Unit 8 Quiz Review

Imagine that a social reformer came up with a logically sound theory that proved raising minimum wage would help society. Would William James accept this idea?

• Not without solid evidence that it worked.

• No, he thought that people need to help themselves.

• Yes, because he believed that social good was important.

• No, he did not think that more money meant greater happiness.

Which BEST explains why Wittgenstein emphasized language in his work?

• Only humans have language, so it is essential to humanity.

• Language structures ideas, and therefore the realm of facts.

• There is no existence without language, so nothing else matters.

• Not enough philosophers have critically examined the role of language.

How did Bertrand Russell's background as a mathematician shape his understanding of philosophy?

• It caused him to focus on logic.

• It required him to have proof for his ideas.

• It separated him from the other empiricists.

• It required that he deny the Christian philosophers.

What part of Hegel's philosophy would a pragmatist disagree with the MOST?

• absolute idealism

• the role of history

• the whole idea of the dialectic

• the acceptance of violence as change

Phenomenology was influenced by the rise of psychology in the era.

• True

• False

What did Heidegger mean when he said that authenticity was the only way to feel human and not like an object?

• Following societies rules is the key to a meaningful life.

• Human feelings only exist when they are centered on meaning.

• Objects cannot contemplate their humanity, so they do not exist.

• Authenticity leads to meaning, and that is where humanity exists.

Which explains the relationship between Charles Peirce and William James?

• James thought pragmatism was limited by Peirce's ideas.

• Peirce developed pragmatism, and James made it popular.

• James developed pragmatism because he completely disagreed with Peirce.

• Peirce is considered the father of pragmatism, but James never read his work.

According to existentialism, what conclusion could you draw about a person who repeatedly chooses to be a criminal?

• The person has a criminal nature.

• The person is lacking faith and needs religion.

• The person has been treated poorly by society.

• The person has a different moral structure than most.

Imagine that a society made a decision that stealing was just fine. Would a pragmatist agree this was ethical?

• If no one objected, yes.

• No. Stealing is always wrong.

• There is no such thing as ethical action.

• A pragmatist would not ask the question.

What did Wittgenstein have in common with Russell?

• They were both founders of existentialism.

• They both spend most of their careers working in the United States.

• They both felt that they had resolved important philosophical questions.

• They both believed that classical philosophers were not very significant.