Intro To Philosophy Quiz Part- III

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  • 1/20 Questions

    Rachels raises a problem with the Argument from Experience, that a person could experience herself as being free when she makes a conscious choice, and yet not really be free.

    • True
    • False
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About This Quiz

Explore key philosophical concepts in 'Intro To Philosophy Quiz Part- III'. This quiz assesses understanding of libertarianism, compatibilism, free will, and determinism, enhancing critical thinking and comprehension of philosophical debates relevant to everyday and academic contexts.

Intro To Philosophy Quiz Part- III - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    According to Compatibilism, when you act freely, you are acting according to your desires, but your desires are caused by things outside of your control.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Compatibilism is a philosophical stance that argues that free will and determinism are compatible. According to this perspective, when individuals act freely, their actions are in line with their desires. However, compatibilism also acknowledges that these desires are influenced by external factors beyond an individual's control. Therefore, the correct answer, "True," aligns with the principles of compatibilism.

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  • 3. 

    According to Rachels, a serious problem with Libertarianism is that if our actions are not determined by the Laws of Nature, then we have no plausible explanation for how they come about.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to Rachels, Libertarianism faces a serious problem because if our actions are not determined by the Laws of Nature, then there is no plausible explanation for how they come about. This suggests that if our actions are not influenced by external factors or predetermined by natural laws, it becomes difficult to understand the reasons behind our actions. Therefore, the statement is true as it accurately reflects Rachels' perspective on the issue.

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  • 4. 

    According to Rachels, if Libertarianism is true, then there is some part of us that is not governed by the Laws of Nature.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to Rachels, if Libertarianism is true, it suggests that there is a part of us that is not controlled or determined by the Laws of Nature. This implies that there is an aspect of human behavior or decision-making that is free from causal determinism and allows for genuine freedom of choice. Therefore, the correct answer is true.

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  • 5. 

    According to Rachels, if Determinism is true, then it follows that all actions are predictable in principle.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to Rachels, if Determinism is true, it means that all events, including human actions, are determined by prior causes and conditions. In this view, if we have complete knowledge of these causes and conditions, it would be possible to predict all actions in principle. Therefore, the statement that "if Determinism is true, then it follows that all actions are predictable in principle" aligns with Rachels' perspective and is true.

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  • 6. 

    According to Rachels, the following is a plausible response to the Libertarian argument that humans act freely because at the quantum level the behavior of matter is undetermined: Free action is not the same as undetermined action.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to Rachels, free action and undetermined action are not the same thing. Just because the behavior of matter at the quantum level is undetermined does not mean that human actions are also undetermined. Free action involves more than just randomness or lack of determinism; it requires the presence of reasons, motives, and intentions. Therefore, the statement that free action is not the same as undetermined action is true.

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  • 7. 

    Rachels says that according to Inwagen's argument, the main problem with Compatibilism is that it ignores the fact that our desires and values are determined by events in the remote past.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to Inwagen's argument, the main problem with Compatibilism is that it fails to acknowledge that our desires and values are determined by events in the remote past. This means that our current desires and values are not truly free or autonomous, but rather influenced by past events beyond our control. Therefore, the statement that Rachels makes is true.

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  • 8. 

    According to Rachels, if Determinism is false because there is indeterminacy at the quantum level, it follows that we have free will.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    Rachels argues that the presence of indeterminacy at the quantum level does not necessarily imply the existence of free will. While determinism may be false due to quantum indeterminacy, it does not automatically mean that humans possess free will. Free will is a complex concept that goes beyond the absence of determinism, and it involves factors such as conscious decision-making and personal autonomy. Therefore, the statement that free will follows from the falsity of determinism due to quantum indeterminacy is incorrect.

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  • 9. 

    No theory accepts that you can be free if determinism is true.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The statement is false because there are theories that argue for the compatibility of determinism and freedom. One such theory is compatibilism, which suggests that freedom can still exist even if determinism is true. According to compatibilists, freedom is not about having the ability to choose differently, but rather about acting in accordance with one's own desires and motivations. Therefore, even if our actions are determined by external factors, we can still be considered free as long as we are able to act in line with our own will.

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  • 10. 

    According to Rachels, if we do not have free will, we cannot reason.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    Rachels argues that even if we do not have free will, we can still reason. He believes that reasoning is a cognitive process that does not necessarily require free will. People can still analyze information, draw conclusions, and make decisions based on their understanding of the world, even if their actions are determined by external factors. Therefore, the statement that we cannot reason without free will is false according to Rachels.

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  • 11. 

    According to Rachels, the problem with the following argument is stated in which of the choices below it:  1.) We cannot help but admire or blame people for what they do, nor can we avoid feeling pride or shame for what we do. 2.) These responses - admiration, blame, pride, and shame - presuppose that people have free will. 3.) Therefore, we can't help believing that people have free will. 4.) So people have free will.

    • (4) doesn't follow from (3).

    • (1) is false.

    • (2) is false.

    • (3) is false.

    Correct Answer
    A. (4) doesn't follow from (3).
    Explanation
    The problem with the argument is that the conclusion (4) does not logically follow from the premise (3). Just because we cannot help believing that people have free will does not mean that people actually have free will. The argument fails to provide any evidence or reasoning to support the claim that people have free will. Therefore, the conclusion is not justified based on the given premises.

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  • 12. 

