Question 1

Descartes argued that understanding language can be used as a criterion for identifying genuine intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Descartes believed that language was a necessary tool for genuine intelligence, as it allowed for the expression of complex thoughts and ideas. He argued that if a being could understand and use language in a meaningful way, then they must possess a certain level of intellectual capability.

Question 2

The position of functionalism is incompatible with the strong artificial intelligence position.

Accepted Answer

Functionalism, the view that mental states are defined by their functional roles rather than by their internal constitution, can be compatible with strong artificial intelligence (AI), which posits that machines can possess consciousness and mental states similar to humans. Functionalism allows for the possibility that mental states can be realized in different types of physical systems, including artificial ones, thus not inherently incompatible with strong AI.

Question 3

In Jeffrey Olen's story about the watch,the people who thought a gremlin caused the watch to move represent mind-body interactionists.

Accepted Answer

Mind-body interactionists believe that the mind and body are connected and can affect each other, just like how the people in the story believed that a gremlin (a non-physical entity) could move a physical object (the watch).

Question 4

The strong AI thesis claims that it is possible for a computer to have cognitive states.

Accepted Answer

The strong AI thesis states that it is possible for a computer to exhibit cognitive states that are indistinguishable from human cognitive states. This means that a computer can "think" and "reason" like humans, and can even surpass human intelligence.

Question 5

Searle maintained that there is a difference between simulating cognition and duplicating it.

Accepted Answer

Searle argued that simulating cognitive processes, such as language understanding, through computers is not the same as duplicating human cognition. He believed that conscious intentionality, which he saw as a necessary component of human cognition, could not be replicated through mere simulations.

Question 6

René Descartes believed that someday machines would become intelligent.

Accepted Answer

René Descartes, a 17th-century philosopher, believed that only humans possess minds and the capacity for thought, distinguishing them fundamentally from machines or animals, which he viewed as incapable of thought or intelligence in the human sense.

Question 7

Philosophical questions about the nature of reality fall under the heading of metaphysics.

Accepted Answer

This statement is correct. Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions about the nature of reality, including questions about existence, causality, time, space, and free will.

Question 8

René Descartes was more certain about the existence of his mind than the existence of his body.

Accepted Answer

Descartes famously concluded "Cogito, ergo sum" or "I think, therefore I am" which solidified his certainty of his own existence. He argued that even if he was being deceived by an evil demon about the existence of his body, he could still be certain of his own thought and existence as a thinking thing.

Question 9

David Chalmers argued that physicalism is false.

Accepted Answer

David Chalmers, a prominent philosopher of mind, is known for his argument that physicalism, the belief that all phenomena in the universe can be explained through physical processes, is false. He contends that there are aspects of consciousness, such as qualia or subjective experience, that cannot be fully explained by physical processes alone.

Question 10

Identity theory claims that the mind is identical to a nonphysical substance that is separate from the brain.

Accepted Answer

Identity theory, also known as physicalism, asserts that mental states and processes can be fully explained by physical and biological terms, therefore rejecting the notion of a separate nonphysical substance for the mind.

Question 11

According to your text,the principle of Ockham's razor lends support to the dualist.

Accepted Answer

The principle of Ockham's razor states that the simplest explanation is usually the best. This principle does not necessarily lend support to either the dualist or the monist perspective, as it is a general guiding principle for all fields of inquiry.

Question 12

Hugh Elliot's story of "Tantalus" was meant to illustrate the fact that are thoughts are the product of a nonphysical mind.

Accepted Answer

There is no mention or indication in the story of "Tantalus" or in any known works of Hugh Elliot that it was intended to convey the concept that our thoughts are the product of a nonphysical mind. The story is a Greek mythological tale about a king who was punished for his crimes by being doomed to suffer eternal hunger and thirst, despite being surrounded by food and water.

Question 13

Your text said that fundamental reality is that upon which everything else depends.

Accepted Answer

Fundamental reality refers to the most basic or essential aspect of existence that serves as the foundation for all other things. It is that which everything else depends on for its existence or nature. Therefore, the statement that fundamental reality is that upon which everything else depends is true.

Question 14

John Searle's Chinese room argument attempted to refute physicalism.

Accepted Answer

John Searle's Chinese room argument was aimed at refuting the idea that computers can possess genuine understanding or consciousness, specifically targeting strong artificial intelligence (AI) claims, not physicalism.

Question 15

Descartes believed that the mind and body interact in the pineal gland.

Accepted Answer

Descartes argued in his philosophy of mind that the pineal gland, a small structure in the brain, is the point of interaction between the mind and body. He believed that this gland was the seat of the soul and served as a mediator between the physical and non-physical realms.

Question 16

The functionalist denies that mental states are necessarily identical to brain states.

Accepted Answer

Functionalists hold that mental states can be identified by their functional roles and relationships, rather than by their underlying physical or neural substrate. Therefore, they reject the idea that mental states are necessarily identical to brain states.

Question 17

The functionalist denies that mental states can function as the causes of behavior.

Accepted Answer

The functionalist believes that mental states can and do function as causes of behavior. They view mental states as having a causal relationship with behavior and believe that understanding the functions of these mental states is key to understanding behavior.

Question 18

Descartes's position on the mind-body issue is a form of metaphysical dualism.

Accepted Answer

Descartes believed in the separation of the mind and body, which qualifies as metaphysical dualism.

Question 19

Metaphysical materialism is a form of dualism.

Accepted Answer

Metaphysical materialism is a form of monism, which posits that there is only one fundamental substance or category of being, which is physical matter or energy. Dualism, on the other hand, posits the existence of two fundamental substances or categories of being, such as mind and matter.

Question 20

According to your text,a metaphysical idealist is a person who is very optimistic.

Accepted Answer

A metaphysical idealist is not defined by their level of optimism, but rather by their belief that reality is ultimately mental or spiritual rather than physical.

Quiz 2: The Search for Ultimate Reality