Deck 6: Can We Trust Our Senses?

Question 1

Philosophers use the term empirical evidence for evidence acquired by

A) the scientific method.
B) rigorous, logic-based argumentation.
C) sense perception.
D) All of the above

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Empirical evidence is used in which form of reasoning?

A) A posteriori reasoning
B) A priori reasoning
C) Scientific reasoning
D) Naturalistic reasoning

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Descartes focused on using which of the following methods?

A) A posteriori
B) A priori
C) Scientific
D) Naturalistic

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Except for within mathematics, Hume entirely rejected the use of which of the following methods?

A) A posteriori reasoning
B) A priori reasoning
C) Scientific reasoning
D) Naturalistic reasoning

Question 5

The "argument from perspectival variation" is used to support

A) direct realism.
B) indirect realism.
C) direct idealism.
D) indirect idealism.

Question 6

Indirect realism claims that

A) we see objects themselves, though indirectly through the senses.
B) we see objects themselves, though indirectly through the imaginative faculty.
C) we do not see objects themselves, but the mental images they produce.
D) we do not see objects themselves, but the ideal forms of the objects.

Question 7

In Locke's terminology, material objects are objects that exist

A) in prime matter.
B) in the natural world.
C) within the minds of materialists.
D) outside any mind (and are not themselves minds).

Question 8

Locke used the term idea for

A) mental objects.
B) mental images.
C) sensation of pain.
D) All of the above

Question 9

Naïve representationalism claims that

A) the ideas generated in perception perfectly resemble the material objects they represent.
B) setting aside occasional cases of illusion, the ideas generated in perception perfectly resemble the material objects they represent.
C) setting aside occasional cases of illusion, the ideas generated in perception closely resemble the material objects they represent.
D) all theories that assume a similarity between material objects and the ideas that represent them are naïve.

Question 10

The fact that a bee's vision is very different from human vision-for example, bee eyes are insensitive to red light-is a powerful objection against

A) rationalism.
B) empiricism.
C) naïve representationalism.
D) idealism.

Question 11

Locke argued that our idea of heat represents heat, but the idea of heat doesn't resemble heat itself, just as the word

A) heat represents heat, but it doesn't resemble heat.
B) porcupine represents porcupines, but it doesn't resemble a porcupine.
C) pain represents pain, but it doesn't resemble pain.
D) word represents words, but it doesn't resemble a word.

Question 12

Which of the following is/are included among Lockean primary qualities?

A) Shape
B) Solidity
C) Motion and rest
D) All of the above

Question 13

Which of the following is/are included among Lockean secondary qualities?

A) Shape
B) Solidity
C) Color
D) All of the above

Question 14

How do Lockean primary qualities differ from secondary qualities?

A) Secondary qualities are derived from primary qualities.
B) Primary qualities are derived from secondary qualities.
C) Ideas of primary qualities resemble the qualities themselves, whereas ideas of secondary qualities do not resemble the qualities themselves.
D) Ideas of secondary qualities resemble the qualities themselves, whereas ideas of primary qualities do not resemble the qualities themselves.

Question 15

Explain naïve representationalism and any objections against it.

Question 16

Explain Locke's distinction between primary and secondary qualities, providing examples of both. How might one object to this distinction? What qualities might not clearly fit into one or the other?

Question 17

Berkley claimed that there were no such things as material objects. What arguments did he provide to justify this position? What criticisms can be raised against it?

Question 18

Explain direct realism, focusing on its response to the argument from perspectival variation.

Question 19

Explain rationalism and its use of a priori reasoning.