Deck 1: What Is Philosophy

Question 1

Consider one of your ordinary beliefs. Now illustrate the Beardsleys' notion of philosophical questioning by examining this belief. What reasons do you have for thinking it to be true? What more fundamental beliefs underlie it? What philosophical questions are raised in the process?

Answer 1

Answer: good essay will:
State one of your ordinary beliefs clearly and succinctly.
Provide several (more than one) supporting reasons for why you believe this statement to be true.
Examine the more fundamental beliefs that must hold in order for your belief to be true.
Examine several (more than one) philosophical questions that arise from holding your belief to be true.

Question 2

Continue the line of questioning in either Dialogue I or Dialogue II by analyzing the meaning of a basic philosophical term.

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Consider the example of contradictory fundamental beliefs, in the paragraph that begins "The third benefit which the study of philosophy can confer…" Explain why belief in free will conflicts with belief in causal laws of nature. Can you resolve the apparent conflict? If so, explain how. If not, explain why not.

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

Philosophical questions are about a particular subject matter.

Question 5

One's ordinary beliefs are philosophical beliefs.

Question 6

Philosophical beliefs support many of one's ordinary beliefs.

Question 7

A philosophical question is usually highly fundamental.

Question 8

Philosophical questions are usually narrowly restricted in their focus.

Question 9

The study of philosophy can help one to develop a more consistent set of beliefs.

Question 10

Philosophy is related to many other fields of study.

Question 11

A reasonable belief is logically justifiable.

Question 12

All fundamental beliefs are reasonable.

Question 13

Philosophical thinking begins from ordinary beliefs.

Question 14

Philosophical thinking is

A) About familiar topics.
B) About a highly specialized subject matter.
C) Only for professional philosophers.
D) Irrelevant to physics.

Question 15

The study of philosophy is beneficial because

A) It makes you popular.
B) It is lucrative.
C) It may help you act better.
D) It shows you that you believe only true things.

Question 16

A reasonable belief

A) Is a belief for which a good reason can be given.
B) Is logically justifiable.
C) Has a better chance of being of being true than a belief that is not reasonable.
D) All of the above.

Question 17

Philosophical questions tend to be

A) Highly fundamental.
B) Highly specific.
C) Highly generally.
D) Both a and c

Question 18

To explore a belief is to

A) Consider its truth.
B) Assume its truth and consider its logical connections with other beliefs.
C) Consider its popularity.
D) Assume it is false and consider the impact on one's other beliefs.

Question 19

To examine a belief is to

A) Question whether it is based on good reasons.
B) Rephrase it in clearer language.
C) Look at it through a microscope.
D) Ask a professional philosopher whether she believes it.

Question 20

Which of the following is a basic philosophical term?

A) Parents.
B) Question.
C) Pattern.
D) Free will.

Question 21

Which of the following is not a benefit of studying philosophy?

A) Clarity.
B) Reasonableness.
C) Fame.
D) Consistency.

Question 22

A professional philosopher

A) Charges for lessons in public speaking.
B) Tries to answer broad, fundamental questions.
C) Trains the physicist.
D) Must have a beard.

Question 23

Which of the following is a general rule for determining the generality and fundamentality of a belief?

A) Many people hold this belief.
B) It is a reasonable belief.
C) There is no good reason one can give for holding this belief.
D) There are no such rules.

Question 24

The Beardsleys claim at the beginning of their essay that a reasonable belief is more likely true than one that is not. Is this a philosophical belief? Explore its logical connections to other beliefs they seem to hold and examine what reasons there are to think it true or false. Do they provide any justification for this belief?

Question 25

Write a dialogue of your own similar to Dialogues I and II. Then continue the line of questioning in your dialogue by analyzing a basic philosophical term.

Question 26

Do the Beardsleys make a good case for the value of the study of philosophy? Explain.

Question 27

What sorts of questions concern philosophy, according to Russell, and why are they valuable ones to consider? Do you agree?

Question 28

Why does Russell think that the "practical" person has got things wrong about the value of philosophy? Do you agree?

Question 29

Take a philosophical question considered somewhere else in this book and explain how it illustrates Russell's view about the value of philosophy.

Question 30

Russell claims that philosophy is good for those who study it.

Question 31

Russell claims that when a question has a definite answer it ceases to be a philosophical question and becomes a part of the sciences.

Question 32

Philosophy is similar to all other studies in that it aims primarily at knowledge.

Question 33

Russell claims that there is value in uncertainty.

Question 34

On Russell's view, our personal aims are valuable because they restrict our pursuit of answers to philosophical questions.

Question 35

Part of the value of philosophy, according to Russell, is breaking out of the confines of one's own cares.

Question 36

Perhaps the chief value of philosophy, according to Russell, is found in the greatness of the objects which it contemplates.

Question 37

According to Russell, philosophy is to be studied for the sake of finding definite answers to one's questions.

Question 38

Philosophy, according to Russell, is to be studied for the sake of the questions themselves.

Question 39

Philosophical questions, on Russell's view, enhance the dogmatic closure of the mind against speculation.

