Epistemology - Review Quiz

The philosophy that states all knowledge must ultimately come from experience

• Rationalism

• Imperialism

• Reasonablism

• Empiricism

Answer explanation

Empiricism is the philosophy that asserts all knowledge originates from sensory experience, contrasting with rationalism, which emphasizes reason. Therefore, the correct answer is empiricism.

The philosophy that states that knowledge comes from reason, or thinking, and that people must have some degree of innate ideas

• Deductive reasoning

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

• Inductive reasoning

Answer explanation

Rationalism is the philosophy that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, asserting that some ideas are innate. This distinguishes it from empiricism, which relies on sensory experience.

If you say, "People are fundamentally blank when they're born, and learn as they grow",

which philosophy does this reflect?

• Empiricism

• Rationalism

• Consequentialism

• Deontological ethics

Answer explanation

The statement reflects empiricism, which posits that individuals are born as blank slates and acquire knowledge through experience and learning as they grow, contrasting with rationalism that emphasizes innate ideas.

If I claim that everyone has the capacity to learn, which philosophy does this reflect?

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

• Kantian ethical analysis

• French existentialism

Answer explanation

Claiming that everyone has the capacity to learn aligns with Rationalism, which emphasizes reason and innate knowledge as the basis for understanding, suggesting that learning is a fundamental human capability.

Match the word on top to the word on the bottom!

• A rationalist statement

• Innate ideas

• "Blank slate", for empiricism

• "I think, therefore I am"

• In empiricism, the source of knowledge

• Reason

• The ability to think

• Sensory experience

• In rationalism, ideas you're born with

• Tabula rasa

Put the ideas into the proper categories!

Groups:

(a) Rationalism

,

(b) Empiricism

• Knowledge only comes from experience

• Knowledge comes from thought

• Inductive reasoning is crucial to get knowledge

• Everyone is born "tabula rasa"

• Human reason is innate (built in)

• Math and language are just ideas

A mathematician does not need to do experiments to gain knowledge. It just requires extensive thought. What philosophy does this reflect?

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

• Allegory of the Cave

• Machiavellianism

Answer explanation

The statement reflects Rationalism, which emphasizes knowledge gained through reason and thought rather than empirical evidence or experiments, aligning with the mathematician's approach.

A biologist goes into the woods to research wolves. She observes them, records their behaviors, and uses this information to draw broad conclusions.

• Empiricism

• Deductive reasoning

• Rationalism

• Kantian ethical analysis

Answer explanation

The biologist's approach of observing and recording behaviors to draw conclusions exemplifies empiricism, which emphasizes knowledge gained through sensory experience and observation.

A rationalist philosopher would probably agree that people learn to think by having varied experiences

• Sort of

• Ish

• No way

• Sure, why not

Answer explanation

A rationalist philosopher emphasizes reason and innate ideas over experience. They would argue that thinking is developed through rational thought rather than varied experiences, hence 'No way' is the correct choice.

Which philosophy most closely aligns with deductive reasoning?

• Logicalism

• Imperialism

• Rationalism

• Empiricism

Answer explanation

Rationalism emphasizes the role of reason and logic in gaining knowledge, making it closely aligned with deductive reasoning, which derives specific conclusions from general principles. This distinguishes it from empiricism and other philosophies.