Question 1

Descartes proposed that whenever he vividly and clearly perceives that something is true,

Accepted Answer

A)  it is true. 
B)  he is entitled to believe it. 
C)  it is true and he is entitled to believe it with complete certainty. 
D)  it is true, but he is not entitled to believe with complete certainty.

Question 2

Descartes claimed that when he reflected on certain claims, such as "I exist" or "I am a thinking thing," he felt compelled to believe because these perceptions were

Accepted Answer

A)  obvious and immediate. 
B)  logically necessary. 
C)  empirically verifiable. 
D)  vivid and clear.

Question 3

The first premise of Descartes's ontological argument was that whatever Descartes vividly and clearly perceives to be true is true. From this premise, he inferred that God exists. But, at the same time, when defending the reliability of vivid and clear perception, Descartes appealed to his theism. Philosophers have called this argument the

Accepted Answer

A)  Cartesian fallacy. 
B)  Cartesian circle. 
C)  naturalistic fallacy. 
D)  slippery slope.

Question 4

An a priori argument is one that

Accepted Answer

A)  does not rely on observation. 
B)  relies on observation. 
C)  relies on both observation and pure reason. 
D)  None of the above

Question 5

Explain Saint Anselm's ontological argument, including objections to it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Saint Anselm's ontological argument, including objections...

Question 6

Discuss the method Descartes used to determine what he knew and did not know, including examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the method Descartes used to determine...

Exam 5: Can We Be Completely Certain of Anything?

Descartes proposed that whenever he vividly and clearly perceives that something is true,

Descartes claimed that when he reflected on certain claims, such as "I exist" or "I am a thinking thing," he felt compelled to believe because these perceptions were

An a priori argument is one that

Explain Saint Anselm's ontological argument, including objections to it.

Discuss the method Descartes used to determine what he knew and did not know, including examples.