Question 1

Ludwig Wittgenstein rejected his own ideas in Tractatus as resting on an incorrect portrayal of the relation of language to the world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Rorty adopts a nonrealist, nonrepresentationalist conception of truth as that which meets the current standards of rationality of a particular group of speakers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Which of the following best expresses phenomenalism as a metaphysical theory?

Accepted Answer

A)   Physical objects don't exist, just sense-data.
B)   Sense-data don't exist, just physical objects.
C)   Sense-data are caused by, but not identical to, physical objects.
D)   Physical objects are definable in terms of sense-data. D

Question 4

Indeterminacy of translation is the idea that alternative incompatible translations of a language are equally compatible with the linguistic behavior of adherents or speakers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

According to the logical positivists, which of the following determines the meaning of an assertion purporting to be about reality?

Accepted Answer

A)   the intentions of the writer or speaker
B)   the public definitions of the words involved
C)   the use to which the assertion is put
D)   the observations that verify it

Question 6

Which of the following is a universal?

Accepted Answer

A)   Barack Obama
B)   the U.S. Constitution
C)   pen
D)   France

Question 7

Who is most likely to have written "There is no method for knowing when one has reached the truth, or when one is closer than ever before"?

Accepted Answer

A)   Jacques Derrida
B)   Michel Foucault
C)   Richard Rorty
D)   Jürgen Habermas

Question 8

John Dewey was primarily interested in abstract metaphysical issues.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Richard Rorty maintains that, even though each culture has its own constraints on inquiry (standards of rational discourse), there are universal constraints on inquiry that define the objective standpoint for everyone.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The perceived failure of phenomenalism led philosophers like Richard Rorty to adopt a foundationalist view of knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Phenomenalists believe that there are no physical objects, just sense-data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

According to W. V. O. Quine, physical objects are theoretical posits, not constructs of sense-data.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to epistemological foundationalism, a belief becomes knowledge when it:

Accepted Answer

A)   is clearly and distinctly true.
B)   logically follows from other beliefs that cannot be doubted.
C)   follows from other beliefs that are true.
D)   meets the current standards of rationality of the group to which a person belongs.

Question 14

Which of the following views about truth is held by pragmatists in general?

Accepted Answer

A)   Truth is what all investigators will ultimately agree to.
B)   Truth is relative to place, time, and purpose.
C)   Truth is what works for the individual.
D)   Truth is unchanging.

Question 15

The logical positivists rejected metaphysical and moral claims as meaningless nonsense.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

According to logical atomists, the world is a collection of:

Accepted Answer

A)   atomic facts.
B)   physical atoms.
C)   immaterial minds.
D)   sense-data.

Question 17

Necessary truths are:

Accepted Answer

A)   true statements that could be false.
B)   true statements that could not possibly be false.
C)   statements known to be true independently of any experience.
D)   statements known to be true through experience.

Question 18

Which of the following perspectives is held by antirepresentationalists?

Accepted Answer

A)   Beliefs do not represent reality.
B)   True beliefs are those that hang together in a coherent fashion.
C)   True beliefs are those that most members of a group consent to.
D)   Beliefs correctly represent the world as it is.

Question 19

According to ontological realism, ontological investigation can disclose objective truth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Bertrand Russell argued that the world consists of many independent atomic facts rather than a single all-encompassing Hegelian Oneness.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 9: The Pragmatic and Analytic Traditions

Ludwig Wittgenstein rejected his own ideas in Tractatus as resting on an incorrect portrayal of the relation of language to the world.

Rorty adopts a nonrealist, nonrepresentationalist conception of truth as that which meets the current standards of rationality of a particular group of speakers.

Which of the following best expresses phenomenalism as a metaphysical theory?

Indeterminacy of translation is the idea that alternative incompatible translations of a language are equally compatible with the linguistic behavior of adherents or speakers.

According to the logical positivists, which of the following determines the meaning of an assertion purporting to be about reality?

Which of the following is a universal?

Who is most likely to have written "There is no method for knowing when one has reached the truth, or when one is closer than ever before"?

John Dewey was primarily interested in abstract metaphysical issues.

Richard Rorty maintains that, even though each culture has its own constraints on inquiry (standards of rational discourse), there are universal constraints on inquiry that define the objective standpoint for everyone.

The perceived failure of phenomenalism led philosophers like Richard Rorty to adopt a foundationalist view of knowledge.

Phenomenalists believe that there are no physical objects, just sense-data.

According to W. V. O. Quine, physical objects are theoretical posits, not constructs of sense-data.

According to epistemological foundationalism, a belief becomes knowledge when it:

Which of the following views about truth is held by pragmatists in general?

The logical positivists rejected metaphysical and moral claims as meaningless nonsense.

According to logical atomists, the world is a collection of:

Necessary truths are:

Which of the following perspectives is held by antirepresentationalists?

According to ontological realism, ontological investigation can disclose objective truth.

Bertrand Russell argued that the world consists of many independent atomic facts rather than a single all-encompassing Hegelian Oneness.