Philosophy A Level

Examples of 'Clear and distinct ideas' according to Descartes

• perfection

• 2+2= 4

• The mind is an unextended substance

• The sea is blue

The existence of which items are questioned by Hume?

• The self

• vegetarian haggis

• God

• synthetic a priori truths

Which of the following were infalibalists?

• Hume

• Descartes

• Locke

• Plato

Which of the following philosophers believe that we cannot be certain about the existence of the physical world?

• Descartes

• Locke

• Russell

• Berkeley

Which philosopher added the sensitivity condition to the reliabilist definition of knowledge?

• Sosa

• Godman

• Nozick

• Zabzebski

What are the two main reasons why Russell thinks that the existence of the external world is the best hypothesis?

• It's the simplest explanation (Ockham's razor)

• He loves his cat

• We instinctively believe in its realty and we should not ignore our instincts without a good reason

• We can prove that the physical world does exist

Why does Berkeley not believe in a primary-secondary quality distinction?

• All properties are mind dependent

• There is no 'veil of perception'

• Physical objects contain both equally

• The likeness principle

Which of the following cause direct realism to be called into question?

• A strait spoon appearing to be bent in a glass of water

• Bright sunlight in my eyes

• The red shift

• Watching the moon rise in the sky

What reasons does Locke give for believing that the physical world exists?

• The involuntary nature of sense experience

• It can be deductively demonstrated

• I know for certain that I am not dreaming

• The coherence of the senses

What does Descartes believe he has proven?

• That the physical world exists

• That he exists

• That reason alone can lead us to indubitable truths

• That God exists