Question 1

Leibniz argued that mental events and physical events do not really interact but, in fact, stand in a "preestablished harmony" with one another.

Accepted Answer

Leibniz's preestablished harmony theory suggests that mental and physical events do not causally interact with each other but rather coexist harmoniously as they have been preprogrammed to do so by God.

Question 2

Most philosophers find it necessary to embrace some version of the theory of solipsism.

Accepted Answer

Most philosophers reject solipsism as it posits that only one's own mind is certain to exist and that the external world and other minds cannot be known with certainty.

Question 3

Emotions are not simply feelings but also require some reference to the situation and the person's engagement in it.

Accepted Answer

Emotions are not purely subjective feelings, but rather involve a subjective appraisal of the situation and personal engagement in it. This appraisal includes the interpretation of the situation and the relevance of the situation to one's goals and well-being. Therefore, emotions are not solely internal states but rather involve the interaction between the individual and their environment.

Question 4

According to Hegel, we discover our true selves only when we break through social conventions and become individuals free of society's influence.

Accepted Answer

Hegel believed that self-consciousness and self-realization are achieved not in isolation but through our interactions with others within the framework of society. He argued that the development of the individual self is deeply intertwined with societal norms and relationships.

Question 5

One difficulty for John Locke's memory theory of self-identity is that if Jones were to wake up with Smith's brain after a brain transplant, even though Jones would have Smith's memories, Jones probably wouldn't be able to say which self she is.

Accepted Answer

According to Locke's memory theory, personal identity is based on a person's memories and experiences. However, in the case of a brain transplant, Jones would have the memories of Smith, but since her body would still be Jones's, she may not be able to determine which self she is. This poses a challenge for Locke's theory as personal identity cannot solely rely on memories.

Question 6

Philosophers who defend a holistic conception of self reject reducing questions of the mind and body to questions about the brain.

Accepted Answer

Philosophers who defend a holistic conception of self argue that the mind and body are interconnected and cannot be reduced to mere physical processes in the brain. They believe that a complete understanding of the self requires consideration of factors beyond the brain, including social, cultural, and environmental influences.

Question 7

Jean-Jacques Rousseau defended a version of individualism when he claimed that humans were naturally good but became corrupt through the influence of society and social conventions.

Accepted Answer

According to Rousseau's philosophy, humans were naturally good but became corrupt through the influence of society and social conventions. He believed that society and its institutions hindered individuals from developing their innate goodness and potential. Therefore, he defended a version of individualism that emphasized the importance of individuals breaking free from societal norms and finding their own path to fulfillment.

Question 8

Aristotle located emotions in the id ("it")as opposed to the ego, suggesting that they threatened the integrity of the self rather than being part of it.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle did not actually use the terms "id" or "ego" – these were concepts developed later by Freud. However, Aristotle did view emotions as integral to the self, and believed that they served a specific purpose in helping individuals navigate the world.

Question 9

If philosophical behaviorism is true, then pains and other sensations are simply identified with the dispositions to behave in a certain way.

Accepted Answer

Philosophical behaviorism posits that mental states, including sensations like pain, can be defined in terms of observable behaviors or dispositions to behave in certain ways. Therefore, under this view, pains and other sensations are simply identified with the dispositions to behave in a certain way.

Question 10

Functionalists argue that mental states are functions of the brain and can have no other material embodiment.

Accepted Answer

Functionalists argue that mental states are defined by their functional roles, not by their underlying physical substrate, meaning they could theoretically be embodied by non-brain materials, such as computers or artificial systems, as long as those systems perform the appropriate functions.

Question 11

If Sartre's existential account of the self is true, then the self is an unfinished process until the end of our lives.

Accepted Answer

Sartre believed that the self is constantly in a state of becoming and never truly finished, as our actions and choices continue to shape our identity until the end of our lives.

Question 12

John Stuart Mill's argument from analogy begins by assuming that other persons have minds like your own.

Accepted Answer

The answer of John Stuart Mill's argument from analogy begins...

Question 13

What we think of ourselves and what we think of as significant about ourselves depend, to a great extent, on the context in which we are trying to explain who we are.

Accepted Answer

Our self-concept and understanding of our identity are heavily influenced by the social and cultural contexts in which we exist. For example, in certain cultures, one's family background or social status may be highly significant in terms of how they conceptualize themselves, while in others, personal achievements or individualism are emphasized. Similarly, the way we present ourselves may vary depending on the situation - we may highlight different aspects of our identity in professional contexts vs. social ones, for example.

Question 14

Being "attractive" or "good-looking" makes sense only in the context of a particular society.

Accepted Answer

Different societies have different standards of beauty and what is considered attractive in one society may not be considered attractive in another. Therefore, being "attractive" or "good-looking" is subjective and depends on the cultural and societal norms of a particular society.

Question 15

According to Sartre, bad faith ( mauvaise foi )is our betrayal of our true, core selves.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Sartre, bad faith ( mauvaise...

Question 16

Identity theorists point to the way "wet" and "cold" water are also the same as "H 2 O" as an example of how something can be identical but have two different descriptions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Identity theorists argue that although "wet" and "cold" water may have different properties, they are still identical to "H2O" at their core.

Question 17

A person's self-identity is separate and independent of the way he or she characterizes his or her essential self.

Accepted Answer

Self-identity is inherently linked to how a person characterizes their essential self, as it encompasses one's self-conception and self-perception, including beliefs, values, and the way one views their own character and personality.

Question 18

David Hume agreed with Descartes that there was a single self, but disagreed with him about the nature of this single self.

Accepted Answer

Hume disagreed with Descartes on the existence of a single, unified self. Hume argued that the self is just a bundle of perceptions without a true, singular identity, unlike Descartes' notion of a distinct, thinking self.

Question 19

If we know our own mind directly and without any doubts, it follows that we can know other people's minds directly as well.

Accepted Answer

Knowing our own mind does not guarantee that we can know other people's minds directly as well. Understanding others' thoughts and feelings requires empathy, observation, and communication - skills that are not necessarily tied to our own ability to introspect.

Question 20

Søren Kierkegaard thought that one's most important mission in life was to cultivate the self by cultivating one's passions, in particular, a passionate commitment to God.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy of the importance of passionate commitment to God as a key aspect of personal development and fulfillment.

Quiz 6: Self