Question 1

Herbert Spencer,in his essay "What Knowledge Is Of Most Worth," argued that education should promote

Accepted Answer

A)  the cultural heritage of the past.
B)  religious truth revealed by great thinkers.
C)  creativity through artistic expression.
D)  the supremacy of scientific knowledge. D

Question 2

Aristotle believed that the universe has design to it and that everything has a true purpose.The purpose of human beings is to

Accepted Answer

A)  think and follow a path of moderation.
B)  make a living by skill and intellect.
C)  engage in technological activity.
D)  solve scientific problems. A

Question 3

Francis Bacon argued for an inductive approach in logic or thinking,which means that better knowledge is gained when we

Accepted Answer

A)  begin with specific observations and reason to general conclusions.
B)  induce truth from both religion and science before we believe it.
C)  induct students into a single way of thinking for uniformity.
D)  only use deduction in religion and induction in science. A

Question 4

Alfred North Whitehead argued that education should be concerned with "living ideas" that connect the experiences of learners with

Accepted Answer

A)  the traditions and tested truths of history.
B)  the processes and patterns of reality.
C)  products and processes of physical science.
D)  dialectical reasoning of mind and thought.

Question 5

A central theme of realism is the "thesis of independence," which means that reality,knowledge,and value exist

Accepted Answer

A)  only in the mind of the perceiver.
B)  in a separate realm of ideas.
C)  in the natural laws of physics.
D)  independent of the human mind.

Question 6

Because realists see the universe governed by its own internal order,there is a tendency in their educational philosophy to require students to

Accepted Answer

A)  adapt and adjust to this reality.
B)  pursue individual dreams and desires.
C)  adjust to the needs of totalitarian regimes.
D)  reject all other enduring world views.

Question 7

The classical realist outlook championed by Robert Hutchins and Mortimer Adler strongly promotes the educational use of

Accepted Answer

A)  great books that have withstood the test of time.
B)  mathematics and science for precision in thought.
C)  timeless religious truths about religious salvation.
D)  contemporary writings that reveal current reality.

Question 8

Locke believed that our mind at birth is a tabula rasa,or a

Accepted Answer

A)  rational table full of ideas.
B)  machine-like system for calculation.
C)  rational soul full of remembered truths.
D)  blank slate to be imprinted by experience.

Question 9

Thomas Aquinas believed that only God could touch the soul directly,but a teacher may also lead a student to knowledge and truth through

Accepted Answer

A)  firm and forceful dictation of knowledge.
B)  the use of observation and reason.
C)  the indoctrination of students to become obedient believers.
D)  in making student memorize and recite received truths.

Question 10

Unlike classical realists,contemporary realists such as Hilary Putnam hold that

Accepted Answer

A)  the universe is clearly capable of being understood in absolute terms.
B)  the doctrine of "simplicity" is the surest way to understanding the universe.
C)  we need more use of logic and rationalism and less reliance on hypothetical reasoning.
D)  the universe is too complex for the human to comprehend in a total or "God's Eye" view.

Question 11

The syllogism used by Aristotle is composed of a major premise,a minor premise,and a conclusion.Which of the following is a major weakness in this deductive process of logic:

Accepted Answer

A)  It has an illogical order of descending scales of merit.
B)  The logic only fits questions about science.
C)  If the premise is wrong,then the conclusion is faulty.
D)  Its religious bias yields absolute answers.

Question 12

Maria Montessori,like Pestalozzi,stressed the importance of:

Accepted Answer

A)  sensation and the use of objects in the learning process.
B)   group and community activities.
C)   dealing with emotional conflict
D)   relating education to the social and political environment.

Exam 2: Realism and Education