Philosophy 121
Exam 1
NAME _______________
Section I: Short answer (2-3 sentences, 2 points each).
1. What is Descartes’ goal in the “Meditations”?
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2. What are ideas, for Hume? Where do we get them?
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3. According to Popper, what is the difference between a scientific theory and a non-scientific theory?
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4. In Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” Socrates suggests that the person who leaves the cave would be in
pain and unable to see because of the sun’s brightness. What is this metaphor supposed to mean?
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5. According to Descartes, from what two sources do people get their beliefs?
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Section II: Medium Answer (4-5 sentences, 5 points each)
6. Summarize Descartes’ ‘Dream Argument’. What source of knowledge is this supposed to deny?
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7. According to Hume, where do people get their idea of causal power? Does this amount to knowledge
of causes? Why or Why not?
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Philosophy 121
Exam 1
NAME _______________
8. What would Popper say to someone who said that the goal of science is to pursue the truth?
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9. What does Russell say about induction, or the process of learning from experience?
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10. In Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” Socrates suggests that the person who has seen the truth would be
taken for a fool by those who never left the cave. Why is this? What is this metaphor supposed to
mean?
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11. If none of our knowledge claims are true, as skepticism suggests, how do we tell the difference
between the careful and the foolish? Discuss Stroud’s airplane spotters in your answer.
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Philosophy 121
Exam 1
NAME _______________
Section III: Long Answer (8-10 sentences, 10 points each):
12. Biff, after reading Kuhn, decides that he will simply reject all scientific claims as false, and never
believe anything a scientist says ever again. Has Biff correctly understood Kuhn’s point? What might
Russell say to Biff?
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13. Gerald, after studying philosophical skepticism, becomes frustrated and claims that all that
philosophy does is create doubt and make no progress. Has Gerald correctly understood the point of
philosophical skepticism? What might Descartes, Russell, or Stroud (pick one) say to Gerald?
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