Chapter 1 Test Bank Answers Philosophy And You

Test Bank

Philosophy Here and Now, Fourth Edition

Lewis Vaughn

Chapter 1: Philosophy and You

Please Note: All questions that appear with an asterisk are also featured on the Student Oxford Learning Link site.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The four main divisions of philosophy are metaphysics, epistemology, axiology, and

A) bioethics.

B) logic.

C) aesthetics.

D) categorical logic.

2. For Socrates, an unexamined life is a tragedy because it results in grievous harm to the

A) state.

B) justice system.

C) body.

D) soul.

3. For Socrates, the soul is harmed by lack of

A) knowledge.

B) wealth.

C) community.

D) courage.

4. *A question-and-answer dialogue in which propositions are methodically scrutinized to uncover the truth is known as

A) an argument.

B) the Socratic method.

C) the Socratic jest.

D) a debate.

5. *If you assume that a set of statements is true, and yet you can deduce a false or absurd statement from it, then the original set of statements as a whole must be false. This kind of argument is known as

A) modus tollens.

B) modus ponens.

C) hypothetical syllogism.

D) reductio ad absurdum.

6. The systematic use of critical reasoning to try to find answers to fundamental questions about reality, morality, and knowledge is called

A) the argumentative method.

B) the philosophical method.

C) propositional logic.

D) syllogistic reasoning.

7. *The famous statement “An unexamined life is not worth living” is attributed to

A) Aristotle.

B) John Locke.

C) Socrates.

D) Plato.

8. *The study of value in the broadest sense (moral, aesthetic, etc.) is known as

A) metaphysics.

B) epistemology.

C) quantum physics.

D) axiology.

9. Questions like “What is knowledge?” and “What is truth?” are mainstays in the branch of philosophy known as

A) logic.

B) metaphysics.

C) epistemology.

D) aesthetics.

10. *According to Socrates, a clear sign that a person has _______ is his or her exclusive pursuit of social status, wealth, power, and pleasure.

A) philosophical ambition

B) worldly wisdom

C) exceptional desires

D) an unhealthy soul

11. A group of statements in which one of them is meant to be supported by the others is a(n)

A) statement.

B) argument.

C) conclusion.

D) reduction.

12. *In an argument, the statement being supported is the conclusion, and the statements supporting the conclusion are the

A) middle statements.

B) premises.

C) persuaders.

D) substatements.

13. *Terms such as “consequently,” “therefore,” and “as a result” are

A) premise indicator words.

B) conclusion indicator words.

C) statements.

D) persuaders.

14. *Arguments that intend to provide logically conclusive support to their conclusions so that if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true, are

A) deductive.

B) inductive.

C) explanatory.

D) cogent.

15. Arguments that are supposed to give probable support to their conclusions are

A) valid.

B) sound.

C) inductive.

D) deductive.

16. When we arrive at a generalization about an entire group of things after observing just some members of the group, we are making a(n)

A) analogical induction.

B) sound deduction.

C) valid inference.

D) enumerative induction.

17. In the type of argument known as _______ , we begin with premises about a phenomenon or state of affairs to be explained; then we reason from those premises to an explanation for that state of affairs.

A) analogical induction

B) inference to the best explanation

C) explanatory deduction

D) statistical syllogism

18. *The renowned philosopher who lived and worked in the Greek city of Alexandria in the fifth century was

A) Hypatia.

B) Philippa.

C) Avicenna.

D) Anselm.

19. *The fallacy of misrepresenting a person's views so they can be more easily attacked or dismissed is called the

A) appeal to popularity.

B) fallacy of equivocation.

C) genetic fallacy.

D) straw man fallacy.

20. *The fallacy of rejecting a statement on the grounds that it comes from a particular person is known as

A) appeal to ignorance.

B) equivocation.

C) false dilemma.

D) appeal to the person.

21. *The fallacy of arguing that a claim must be true simply because many people believe it is known as

A) the appeal to popularity.

B) the fallacy of equivocation.

C) the genetic fallacy.

D) begging the question.

22. The fallacy of _______ is arguing either that (1) a claim is true because it hasn't been proven false or (2) a claim is false because it hasn't been proven true.

A) the genetic fallacy

B) appeal to ignorance

C) equivocation

D) slippery slope

23. *The fallacy of _______ is trying to prove a conclusion by using that very same conclusion as support.

A) equivocation

B) composition

C) false dilemma

D) begging the question

24. The fallacy of _______ is arguing erroneously that a particular action should not be taken because it will lead inevitably to other actions resulting in some dire outcome.

A) slippery slope

B) false dilemma

C) equivocation

D) straw man

25. _______ is the fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same significant word in an argument.

A) Equivocation

B) Composition

C) Division

D) False dilemma

26. A good argument must have (1) solid logic and (2)

A) inductive analogies.

B) true premises.

C) valid conclusions.

D) cogent disjunctions.

27. If inductive arguments succeed in lending probable support to their conclusions, they are said to be

A) valid.

B) weak.

C) strong.

D) sound.

28. _______ is the study of value, including both aesthetic value and moral value.

A) Epistemology

B) Philosophy of science

C) Metaphysics

D) Axiology

29. The study of correct reasoning is called

A) value theory.

B) cognition.

C) axiology.

D) logic.

30. For Socrates, the good of the soul is attained only through an uncompromising search for

A) what's true and real.

B) scientific laws.

C) a theory of everything.

D) what's physically necessary.

31. Philosophers provide reasons for thinking their ideas are plausible— that is, they give us

A) arguments.

B) mysteries.

C) physical symbolism.

D) histories.

32. A(n) _______ is an assertion that something is or is not the case and is therefore the kind of utterance that is either true or false.

