Deck 12: Skepticism

Question 1

One version of ancient skepticism was originated by a philosopher in Plato's Academy.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

According to your text, superglobal skeptics deny that we can have knowledge of simple mathematical truths or of the laws of logic.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Even though he was a skeptic, David Hume acknowledged that we should act from the best evidence available.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Descartes said it was possible that he was mistaken in believing that 2 + 3 = 5.

Question 5

The reason Descartes doubted all his previous knowledge was to build a secure house of knowledge.

Question 6

David Hume said that if a book was not based on mathematical or experimental reasoning, it should be burned.

Question 7

G. E. Moore was a leading twentieth-century skeptic.

Question 8

According to your text, your belief about where you were born would be an example of strong knowledge.

Question 9

According to your text, skepticism can lead us to wisdom by making us humble.

Question 10

The academic skeptics agreed with _______ that "all that I know is that I know nothing."

A) Socrates
B) Plato
C) Aristotle
D) Pyrrho of Elis

Question 11

The Pyrrhonian skeptics made use of equipollence, which is

A) the law of noncontradiction.
B) the suspension of judgment.
C) the use of sensory observation.
D) the balancing of reasons on both sides of an issue.

Question 12

Since Antony Flew and A.J Ayer admit that we can have some knowledge but doubt that we can have metaphysical knowledge, they are called

A) global skeptics.
B) local skeptics.
C) Pyrrhonian skeptics.
D) superglobal skeptics.

Question 13

Descartes referred to an evil demon to show that

A) such religious notions are outdated.
B) the existence of such a being is impossible.
C) such a being could not destroy his confidence in mathematics.
D) even our most fundamental beliefs may be doubted.

Question 14

According to David Hume, our beliefs about the world are based on

A) logic.
B) religious revelation.
C) internal and external impressions.
D) metaphysical knowledge.

Question 15

Hume believed that we could have knowledge of

A) empirical truths.
B) metaphysical truths.
C) abstract or mathematical truths.
D) religious truths.

Question 16

According to Hume, we cannot justify our belief in

A) cause and effect.
B) the self.
C) the existence of God.
D) all of the above

Question 17

In a famous lecture, G. E. Moore held up his two hands in order to

A) refute skepticism.
B) show how easy it was to deceive the senses.
C) show we can never know reality, only how it appears.
D) refute empiricism.

Question 18

In an attempt to refute skepticism, Norman Malcolm claimed there are two kinds of knowledge, which he called

A) a priori and a posteriori.
B) empirical and metaphysical.
C) weak and strong.
D) knowledge of appearances and knowledge of reality.

Question 19

How does René Descartes use skepticism to test the foundations of his beliefs?

Question 20

What reasons might Descartes give for doubting the following three beliefs? (1) "I have two hands." (2) "I am sitting in a chair reading words printed on paper." (3) "2 + 3 = 5."

Question 21

What are impressions, according to David Hume? What role does he think they play with respect to our beliefs? How does Hume use the notion of impressions to support his skepticism?

Question 22

Discuss G. E. Moore's argument against skepticism. Suggest how a skeptic would respond to his argument.

Question 23

Explain Malcolm's distinction between weak and strong knowledge. Give examples of each. How does Malcolm use this distinction to argue against skepticism?