Question 1

The bulk of the philosophy of René Descartes may be summed up by which statement?

Accepted Answer

This statement, often translated as "Cogito, ergo sum," is the foundation of Descartes' philosophy. It expresses the idea that the only thing one can be truly certain of is their own existence, as one's ability to doubt or think proves that they must exist. The other statements may be associated with other philosophers or ideas, but they do not accurately capture the core of Descartes' philosophy.

Question 2

Mechanism:

Accepted Answer

All of these statements are true about the Mechanism philosophy shared by Descartes, Bacon, and Galileo. They rejected the Aristotelian worldview and saw the universe as a machine governed by natural laws, rather than the whims of God. They also believed that nature was superior to human intellect and works, which was a departure from earlier views that placed humans at the center of the universe.

Question 3

One of the leading German astronomers of the seventeenth century was:

Accepted Answer

Maria Winkelmann was a notable German astronomer in the seventeenth century, recognized for her contributions to the field despite the challenges faced by women in science during that era.

Question 4

Which English natural philosopher discovered the cellular structure of plants?

Accepted Answer

Robert Hooke discovered the cellular structure of plants in 1665, which he described in his book "Micrographia". This was a significant discovery as it was the first time that the existence of cells had been observed and studied in detail.

Question 5

Although René Descartes believed he had proven the existence of God,_________ believed he had proven that the universe was a single substance that was both God and nature.

Accepted Answer

Baruch Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher who believed that God and nature were one and the same, and that the universe was a singular substance. He rejected the dualism of mind and body proposed by Descartes and instead argued that everything that exists is part of God, including humans.

Question 6

René Descartes believed he had proven the existence of God through his use of systematic doubt in his book:

Accepted Answer

René Descartes believed he had proven the existence of God through his use of systematic doubt in his book "Discourse on the Method". In this book, Descartes argues that since he can doubt the existence of everything, except for his own thinking, he can be certain that he exists as a thinking thing. From there, he argues that the idea of God must also be innate within him and that since the idea of God includes necessary existence, God must exist. This argument is known as the ontological argument for the existence of God.

Question 7

The view that progress may be made only through the willingness of men to force themselves to suspend their judgments and to thoroughly familiarize themselves with facts was made by Francis Bacon in his book:

Accepted Answer

The view that progress may be made only through the willingness of men to force themselves to suspend their judgments and to thoroughly familiarize themselves with facts is consistent with the philosophy behind Francis Bacon's Novum Organum. This work outlines Bacon's approach to scientific inquiry which emphasizes the importance of empirical observation and experimentation in order to develop knowledge of the natural world.

Question 8

The primary target of Descartes' philosophical method was:

Accepted Answer

Descartes' philosophical method primarily targeted skepticism, as he sought to establish a foundation of certainty in knowledge by doubting everything that could possibly be doubted.

Question 9

The new scientific societies:

Accepted Answer

The new scientific societies provided natural philosophers with a common sense of purpose, established a system to reach agreement and establish "matters of fact," separated scientific research from politics and religion, and helped restore a sense of order and consensus in society.

Question 10

The first woman to receive a doctorate degree in philosophy in Italy was:

Accepted Answer

Elena Cornaro Piscopia was the first woman to receive a doctorate degree in philosophy in Italy, in the University of Padua in 1678.

Question 11

Galileo Galilei set forth his conviction about religion and science in a 1615 letter to:

Accepted Answer

Galileo Galilei's letter outlining his beliefs about the relationship between religion and science was addressed to Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany.

Question 12

A method of reasoning that goes from the specific to the general was developed by:

Accepted Answer

The method of reasoning that goes from the specific to the general is known as induction, and it was developed by Francis Bacon as part of his scientific method. Descartes, Newton, Pascal, and Spinoza all made significant contributions to philosophy and science, but their methods of reasoning did not specifically focus on induction.

Question 13

_________ was an early English chemist.

Accepted Answer

Robert Boyle was an early English chemist known for his contributions to the field of chemistry, including Boyle's Law. William Harvey was a physician, Francis Bacon was a philosopher and statesman, Robert Hooke was a natural philosopher, and John Locke was a philosopher and physician, but none of them were primarily known for their work in chemistry.

Question 14

The deductive method of inquiry was formulated by:

Accepted Answer

The deductive method of inquiry, which involves drawing logically certain conclusions from general principles or premises, was formulated primarily by René Descartes in the 17th century. Although Francis Bacon also formulated a scientific method, his approach was more inductive, involving observation and experimentation leading to generalizations and hypotheses. Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, and Baruch Spinoza may have contributed to philosophical or scientific thought in other ways, but they are not primarily associated with the development of the deductive method.

Question 15

In European states,the New Science:

Accepted Answer

The New Science was encouraged in England and other countries through the establishment of royal societies. These societies, such as the Royal Society of London, provided a platform for scientific discussions and inquiries, which helped to advance the New Science throughout Europe.

Question 16

All of the following contributed greatly to the development of sixteenth-century astronomy EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Robert Boyle was a prominent scientist in the 17th century and made contributions to fields such as chemistry and physics, but not to astronomy in the 16th century. The other four individuals listed were significant figures in the development of 16th-century astronomy.

Question 17

One result of Galileo's trial was that:

Accepted Answer

The answer of One result of Galileo's trial was that:
...

Question 18

The Dutch Cartesian Baruch Spinoza reinforced a belief in God through:

Accepted Answer

Spinoza used geometry and ethics to prove that the universe was made up of a single substance that was both God and nature. This reinforced a belief in God by equating God with the natural world, rather than positioning God as a separate entity controlling the natural world.

Question 19

The second national scholarly academy to be established by the reigning monarch was in:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The second national scholarly academy to be...

Question 20

Although it was the norm with European academic societies to not admit women,one exception to this was:

Accepted Answer

Laura Bassi was the exception among European academic societies to admit women.

Quiz 16: The New Science of the Seventeenth Century