Deck 4: Plato the Beginning of Everything

Question 1

It is asserted in the reading that, "Everything that becomes or is created must of necessity be created by some ..."

A) advanced creature.
B) cause.
C) reified organism.
D) natural deduction.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A question in the reading, "Was the heaven or the world always in existence and without beginning, or created, and had it a beginning?" is answered as follows:

A) always in existence
B created

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to the reading, "the father and maker of all this universe is ..."

A) known through revelation.
B) active in all processes.
C) past finding out.
D) part of our spiritual lives.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to the reading, "As being is to becoming, so is truth to ..."

A) belief.
B) certainty.
C) validity.
D) honesty.

Question 5

The speaker in the reading concludes by saying, "for we must remember that I who am the speaker, and you who are the judges, are only mortal men, and we ought to accept the tale which is __________ and enquire no further."

A) true
B) valid
C) improbable
D) probable

Question 6

It is asserted in the reading that "Everything that becomes or is created must of necessity be created by some natural deduction."

Question 7

To the question in the reading, "Was the heaven or the world always in existence and without beginning, or created, and had it a beginning?" the answer given is "created."

Question 8

According to the reading, "the father and maker of all this universe is known through revelation."

Question 9

According to the reading, "As being is to becoming, so is truth to beauty."

Question 10

The speaker in the reading concludes by saying, "for we must remember that I who am the speaker, and you who are the judges, are only mortal men, and we ought to accept the tale which is probable and enquire no further."

Question 11

Why does the speaker assert that "Everything that becomes or is created must of necessity be created by some cause"?

Question 12

What reasons does the speaker give to support the claim that the world was created?

Question 13

Explain the meaning of the following passage in the Plato reading: "But the father and maker of all this universe is past finding out; and even if we found him, to tell of him to all men would be impossible."

Question 14

What does the speaker mean when he says, "for we must remember that I who am the speaker, and you who are the judges, are only mortal men, and we ought to accept the tale which is probable and enquire no further"?

Question 15

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "If that by which it is moved be itself moved, then this also must be moved by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no ..."

A) reliable causal factor.
B) rationality in existence.
C) first mover.
D) metaphysical substance.

Question 16

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "it is necessary to admit a first cause, to which everyone gives the name of ..."

A) Substance.
B) God.
C) Reason.
D) Entropy.

Question 17

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is ..."

A) reductive.
B) actually existing.
C) metaphorical.
D) necessary.

Question 18

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But more and less are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways." This proof relies on the idea that there is a _________ that is found in things.

A) gradation
B) truth
C) life force
D) void

Question 19

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "We see that things which lack _________, such as mere physical objects, act always, or nearly always, in the same way. Hence it is plain that they achieve this, not by chance, but by design."

A) being
B) becoming
C) awareness
D) substance

Question 20

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "If that by which it is moved be itself moved, then this also must be moved by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover."

Question 21

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "it is necessary to admit a first cause, to which everyone gives the name of Reason."

Question 22

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is metaphorical."

Question 23

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But more and less are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways." This proof relies on the idea that there is a life force that is found in things."

Question 24

In one of his proofs for the existence of God, Aquinas says, "We see that things which lack awareness, such as mere physical objects, act always, or nearly always, in the same way. Hence it is plain that they achieve this, not by chance, but by design."

Question 25

Explain Aquinas's first proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Question 26

Explain Aquinas's second proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Question 27

Explain Aquinas's third proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Question 28

Explain Aquinas's fourth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Question 29

Explain Aquinas's fifth proof for the existence of God. Do you agree with Aquinas?

Question 30

Which of Aquinas's five proofs do you find to be the strongest? The weakest? Explain your answers.

Question 31

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of _________ and _________ truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."

A) necessary; eternal
B) deductive; inductive
C) material; mental
D) normative; prescriptive

Question 32

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to ________________, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."

A) acts of kindness
B) acts of reflection
C) acts of omission
D) acts of domination

Question 33

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a _____________, and true that which is opposed to the false.

