Question 1

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "it is necessary to admit a first cause, to which everyone gives the name of Reason."

Accepted Answer

Aquinas actually names the first cause "God," not "Reason." The quote that is often paraphrased as "the name of God is Reason" is not found in Aquinas' writings. This concept of reason as the basis for belief in God is more associated with the Enlightenment philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Question 2

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is metaphorical."

Accepted Answer

Aquinas actually writes "but there must exist something the existence of which is necessary."

Question 3

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But more and less are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways." This proof relies on the idea that there is a life force that is found in things."

Accepted Answer

Aquinas's argument, often referred to as the Argument from Degree or the Fourth Way in his "Five Ways" to prove the existence of God, does not rely on the idea of a life force found in things. Instead, it is based on the observation of gradation in qualities (like goodness, truth, nobility) among beings and posits that there must be a maximum or ultimate source of these qualities, which he identifies as God.

Question 4

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "We see that things which lack awareness, such as mere physical objects, act always, or nearly always, in the same way. Hence it is plain that they achieve this, not by chance, but by design."

Accepted Answer

Aquinas argues that inanimate objects act in predictable and consistent ways, suggesting that they are not acting randomly but rather according to a purpose or design. This is one of his arguments for the existence of a divine designer (i.e. God).

Question 5

Explain Aquinas's first proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Aquinas's first proof for the existence...

Question 6

Explain Aquinas's second proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Aquinas's second proof for the existence...

Question 7

Explain Aquinas's third proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Aquinas's third proof for the existence...

Question 8

Explain Aquinas's fourth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Aquinas's fourth proof for the existence...

Question 9

Explain Aquinas's fifth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Aquinas's fifth proof for the existence...

Question 10

Which of Aquinas's five proofs do you find to be the strongest? The weakest? Explain your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of Aquinas's five proofs do you...

Question 11

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of _________ and _________ truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."
A) necessary; eternal
B) deductive; inductive
C) material; mental
D) normative; prescriptive

Accepted Answer

Leibniz is referring to necessary truths (truths that cannot be false) and eternal truths (truths that have always been true and will always be true). He argues that our ability to understand these truths is what sets us apart from animals and allows us to develop reason, science, and knowledge of ourselves and God.

Question 12

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to ________________, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."
A) acts of kindness
B) acts of reflection
C) acts of omission
D) acts of domination

Accepted Answer

Leibniz is discussing how knowledge of necessary truths can lead us to contemplate about ourselves and our own internal experiences, which corresponds to the idea of "acts of reflection." The other choices are not related to the topic being discussed in the quote.

Question 13

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a _____________, and true that which is opposed to the false.
A) relation
B) sensation
C) sufficient reason
D) contradiction

Accepted Answer

Leibniz is referring to the principle of non-contradiction, which states that something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same respect. This principle is the foundation of logical reasoning and is essential for determining truth and falsehood.

Question 14

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 ________________, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.
A) relation
B) sensation
C) sufficient reason
D) contradiction

Accepted Answer

Leibniz's principle of sufficient reason asserts that there must be a sufficient reason why anything exists, happens or is true. According to him, our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, and the second principle is the principle of sufficient reason. Therefore, the correct choice is C, which directly relates to Leibniz's principle.

Question 15

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the first, truths of _________, are necessary and their opposite is impossible.
A) tradition
B) triangulation
C) reasoning
D) fact

Accepted Answer

Leibniz's two kinds of truths are truths of reasoning (necessary truths) and truths of fact (contingent truths).

Question 16

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the second, truths of ________, are contingent and their opposite is possible.
A) tradition
B) triangulation
C) reasoning
D) fact

Accepted Answer

Leibniz's distinction is between necessary truths (related to the principles of reasoning) and contingent truths (related to facts or empirical observations). The opposite of a contingent truth (such as "it is raining today") is possible, since it may or may not happen. Therefore, the best choice is D (fact).

Question 17

Leibniz concludes, "Thus the final reason of things must be in a _________ substance, and this substance we call God."
A) sufficient
B) necessary
C) material
D) spiritual

Accepted Answer

Leibniz argues that everything in the world has a reason for its existence or occurrence, and that this reason must ultimately culminate in a necessary substance that has the power to bring about all other things. He uses this argument to conclude that God must exist as this necessary substance. Therefore, the best answer is "necessary" (B). "Sufficient" (A) may be a tempting choice, but it does not capture the idea of a substance that is required to bring about all other things. "Material" (C) would not accurately depict God as a non-physical entity, and "spiritual" (D) seems too narrow of a term to encompass the vast nature of God that Leibniz portrays.

Question 18

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."

Accepted Answer

Leibniz believed that the ability to understand necessary and eternal truths was a unique characteristic of human beings that distinguished them from animals and allowed for the development of reason and science, ultimately leading to self-knowledge and knowledge of God.

Question 19

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to acts of reflection, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."

Accepted Answer

Leibniz believed that knowledge of necessary truths and their abstract expression leads us to self-reflection and awareness of our own existence, as well as the realization that certain things are within us.

Question 20

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a contradiction, and true that which is opposed to the false.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately represents one of Leibniz's central philosophical ideas, which is often summarized as the "principle of non-contradiction." According to this principle, a proposition cannot be both true and false at the same time, and any argument that derives contradictory conclusions must be invalid. Leibniz believed that this principle was foundational to all rational thought and knowledge, and he devoted considerable energy to defending and elaborating on it throughout his career.

Quiz 4: Plato the Beginning of Everything

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "it is necessary to admit a first cause, to which everyone gives the name of Reason."

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is metaphorical."

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "We see that things which lack awareness, such as mere physical objects, act always, or nearly always, in the same way. Hence it is plain that they achieve this, not by chance, but by design."

Explain Aquinas's first proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Explain Aquinas's second proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Explain Aquinas's third proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Explain Aquinas's fourth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Explain Aquinas's fifth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Which of Aquinas's five proofs do you find to be the strongest? The weakest? Explain your answers.

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of _ and _ truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to ________________, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a _____________, and true that which is opposed to the false.

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 ________________, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

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

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

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

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to acts of reflection, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a contradiction, and true that which is opposed to the false.