessarily support this view, or could one accept it and still be an atheist? Explain your answers to these questions.

Accepted Answer

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Question 5

What can meaningful ideas be traced back to, according to the empirical criterion of meaning?
A) Impressions
B) Material objects
C) Innate ideas
D) Habits

Accepted Answer

According to the empirical criterion of meaning, meaningful ideas can be traced back to impressions. This means that all concepts and words must have a basis in sensory experience, either directly or indirectly, in order to have meaning.

Question 6

What is a self , according to Hume? What are his arguments for this view of the self? What philosophical position do they rest on? Do you agree with them? Why, or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a self , according to...

Question 7

Who claimed that the skeptic wishes to cure the rashness of the dogmatist?
A) Hume
B) Berkeley
C) Aristotle
D) Empiricus

Accepted Answer

Sextus Empiricus, an ancient Greek philosopher, is known for his works on skepticism, where he discusses the skeptic's role in challenging dogmatic beliefs.

Question 8

Where, for Hume, do the ideas of causality and necessity come from?
A) Impressions
B) The mind
C) Science
D) God

Accepted Answer

According to Hume, causality and necessity do not exist in the external world but are mental habits that arise from our repeated observations of cause-effect relationships. These observations create strong and vivid impressions in our minds, which lead us to form the idea of causality and necessity. Therefore, the source of these ideas is rooted in our personal sensory experiences or impressions.

Question 9

Hume s view of the self is similar to that of a
A) Catholic
B) Cartesian
C) Buddhist
D) Baptist

Accepted Answer

Hume's view of the self is similar to that of a Buddhist. Like Buddhists, Hume believed that there is no permanent or fixed self. He argued that our sense of a continuous and unchanging self is actually an illusion created by our constant experience of causation and association of ideas. Hume believed that the self is nothing more than a collection of constantly changing perceptions and experiences, with no underlying substance or essence. This is similar to the Buddhist concept of no-self or anatta, which holds that there is no fixed or enduring self or soul.

Question 10

Who referred to Hume s work as a scandal ?
A) Berkeley
B) Smith
C) Kant
D) Boswell

Accepted Answer

Kant referred to Hume's work as a "scandal" because Hume's skepticism about causality deeply challenged Kant's views, prompting him to seek a solution to what he saw as a major philosophical problem.

Question 11

Who developed the bundle theory of the self?
A) Berkeley
B) Locke
C) Hume
D) Boswell

Accepted Answer

David Hume developed the bundle theory of the self, which suggests that there is no enduring self or soul, but rather an ever-changing collection of perceptions and experiences that come and go.

Question 12

What did Hume once propose should be taxed?
A) Health
B) Chairs
C) Obesity
D) Philosophy

Accepted Answer

The answer of What did Hume once propose should be...

Question 13

Who was famously faced with the egocentric predicament?
A) Hume
B) Descartes
C) Berkeley
D) Locke

Accepted Answer

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Question 14

Who explicitly wrote that skepticism was psychologically impossible?
A) Reid
B) Russell
C) Hume
D) Descartes

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Who challenged Locke s copy theory of truth by pointing out that the so-called objects Locke held ideas correspond to lacked any fixed nature?
A) Descartes
B) Russell
C) Hume
D) Berkeley

Accepted Answer

Berkeley challenged Locke's copy theory of truth by arguing that the objects Locke held ideas corresponded to lacked any fixed nature. He believed that what we perceive as the physical world is actually a product of our perception, and thus our ideas are not copies of physical objects but rather mental constructions. Berkeley challenged Locke's copy theory of truth by pointing out that the so-called objects Locke held ideas correspond to lacked any fixed nature. Descartes is known for his rationalist philosophy, Russell for his work in logic and analytic philosophy, and Hume for his skepticism and empiricism.

Question 16

Who argued that reasons s function was to rule the appetites and emotions?
A) Plato
B) Hume
C) Smith
D) Empiricus

Accepted Answer

Plato's tripartite theory of the soul suggests that reason is necessary to control and rule over the appetites and emotions, which are often characterized as irrational and uncontrollable. This idea is central to his philosophy and is expounded upon in works like The Republic. Plato argued in his works, particularly in The Republic, that the soul is composed of three parts – reason, spirit, and appetite – and that reason's primary function is to rule over the other two parts, ensuring order and harmony.

Question 17

Who held that reason alone could never provide a motive for any action?
A) Kant
B) Plato
C) Aristotle
D) Hume

Accepted Answer

Hume held that reason alone could never provide a motive for any action. He believed that reason could only serve as a tool to determine the best means to achieve a desired end, but it could not provide the desire or passion to pursue that end in the first place.

Question 18

The Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is Hume s most
A) irrelevant work
B) religious work
C) irreverent work
D) Catholic work

Accepted Answer

The Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is often considered Hume's most irreverent work because it challenges traditional religious beliefs and concepts.

Question 19

Do you believe that Hume is more likely to agree with the philosophy of Plato, or with the philosophy of Epicurus? Explain your answer, outlining the views of all three philosophers as you do so.

Accepted Answer

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Question 20

Does the external world exist, according to Berkeley? If not, how can he account for our common-sense view that it does? If it does, in what form does it exist? That is, is it a materialist world, or not? How can a world exist without being made of material stuff ?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does the external world exist, according to...

Quiz 10: The Skeptic: David Hume

Who famously visited Hume as he was dying?

If one accepts Hume s account of the degree to which we have knowledge of causation, is science possible? Explain your view fully.

Who held that reason was the ground of all knowledge?

In what way might Berkeley s idealism support the view that God must exist? Does Berkeley s idealism necessarily support this view, or could one accept it and still be an atheist? Explain your answers to these questions.

What can meaningful ideas be traced back to, according to the empirical criterion of meaning?

What is a self , according to Hume? What are his arguments for this view of the self? What philosophical position do they rest on? Do you agree with them? Why, or why not?

Who claimed that the skeptic wishes to cure the rashness of the dogmatist?

Where, for Hume, do the ideas of causality and necessity come from?

Hume s view of the self is similar to that of a

Who referred to Hume s work as a scandal ?

Who developed the bundle theory of the self?

What did Hume once propose should be taxed?

Who was famously faced with the egocentric predicament?

Who explicitly wrote that skepticism was psychologically impossible?

Who challenged Locke s copy theory of truth by pointing out that the so-called objects Locke held ideas correspond to lacked any fixed nature?

Who argued that reasons s function was to rule the appetites and emotions?

Who held that reason alone could never provide a motive for any action?

The Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion is Hume s most

Do you believe that Hume is more likely to agree with the philosophy of Plato, or with the philosophy of Epicurus? Explain your answer, outlining the views of all three philosophers as you do so.

Does the external world exist, according to Berkeley? If not, how can he account for our common-sense view that it does? If it does, in what form does it exist? That is, is it a materialist world, or not? How can a world exist without being made of material stuff ?