Question 1

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the second in virtue of which we hold that there can be no fact unless there be a sufficient reason, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

Accepted Answer

This is a correct statement made by Leibniz. He believed in the principle of sufficient reason, which states that everything that exists or happens must have a reason or explanation for its existence or occurrence.

Question 2

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the first, truths of tradition, are necessary and their opposite is impossible.

Accepted Answer

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths: truths of reasoning, which are necessary (and their opposite is impossible), and truths of fact, which are contingent and their opposite is possible.

Question 3

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the second, truths of reasoning, are contingent and their opposite is possible.

Accepted Answer

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths: truths of reasoning, which are necessary (their opposite is impossible), and truths of fact, which are contingent (their opposite is possible).

Question 4

Leibniz concludes, "Thus the final reason of things must be in a necessary substance, and this substance we call God."

Accepted Answer

Leibniz believes that the ultimate reason for existence must be found in a necessary substance, and he identifies this substance as God.

Question 5

According to Leibniz, what "distinguishes us from the mere animals"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Leibniz, what "distinguishes us from...

Question 6

What does Leibniz mean by acts of reflection?

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Question 7

Explain in detail the "two great principles" that Leibniz claims grounds our reasonings.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain in detail the "two great principles"...

Question 8

Explain in detail the difference between truths of reasoning and truths of fact.

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Question 9

Why does Leibniz conclude that the final reason of things is in a necessary substance?

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Question 10

Berkeley says, "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view; and so likewise as to the hearing and other senses; the ideas imprinted on them are not creatures of ..."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley is arguing that our sense experiences are not controlled by our will or our conscious decision-making. He is not suggesting the influence of an evil genius, the underworld, or some metaphysical force.

Question 11

For Berkeley, "The ideas of Sense are more strong, lively, and distinct than those of the imagination . . . in a regular train or series, the admirable connection whereof sufficiently testifies the wisdom and benevolence of its ..."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley argues that the vividness and orderly sequence of sensory ideas (ideas of Sense) demonstrate the wisdom and benevolence of their creator, whom he refers to as their "Author," implying a divine creator.

Question 12

Berkeley says, "That food nourishes, sleep refreshes, and fire warms us; all this we know, not by discovering any necessary connection between our ideas, but only by the observation of the settled ..."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley is referring to the observed regularities in the natural world, which are the laws of nature. The other options are not relevant to his statement.

Question 13

Berkeley says that "The ideas imprinted on the Senses by the Author of nature are called ___________; and those excited in the imagination being less regular, vivid, and constant, are more properly termed __________, or images of things, which they copy and represent."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley's philosophy emphasizes that what we perceive through our senses (sensory experiences) are directly given by the Author of nature and are thus considered "real things." In contrast, the less vivid, less constant, and less regular products of our imagination are referred to as "ideas," which are essentially copies or representations of these real things.

Question 14

Berkeley claims that the ideas of Sense are less dependent on the spirit, or thinking substance which perceives them, "yet still they are ideas, and certainly no idea, whether faint or strong, can exist otherwise than in ..."

Accepted Answer

According to Berkeley, ideas of Sense are dependent on a mind perceiving them, and cannot exist otherwise. This is why choice (B) is the correct answer. The other options do not accurately reflect Berkeley's philosophy.

Question 15

Berkeley says, "Hence, it is evident that _______ is known as certainly and immediately as any other mind or spirit whatsoever distinct from ourselves."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley argues that we can know God's existence as certainly as we know the existence of other minds or spirits, because for him, all our knowledge of the external world is mediated through ideas, which must be caused by something, and that something, he argues, is God.

Question 16

Berkeley says, "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view; and so likewise as to the hearing and other senses; the ideas imprinted on them are not creatures of my will."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley is correct in saying that our senses are not under our control and the ideas that are imprinted on them are not created by our will.

Question 17

For Berkeley, "The ideas of Sense are more strong, lively, and distinct than those of the imagination...in a regular train or series, the admirable connection whereof sufficiently testifies the wisdom and benevolence of its Disposition."

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The answer of For Berkeley, "The ideas of Sense are...

Question 18

Berkeley says, "That food nourishes, sleep refreshes, and fire warms us; all this we know, not by discovering any necessary connection between our ideas, but only by the observation of the settled laws of concordance."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Berkeley says, "That food nourishes, sleep refreshes,...

Question 19

Berkeley says that "The ideas imprinted on the Senses by the Author of nature are called perceptions; and those excited in the imagination being less regular, vivid, and constant, are more properly termed visions or images of things, which they copy and represent."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley actually argues that all ideas are derived from the senses and that what we perceive are not direct representations of the external world but rather ideas or perceptions in our minds. He does not make a distinction between perceptions as ideas imprinted on the senses by the Author of nature and visions or images as less regular, vivid, and constant; instead, he posits that all our knowledge comes from perceptions or ideas perceived by the mind.

Question 20

Berkeley claims that the ideas of Sense are less dependent on the spirit, or thinking substance which perceives them, "yet still they are ideas, and certainly no idea, whether faint or strong, can exist otherwise than in an eternal locus."

Accepted Answer

Berkeley actually argues that ideas of sense are more dependent on the spirit or thinking substance which perceives them, and he does not claim that ideas exist in an "eternal locus." Instead, he posits that ideas cannot exist outside of being perceived by a mind.

Quiz 4: Plato the Beginning of Everything