    The following view says that you are free in the sense that when you do an action, you could have done a different action instead:

    • Determinism

    • Libertarianism

    • Compatibilism

    • Fatalism

    Correct Answer
    A. Libertarianism
    Explanation
    Libertarianism is the correct answer because it posits that individuals have free will and are not determined by external factors or predestined outcomes. According to this view, when a person takes an action, they have the ability to choose differently if they so desire. It emphasizes personal agency and the belief that individuals have the power to make choices that are not solely determined by factors such as genetics or environmental influences.

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  • 13. 

    The "Determinist Argument" (Rachels, pg. 110) and the Libertarian agree with the following idea:

    • No one is ever free.

    • If Determinism is true, then no one is ever free.

    • Determinism is true.

    • None of the above.

    Correct Answer
    A. If Determinism is true, then no one is ever free.
    Explanation
    The explanation for the given answer is that both the "Determinist Argument" and the Libertarian agree that if determinism is true, then no one is ever free. This means that according to both perspectives, if determinism, the belief that all events are determined by previous events and natural laws, is true, then human beings do not have free will and are not able to make choices freely. Therefore, the statement "If Determinism is true, then no one is ever free" aligns with the views of both the Determinist Argument and the Libertarian.

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  • 14. 

    According to Rachels, the Libertarian and the Compatibilist agree with the following idea:

    • We are sometimes free.

    • Determinism is true.

    • It's never true that we could have done otherwise than what we did

    • Determinism is false.

    Correct Answer
    A. We are sometimes free.
    Explanation
    According to Rachels, both the Libertarian and the Compatibilist agree that we are sometimes free. This means that they both believe that there are instances in which individuals have the ability to make choices and act freely. However, they differ in their beliefs about determinism. The Libertarian believes that determinism is false and that individuals have free will, while the Compatibilist believes that determinism is true and that free will can still exist within a deterministic framework.

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  • 15. 

    Part of the reason why Rachels says that if no one is free, "it would be odd to criticize anyone for anything he has done" (p. 123) is this:

    • When you criticize someone you're telling them what they ought to do.  And that implies they could do otherwise.

    • When you criticize someone you're telling them what they ought to do.  And that implies that they have the general physical power to do it.

    • It is commonsense to criticize someone for a wrong action.

    • A non-free person is unlikely to be offended by criticism.

    Correct Answer
    A. When you criticize someone you're telling them what they ought to do.  And that implies they could do otherwise.
    Explanation
    Rachels argues that when you criticize someone, you are essentially telling them what they should have done instead. This implies that they had the ability to choose a different course of action. Therefore, if no one is free, it would be odd to criticize anyone because they would not have had the ability to do otherwise. This explanation aligns with Rachels' perspective on the relationship between criticism and freedom of choice.

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  • 16. 

    Rachels thinks it may be correct that:

    • If you have no free will, you're responsible for your bad action if you have no excuse for it.

    • If you have no free will, then you're never responsible for any bad action.

    • If you have free will, then you're always responsible for any bad action.

    • If you have free will, you're always responsible for any good action.

    Correct Answer
    A. If you have no free will, you're responsible for your bad action if you have no excuse for it.
    Explanation
    Rachels believes that if someone does not have free will, they are still responsible for their bad actions as long as they do not have any valid excuse for their behavior. This suggests that Rachels recognizes the importance of personal accountability even in the absence of free will.

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  • 17. 

    The following view says that on occasions when you act freely, you could not have done a different action:

    • Determinism

    • Libertarianism

    • Compatibilism

    • Fatalism

    Correct Answer
    A. Compatibilism
    Explanation
    Compatibilism is the view that free will and determinism are compatible. It argues that even though our actions may be determined by various factors, we can still be considered free as long as we are able to act according to our own desires and motivations. In other words, even if our actions are causally determined, we can still have the ability to make choices and act in accordance with our own will. Compatibilism reconciles the idea of determinism with the concept of free will, suggesting that they are not mutually exclusive.

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  • 18. 

    According to Rachels, if you can explain a murder's misdeeds in terms of his genes, history, or the chemistry of his brain, it means that the murderer is not a bad person.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    Rachels argues that providing explanations for a murderer's actions based on their genes, history, or brain chemistry does not absolve them of being a bad person. These factors may help us understand why they committed the murder, but it does not excuse or justify their actions. The murderer is still responsible for their choices and the harm they caused, regardless of any underlying factors that may have contributed to their behavior.

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  • 19. 

    Rachels believes that the following argument shows that we have free will:

    • The Argument from Accountability

    • The Argument that We Cannot Predict our Own Decisions

    • The Argument From Experience

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. None of the above
    Explanation
    The given answer "None of the above" suggests that Rachels does not believe that any of the mentioned arguments (The Argument from Accountability, The Argument that We Cannot Predict our Own Decisions, The Argument From Experience) successfully demonstrate the existence of free will.

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  • 20. 

    When Einstein  said "God does not play dice with the universe" his point was this:

    • We have free will.

    • Determinism is false.

    • God determines everything we will do.

    • Things that occur at the sub-atomic level are determined.

    Correct Answer
    A. Things that occur at the sub-atomic level are determined.
    Explanation
    The correct answer is that things that occur at the sub-atomic level are determined. This statement aligns with Einstein's belief that the universe operates in a deterministic manner, meaning that events are predetermined and not subject to chance or randomness. Einstein's quote suggests that while there may be free will at the macroscopic level, the behavior of particles at the sub-atomic level follows strict laws of cause and effect.

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  • Current Version
  • Aug 19, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Dec 15, 2020
    Quiz Created by
    Themes
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