Question 40

According to Russell, philosophy is often misunderstood because of

A) A mistaken conception of the ends of life.
B) A mistaken conception of the goods philosophy strives to achieve.
C) A mistaken conception of the goods science strives to achieve.
D) Both a and b

Question 41

According to Russell, when a question has a definite answer, it

A) Ceases to be a philosophical question.
B) Is uninteresting.
C) Becomes a scientific question.
D) Both a and c

Question 42

Russell claims that the "practical" person

A) Is really not practical.
B) Misses the value of the sciences.
C) Is concerned only with material goods.
D) All of the above.

Question 43

The chief value of philosophy, according to Russell, comes from

A) Its high-minded rhetoric.
B) Transcendence of the universe.
C) Contemplation of great things free from personal prejudices.
D) Religion.

Question 44

The study of philosophy

A) Increases the range of things one considers possible.
B) Increases one's IQ.
C) Increases one's credulity.
D) Increases one's ability to win lawsuits.

Question 45

Russell claims that thinking about questions that do not admit of definitely correct answers is a way of

A) Angering one's parents.
B) Becoming a fool.
C) Achieving world peace.
D) Breaking free of customary beliefs.

Question 46

Russell claims that some questions

A) Cannot be demonstrably answered.
B) Are valuable in themselves.
C) Help one break free from one's prejudices.
D) All of the above.

Question 47

Philosophy seeks

A) Money.
B) Power.
C) Knowledge.
D) Persuasion.

Question 48

The value of philosophy, according to Russell, lies in goods of the

A) Body.
B) Mind.
C) Heart.
D) Heavens.

Question 49

Russel contrasts philosophy with

A) Theology.
B) Science.
C) Mathematics.
D) All of the above.

Question 50

What kinds of questions do the sciences consider? What is different about philosophical questions?

Question 51

Do you think that philosophy is for everyone? If not, what sort of person is uniquely suited to study philosophy? Are you one of those people?

Question 52

Is philosophy beneficial for the general public? Explain.

Question 53

What is Socrates's method of defense? What method do most men employ? Do you think that Socrates has chosen the best way of defending himself? Explain.

Question 54

Why does Socrates say that he is not afraid of death? Why is he hopeful that death is good? What do you think about what he says?

Question 55

What does Socrates mean when he says that "an unexamined life is no life for a human being to live"? Do you agree? Explain.

Question 56

Socrates is formally accused of charging money for instruction.

Question 57

Socrates claims that if he is put to death, Athens will harm itself more than it harms him.

Question 58

Socrates claims to be on a divine mission.

Question 59

Socrates fears death.

Question 60

Socrates thinks that wealth is without value.

Question 61

Socrates argues that the values of Athenians are misplaced.

Question 62

Socrates admits that he is wiser than most men.

Question 63

Socrates admits that he is not wise.

Question 64

Socrates obeys the commands of a divine voice in his head.

Question 65

The jury is persuaded by Socrates' arguments.

Question 66

According to the formal charges brought against him, Socrates is guilty of

A) Corrupting the young.
B) Turning the weaker argument into the stronger.
C) Failing to acknowledge the gods of Athens.
D) Both a and c

Question 67

Socrates examines __________ during his defense.

A) Meletus.
B) Anytus.
C) Chaerephon.
D) Lycon.

Question 68

According to Socrates, the Delphic oracle declared that

A) Craftsmen are wiser than politicians.
B) Athens will suffer if Socrates is found guilty.
C) Socrates should defend himself against the charges.
D) No one is wiser than Socrates.

Question 69

Socrates claims that Athenians should be ashamed for valuing things like wealth, honor, and glory more highly than

A) Truth and understanding.
B) Goodness.
C) The state of their souls.
D) All of the above.

Question 70

Socrates thinks that we should not fear death because

A) That would make us worry too much.
B) The gods don't want us to.
C) We know death is good.
D) We don't know whether death is good or bad.

Question 71

Socrates suggests that he be sentenced to

A) Free meals for life.
B) Exile.
C) Death.
D) A new trial.

Question 72

Socrates claims that for the jury to sentence him to death is to harm its members more than him because

A) They will accidentally kill themselves instead.
B) He is too strong.
C) It is unjust.
D) They will be invaded.

Question 73

According to Socrates, the man of self-respect considers

A) Death.
B) Justice.
C) Nothing.
D) Both a and b

Question 74

Meletus's self-contradiction is that he claims that Socrates

A) Is a man but not mortal.
B) Is both guilty and not guilty.
C) Acknowledges no gods and acknowledges gods other than the ones Athens acknowledges.
D) Wants to harm himself and does not want to harm himself.

Question 75

Socrates hopes that death is a good thing because it is

A) An opportunity to examine many great people.
B) Like a deep sleep.
C) Intensely pleasurable.
D) Both a and

Question 76

What are the charges against Socrates? How does he claim to show that they are false?

Question 77

Socrates compares himself with a "gadfly" and Athens with a lazy horse. He also claims that for the jury members to put him to death is to harm themselves more than him. What is he trying to say, and do you agree? Explain.

Question 78

In what way does Socrates admit that he is wiser than others? How does this relate to what he says about the fear of death?