A) relation
B) sensation
C) sufficient reason
D) contradiction

Question 34

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the second in virtue of which we hold that there can be no fact unless there be a ________________, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

A) relation
B) sensation
C) sufficient reason
D) contradiction

Question 35

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the first, truths of _________, are necessary and their opposite is impossible.

A) tradition
B) triangulation
C) reasoning
D) fact

Question 36

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the second, truths of ________, are contingent and their opposite is possible.

A) tradition
B) triangulation
C) reasoning
D) fact

Question 37

Leibniz concludes, "Thus the final reason of things must be in a _________ substance, and this substance we call God."

A) sufficient
B) necessary
C) material
D) spiritual

Question 38

Leibniz claims that "It is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths that distinguishes us from the mere animals and gives us Reason and the sciences, raising us to the knowledge of ourselves and of God."

Question 39

Leibniz says, "It is also through the knowledge of necessary truths, and through their abstract expression, that we rise to acts of reflection, which make us think of what is called I, and observe that this or that is within us."

Question 40

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the first in virtue of which we judge false that which involves a contradiction, and true that which is opposed to the false.

Question 41

Leibniz says that our reasonings are grounded upon two great principles, the second in virtue of which we hold that there can be no fact unless there be a sufficient reason, why it should be so and not otherwise, although these reasons are not always known by us.

Question 42

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the first, truths of tradition, are necessary and their opposite is impossible.

Question 43

Leibniz claims that there are two kinds of truths; the second, truths of reasoning, are contingent and their opposite is possible.

Question 44

Leibniz concludes, "Thus the final reason of things must be in a necessary substance, and this substance we call God."

Question 45

According to Leibniz, what "distinguishes us from the mere animals"?

Question 46

What does Leibniz mean by acts of reflection?

Question 47

Explain in detail the "two great principles" that Leibniz claims grounds our reasonings.

Question 48

Explain in detail the difference between truths of reasoning and truths of fact.

Question 49

Why does Leibniz conclude that the final reason of things is in a necessary substance?

Question 50

Berkeley says, "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view; and so likewise as to the hearing and other senses; the ideas imprinted on them are not creatures of ..."

A) an evil genius.
B) the underworld.
C) my will.
D) some metaphysical force.

Question 51

For Berkeley, "The ideas of Sense are more strong, lively, and distinct than those of the imagination . . . in a regular train or series, the admirable connection whereof sufficiently testifies the wisdom and benevolence of its ..."

A) Author.
B) Subject.
C) Temperance.
D) Disposition.

Question 52

Berkeley says, "That food nourishes, sleep refreshes, and fire warms us; all this we know, not by discovering any necessary connection between our ideas, but only by the observation of the settled ..."

A) laws of concordance.
B) laws of nature.
C) axioms of mathematics.
D) designs of thought.

Question 53

Berkeley says that "The ideas imprinted on the Senses by the Author of nature are called ___________; and those excited in the imagination being less regular, vivid, and constant, are more properly termed __________, or images of things, which they copy and represent."

A) perceptions; visions
B) dependencies; autonomous
C) premises; conclusions
D) real things; ideas

Question 54

Berkeley claims that the ideas of Sense are less dependent on the spirit, or thinking substance which perceives them, "yet still they are ideas, and certainly no idea, whether faint or strong, can exist otherwise than in ..."

A) a state of flux.
B) a mind perceiving it.
C) an imaginary form.
D) an eternal locus.

Question 55

Berkeley says, "Hence, it is evident that _______ is known as certainly and immediately as any other mind or spirit whatsoever distinct from ourselves."

A) substance
B) force
C) matter
D) God

Question 56

Berkeley says, "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view; and so likewise as to the hearing and other senses; the ideas imprinted on them are not creatures of my will."

Question 57

For Berkeley, "The ideas of Sense are more strong, lively, and distinct than those of the imagination...in a regular train or series, the admirable connection whereof sufficiently testifies the wisdom and benevolence of its Disposition."

Question 58

Berkeley says, "That food nourishes, sleep refreshes, and fire warms us; all this we know, not by discovering any necessary connection between our ideas, but only by the observation of the settled laws of concordance."

