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WorksheetsPhilosophy Midterm Test Review 2
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 25mins
Which BEST explains Parmenides's theory about being?
There is being because there are four elements.
There is no such thing as being, and life is an illusion.
There are ways of knowing being and ways of knowing non-being
There is no such thing as non-being, so everything is a state of being.
Aristotle's theories are considered to be the foundation of which discipline?
science
literature
linguistics
philosophy
Besides containing some historical elements and including mythology, what else can be found in Homer's works about Odysseus?
moral lessons
Earth math formulas
detailed battle plans
metaphysical philosophy
The Pre-Socratic philosophers did not actually live in Greece. Which, therefore, BEST explains why they were foundational in Greek philosophy?
Greek philosophers were inspired by their ideas.
The made sure that their works were sent to Greece.
The Pre-Socratic philosophers were the only ones who rejected Greek philosophy.
There were no philosophers before them, so the Greeks had to start somewhere.
What was Plato's reason for deciding that the senses were less reliable than the world of forms?
Plato could not hear, so he did not trust the senses.
Physical form could change, so it could not hold truth.
The world of forms was the only one that Plato had experienced.
Plato rejected early philosophers that praised the physical world.
Which "what" question would a philosopher ask?
What is the right number of children to have?
What should the average person spend on a house?
What is the purpose of improving one's social class?
What is a person's obligation to take care of the environment?
Socrates believed that only nobility could understand philosophy.
True
False
Which BEST explains the relationship between cynicism and Epicureanism?
They believe that human beings should enjoy life to the fullest.
They depend on gods and nature to seal the fate of humans.
They have different priorities but were created to reject skepticism.
They are concerned with happiness but have different ideas about it.
Why is it not surprising that the Socratics are the first philosophers to be concerned with ethics?
They did not believe in the gods.
Previous societies had perfect gods to define values.
Ancient Athens was a particularly unethical society.
They were more focused on the nature of man than previous thinkers.
What qualities did the Sophists have that made them the first lawyers?
They did not charge for their services.
They argued well and believed in morals.
They were the first to write down the laws.
They frequently advised rulers on policies.
The "Allegory of the Cave" is Plato's way of explaining which idea?
the limitations of human knowledge
why humanity is doomed to be corrupt
the significance of scientific principles
the reason that governments should be moral
If a bird builds a nest, Aristotle would say that this is an example of which of these?
Final Cause
Formal Cause
Material Cause
Efficient Cause
Which statement BEST explains the rise of skepticism?
There was no evidence for scientific concepts, like atoms.
Many of the fortunetellers' predictions failed to come true.
Competing ideas made the idea of a single truth hard to believe.
Philosophers were constantly being proven wrong in public forums.
Why did Pyrrho walk into traffic to prove his points about skepticism?
He was trying to tempt the gods to kill him.
He claimed he did not believe that dangers were real.
He thought death was the only certainty and longed for it.
He did not believe that horses existed, so he could not be run over.
How does the Socratic method really embody the principle of studying philosophy?
It is more about questions than answers.
It is the first example of a truly philosophical method.
It is a formal structure designed to get consistent results.
It becomes the single most used method is all of philosophy.
Imagine that there is a society that says it is fine to steal from people under certain circumstances. Would a philosopher argue that stealing is ethical in this case?
Yes, it is what society chose.
No, stealing is always wrong.
It depends on the philosopher's view of ethics.
Philosophers would not ask this kind of question.
Greek mythology might not have emerged if which of the following were true?
The gods were great moral examples for humans.
The gods had problems that people could relate to.
The gods were more admirable than the heroes in legends.
The gods were less divine and more human in their actions.
What quality of water made Thales feel that it was the single element that made up everything in the universe?
It was the only element that people could see.
It appeared in several forms, showing its flexibility.
It made his philosophy simpler to focus on one element.
Thales did not realize that there were other elements, like air.
Diogenes had a rather unusual lifestyle. How did he justify living without possessions?
It helped him get the respect of the nobility.
It required him to be content in all circumstances.
He wanted to prove through example that Antisthenes was wrong.
He wanted to live like a dog because dogs are closer to nature than humans.
To which branch of philosophy would this type of question MOST likely belong: "Are there laws of nature?"
ethical
metaphysical
transcendental
epistemological
Which is TRUE about the end of a Socratic argument?
It would establish a new truth.
It established what was logical and real.
It always ended with proof of contradiction.
It always led to more questions and therefore never really ended.
In Plato's Ideal State, what makes someone a worker?
They were born into the lowest class.
They have developed a love of a craft or trade.
They are not capable of understanding the role of morality.
They lack the wisdom and strength for the other categories.
What was the impact of the rise of cities like Alexandria and Antioch on Athens?
It made very little difference to Athens.
Well-known philosophers started schools in these regions.
It created competition for cultural centers, which hurt Athens.
They did not believe in studying science, leaving that for Athens.
The death of Alexander the Great marked the end of Greek dominance in the region. What is the BEST argument to suggest that this is not necessarily the case?
Military dominance is not the same as cultural dominance.
Alexander was not interested in philosophy, so it was dying out anyway.
The influence of the Greek philosophers lasts to this day, so it was not really the end.
Historical circumstances have very little to do with whether or not philosophy thrives.
Which BEST describes how Aristotle dealt with the role of change?
He accepted that change is a natural process.
He developed theories about the causes of change.