A) question

B) interjection

C) statement

D) argument

33. Evidence is something that _______

A) makes a statement more likely to be true.

B) is a statement preceded by words like “therefore.”

C) guarantees that a statement is true.

D) one perceives or feels to be true.

34. *Confirmation bias is the phenomenon where

A) we agree with someone only because their views are popular.

B) we only seek out evidence that confirms our beliefs.

C) we rely on our feelings rather than evidence.

D) we are ignorant of how ignorant we are.

35. Which of the following is not a recommended way of avoiding motivated reasoning?

A) Be reasonably skeptical of all sources, especially those that support your beliefs.

B) Give opposing views a chance— do not dismiss them out of hand.

C) Seek out alternative views and do not surround yourself only with people who agree with you.

D) List all of the evidence in favor of your beliefs.

36. Which of the following is an example of the availability error?

A) Believing that pit bulls are dangerous without considering the evidence against your belief.

B) Believing that pit bulls are dangerous on the basis of non-expert testimony.

C) Believing that pit bulls are dangerous on the basis of a vivid memory you have of a pit bull attack.

D) Believing that pit bulls are dangerous without scrutinizing the evidence that supposedly confirms your belief.

37. The phenomenon of the Dunning-Kruger Effect is when we are ignorant about a subject and

A) disagree with experts.

B) are ignorant of our ignorance.

C) engage in fallacious reasoning.

D) arrive at erroneous conclusions because of our ignorance.

True or False Questions

38. Socrates preferred death to exile.

A) True

B) False

39. *Aristotle said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”

A) True

B) False

40. *Any type of declarative statement is an argument.

A) True

B) False

41. *An argument is synonymous with persuasion.

A) True

B) False

42. In philosophy—and in any other kind of rational inquiry—accepting a conclusion (statement) without good reasons is an elementary mistake in reasoning.

A) True

B) False

43. Persuasion does not necessarily involve giving any reasons at all for accepting a claim.

A) True

B) False

44. *A deductive argument is an argument intended to give probable support to its conclusion.

A) True

B) False

45. *If inductive arguments succeed in lending very probable support to their conclusions, they are said to be weak.

A) True

B) False

46. *An argument is not synonymous with causes.

A) True

B) False

47. A good deductive argument is said to be cogent.

A) True

B) False

48. A good inductive argument is said to be strong.

A) True

B) False

49. *Modus tollens is a valid argument form.

A) True

B) False

50. Affirming the consequent is a valid argument form.

A) True

B) False

51. *An argument of this form—If p, then q; p; therefore, q—is called modus tollens.

A) True

B) False

52. An argument of this form— If p, then q; not p; therefore, not q —is called modus ponens.

A) True

B) False

53. *In the argument form known as inference to the best explanation, we reason in this fashion: Two or more things are similar in several ways; therefore, they are probably similar in one further way.

A) True

B) False

54. This argument form—phenomenon Q; E provides the best explanation for Q; therefore, it is probable that E is true—is called analogical induction.

A) True

B) False

55. *When you read a philosophical essay, you are simply trying to glean some facts from it as you might if you were reading a science text or technical report.

A) True

B) False

56. *The key to identifying an argument in context is to first identify the author.

A) True

B) False

57. *This classic argument—“The Bible says that God exists; the Bible is true because God wrote it; therefore, God exists”—is an example of begging the question.

A) True

B) False

58. *Empedocles articulated the basic outlines of natural selection twenty-five centuries ago.

A) True

B) False

59. *Philosophy, being an ancient art, cannot be applied to modern social problems such as racism.

A) True

B) False

60. In ancient times, Theano was the wife and learned companion of Socrates.

A) True

B) False

61. If you base your judgments solely on evidence that’s easily psychologically accessible, you are likely to commit hasty generalizations.

A) True

B) False

62. *If you arrive at a belief using motivated reasoning, your belief is false.

A) True

B) False

63. Psychologically available evidence is reliable because vivid memories and the like constitute strong evidence.

A) True

B) False

64. *The Dunning-Kruger Effect is not limited to logical reasoning, but also to emotional intelligence and social awareness.

A) True

B) False

65. Exceptionally smart people almost never engage in motivated reasoning since such people are usually aware of their own biases.

A) True

B) False

Essay Questions

66. *What is the philosophical method? Have you ever applied the method to an issue in your life? If so, how did you use it? If not, devise an example to show how the method could be used to shed light on a serious question.

67. Do you agree with Socrates that an unexamined life is not worth living? Why or why not?

68. The text says that philosophical inquiry can give you freedom. What does this mean? Explain why you agree or disagree with this claim.

69. *What is an argument? To demonstrate your understanding, devise a sample argument. Is your argument deductive or inductive? Explain the difference between the two.

70. What is the fallacy of straw man? Provide an example drawn from contemporary politics or large ethical issues (such as abortion, capital punishment, or welfare reform). Explain why your example is an instance of straw man.

71. *What is the Socratic method? Explain it and give an example of its use.

72. Explain how philosophy can elucidate beliefs about racism. How does Lawrence Blum argue that many actions may be racial but not racist?

73. *What is the fallacy of appeal to ignorance? Give two examples of how it can be used in arguing for a conclusion.

74. Who were the pre-Socratics? What was their main contribution to philosophical and scientific thinking? Why is this contribution important?

75. *What is the fallacy of the appeal to popularity? Provide two examples of its use in contemporary debates on social and political issues.

76. *What is the phenomenon of confirmation bias? Give two examples of confirmation bias, hypothetical or actual.

77. In discussing the Dunning-Kruger effect, Tom Nichols claims that “the pernicious idea that ‘everyone can be an expert’…is dangerous.” What does Nichols mean by this claim?