Question 59

Berkeley says that "The ideas imprinted on the Senses by the Author of nature are called perceptions; and those excited in the imagination being less regular, vivid, and constant, are more properly termed visions or images of things, which they copy and represent."

Question 60

Berkeley claims that the ideas of Sense are less dependent on the spirit, or thinking substance which perceives them, "yet still they are ideas, and certainly no idea, whether faint or strong, can exist otherwise than in an eternal locus."

Question 61

Berkeley says, "Hence, it is evident that matter is known as certainly and immediately as any other mind or spirit whatsoever distinct from ourselves."

Question 62

What support does Berkeley provide for his argument that "When in broad daylight I open my eyes, it is not in my power to choose whether I shall see or no, or to determine what particular objects shall present themselves to my view"?

Question 63

Why does Berkeley claim that the ideas of Sense are more strong, lively, and distinct than those of the imagination? Do you agree with Berkeley?

Question 64

How does the idea of "laws of nature" fit into Berkeley's position? Is Berkeley's use of the term "laws of nature" universally accepted?

Question 65

What arguments does Berkeley give to support the claim that "certainly no idea, whether faint or strong, can exist otherwise than in a mind perceiving it"? Do you agree with Berkeley?

Question 66

Berkeley claims that "it is evident that God is known as certainly and immediately as any other mind or spirit whatsoever distinct from ourselves." Do you agree with Berkeley?

Question 67

Paley argues that if you find a watch while you are out walking, upon inspecting it you would probably conclude that ...

A) it had been there forever.
B) it must have had a maker.
C) it was recently lost by its owner.
D) it was broken.

Question 68

Paley says that even if "we had never seen a watch made; that we had never known an artist capable of making one; that we were altogether incapable of executing such a piece of workmanship ourselves, or of understanding in what manner it was performed," nevertheless, we would still conclude that ...

A) it had been there forever.
B) it must have had a maker.
C) it was recently lost by its owner.
D) it was broken.

Question 69

Paley claims that, "It is not necessary that a machine be _______, in order to show with what design it was made: still less necessary, where the only question is, whether it were made with any design at all."

A) perfect
B) observable
C) organic
D) inorganic

Question 70

Paley says, "Nor, fifthly, would it yield his inquiry more satisfaction to be answered, that there existed in things a ______________, which had disposed the parts of the watch into their present form and situation."

A) magnitude of disorder
B) trajectory of force
C) principle of order
D) discontinuous flux

Question 71

Paley concludes that "Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater and more, and that in a degree which exceeds all computation. There cannot be design without a ..."

A) blueprint.
B) construction.
C) plenum.
D) designer.

Question 72

Paley argues that if you find a watch while you are out walking, upon inspecting it you would probably conclude that it was recently lost by its owner.

Question 73

Paley says that even if "we had never seen a watch made; that we had never known an artist capable of making one; that we were altogether incapable of executing such a piece of workmanship ourselves, or of understanding in what manner it was performed," nevertheless, we would still conclude that it must have had a maker.

Question 74

Paley claims that, "It is not necessary that a machine be perfect, in order to show with what design it was made: still less necessary, where the only question is, whether it were made with any design at all."

Question 75

Paley says, "Nor, fifthly, would it yield his inquiry more satisfaction to be answered, that there existed in things a magnitude of disorder, which had disposed the parts of the watch into their present form and situation."

Question 76

Paley concludes that "Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater and more, and that in a degree which exceeds all computation. There cannot be design without a designer."

Question 77

Do you think that Paley's reasoning and conclusions are strong when he compares finding a stone while you are out walking with your finding a watch while you are out walking? Can you think of any weakness in his discussion?

Question 78

What is Paley's point when he claims that "It is not necessary that a machine be perfect, in order to show with what design it was made: still less necessary, where the only question is, whether it were made with any design at all"?

Question 79

Explain how Paley uses the phrase "principle of order."

Question 80

What is Paley's argument when he uses the idea of "laws of metallic nature"?