He thought that change was an illusion in the natural world.
He ignored change since it went against some of his beliefs.
Once Greeks started questioning myths, their gods disappeared from Greek culture.
True
False
Which is the BEST description of Pythagoreanism?
a new system of geometry
a belief system and way of living together
a philosophy that emphasized dominance and violence
a school of philosophy that disproved of the Pre-Socratics
Epicurus emphasized the physical life and meeting the needs of the body. Why was he opposed to overindulging the body?
He believed that the body would reject excess.
He wanted to avoid pain, and excess causes discomfort.
He tried a life of excess but found that it was not satisfying.
He felt that the rich indulged in excess and he wanted to be different.
Socrates could have saved his own life but chose to remain true to his beliefs.
True
False
All questions in philosophy have "why" in them.
True
False
Ivan is contemplating the power of the mind to heal the body. He knows that stress can cause physical harm and that practices like meditation have positive effects. He thinks that this reveals a lot about human nature and how people are meant to live. Which of the methods is Ivan using?
login
analysis
suspicion
speculation
What are philosophers usually trying to determine when they ask "who" questions?
They are not sure who a particular individual is.
They want to cite who came up with a specific idea.
They are trying to identify a group or aspect of society.
They want to credit a specific individual with an accomplishment.
Which describes what "logic" means as a method of philosophy?
imagining what cannot be known
requiring evidence for all arguments
examining the structure of an argument
using common sense to solve a problem
Which BEST explains why the Stoics' emphasis on the importance of kindness is society is a bit contradictory to their other beliefs?
They thought that kindness was the only way to convince people to be Stoics.
They often rejected all social conventions, so it is surprising they valued kindness.
They thought that gods created goodness, so people could not create it themselves
They believed in fate, yet thought that people should work to create a kinder society.
Which statement BEST explains the function of myths in ancient Greece?
They could explain natural phenomena.
The gods provided role models for Greek society.
The Greeks were the first society to create the idea of gods.
They brought together myths from other cultures and made their own.
Insects can fly.An ant is an insect.An ant can fly.
What is the BEST analysis of this syllogism?I
Only some insects can fly, including ants. It is not valid.
Ants are not insects, so the syllogism is incorrect.
The logic in the syllogism is correct, so it is valid.
There is no logic in the syllogism, so it is not valid.
The phrase "Nothing can be known, not even this" embodies which philosophy?
Stoicism
cynicism
skepticism
materialism
There is a lot of misinformation spread, particularly online. How can studying philosophy build skills that help identify false information?
Philosophy helps you assess arguments.
Philosophy will make you more compassionate.
Philosophy emphasizes research and fact-finding.
Philosophy requires you to build basic tech skills.
What would be the best argument AGAINST the idea that people should be grouped into categories in the Ideal State?
Categories create separation, which leads to isolation.
For society to run smoothly, there must be a defined order.
Humans' abilities can change based on opportunity and education.
Separation based on ability is part of nature and, therefore, humanity.
What does philosophy have in common with religion?
Both rely heavily on faith.
Both seek to explain larger truths.
Both are focused on one right answer.
Both involve finding definite solutions.
Aristotle made this statement:
"I will not allow Athens to sin twice against philosophy."
What does it mean?
He would not let himself be killed like Socrates.
He would not let flawed theories, like Plato's, be taught.
He did not accept that the government of Athens had power.
He believed that Athens could not win wars without embracing philosophy.
If Socrates had to choose a Hellenistic philosophy to follow, which would BEST match his ideas?
Stoicism
cynicism
skepticism
pre-Socratic
Which is the BEST interpretation of the statement "In philosophy, the process of trying to answer questions is more important than the answer"?
Philosophy rarely has defined goals or purposes.
Philosophers don't actually care what the answer is.
Inquiry is the most important part of the philosophical process.
All answers are valid since philosophy is really about questions.
How does materialism differ from naturalism?
Naturalism depends on reason and materialism on observation.
Naturalism was not accepted by many philosophers but materialism was.
Naturalism is a rejection of Greek gods, and materialism recognizes them.
Naturalism focuses on natural law and materialism on how matter is formed.
Which BEST explains why Plato wrote his work in dialogue?
It was Socrates's method.
Plato did not like poetry, the other option.
Dialogue is the most effective way to make a point.
Plato wished he could have a conversation with Socrates.
How do skeptics address the fact that believing in nothing is not a practical way to live life?
They argue every point that they can think of.
They find their happiness in winning arguments.
They see themselves as elite among philosophers.
They agree that one should accept what seems true.
Many of the Hellenistic philosophers rejected luxury. Which one would be accepting if life handed him riches?
Zeno
Socrates
Diogenes
Antisthenes
One of the skills that studying philosophy builds is learning to use structures for arguments and analysis. How might this help in other situations?
Only philosophy uses these structures, so it does not help.
Structures exist in nature, so it will help with subjects like biology.
Recognizing structure helps analyze arguments outside of philosophy.
The structure for arguments is the same as the structure of all kinds of writing.
Which is an example of a paradox?
It takes money to make money.
The more I learn, the less I know.
There is no love like your first love.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Which BEST explains the moral of the "Allegory of the Cave"?
Darkness is an essential part of the human condition.
Only through solitude and seclusion can truth be revealed.
We cannot know if what we perceive with the senses is real.
Humans are too ignorant to ever understand their own circumstance.
