Introduction To Philosophy Quiz

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  • 1/20 Questions

    Color-blindness is sometimes caused by a problem in the brain, not the eyes.

    • True
    • False
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Do you know what is the most important writings of Socrates? Why is philosophy so interesting? Check out our online quiz and learn interesting facts about philosophy.

Introduction To Philosophy Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    If Descartes' evil demon can manipulate my beliefs -- can make me believe things -- then it can make me think I am experiencing external objects when I am not.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    The statement is true because if Descartes' evil demon has the power to manipulate our beliefs, it can make us believe in things that are not real. This includes making us think that we are experiencing external objects when in reality, we are not. This concept challenges the reliability of our senses and questions the nature of our perception of reality.

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  • 3. 

    Indirect Realism holds that in perception I am immediately aware of something mental, not something physical.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Indirect Realism is a philosophical theory that suggests that our perception is not directly of physical objects, but rather of mental representations or experiences. According to this view, when we perceive something, we are immediately aware of our own mental states or ideas, rather than the physical objects themselves. This means that our perception is mediated by our mental experiences, and we do not have direct access to the external world. Therefore, the statement that "in perception I am immediately aware of something mental, not something physical" aligns with the principles of Indirect Realism, making the answer "True".

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  • 4. 

    In The Matrix, people's brains are not removed from their bodies.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    In The Matrix, people's brains are not removed from their bodies. This is evident throughout the movie as the characters are shown living in a simulated reality while their physical bodies remain connected to a computer system. The concept of the film revolves around the idea that humans are kept in a state of unconsciousness while their minds are plugged into the Matrix, a virtual world created by machines. Therefore, the statement that people's brains are not removed from their bodies is true.

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  • 5. 

    Descartes said that God would not deceive us as to whether we are experiencing physical objects.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Descartes believed that God, being a perfect and benevolent being, would not deceive us when it comes to our perceptions of physical objects. He argued that since God is not a deceiver, our senses can generally be trusted to provide us with accurate information about the external world. Therefore, the statement "Descartes said that God would not deceive us as to whether we are experiencing physical objects" is true.

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  • 6. 

    According to the brain-in-a-vat scenario, the computer hooked up to the brain in the vat has to receive outputs from the brain.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    The brain-in-a-vat scenario suggests that a person's brain is connected to a computer, and in order for the person to experience the virtual reality created by the computer, the computer must receive outputs from the brain. This means that the brain's activity and thoughts are being transmitted to the computer, allowing the person to interact with the virtual world. Therefore, the statement is true.

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  • 7. 

    80% of the fibers going to the brain's vision center come from the subject's two retinas.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    The statement is true because the retina is responsible for receiving visual information and transmitting it to the brain. Each eye has its own retina, and both retinas send signals to the brain's vision center. Since 80% of the fibers going to the brain's vision center come from the subject's two retinas, it confirms that the statement is true.

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  • 8. 

    According to idealism, on occasions when you think you are ordinarily seeing a tree, you are experiencing a pattern of colors in your mind, not a tree.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    According to idealism, the belief is that when you perceive a tree, you are actually perceiving a pattern of colors in your mind, rather than the physical existence of a tree. This perspective suggests that our perception of reality is subjective and constructed within our minds. Therefore, the statement "According to idealism, on occasions when you think you are ordinarily seeing a tree, you are experiencing a pattern of colors in your mind, not a tree" aligns with the concept of idealism, making the answer "True".

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  • 9. 

    Immanuel Kant said that the perceiving mind is not a passive recorder of external reality.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Immanuel Kant, a renowned philosopher, argued that the mind is not simply a passive receiver of external reality. Instead, he believed that the mind actively organizes and interprets sensory information to construct our perception of reality. This perspective challenges the notion that our perception is a direct and accurate reflection of the external world. Therefore, the statement that the perceiving mind is not a passive recorder of external reality aligns with Kant's philosophy and is considered true.

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  • 10. 

    Rachels portrays circumstances in which he thinks it would be reasonable for you to believe that until recently you had been a brain in a vat for many years.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Rachels presents scenarios that could lead one to believe that they have been a brain in a vat for a long time. This implies that our perception of reality can be deceiving, and it is possible to be disconnected from the physical world. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that Rachels supports the idea that one could have been a brain in a vat until recently.

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  • 11. 

    Daniel Dennett in Consciousness Explained argues that a computer could not keep up with the computations involved in allowing you to explore the world that it was faking.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Daniel Dennett argues that a computer would not be able to handle the complex computations necessary for simulating the exploration of the world. In his book "Consciousness Explained," he suggests that the depth and intricacy of human consciousness cannot be replicated by a computer. Therefore, the statement "a computer could not keep up with the computations involved in allowing you to explore the world that it was faking" is true according to Dennett's perspective.

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  • 12. 

    The direct realist claims that when I think I see a tree, that is always an illusion.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The given statement is false. The direct realist actually claims that when someone thinks they see a tree, it is not an illusion but a direct perception of the actual tree itself. According to direct realism, perception is immediate and unmediated, meaning that our experiences of the external world are not illusions but accurate representations of reality.

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  • 13. 

    Descartes denied that an evil demon could make me believe I am thinking that 2 + 3 = 5, when I am not.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. True
    Explanation
    Descartes denied the possibility of an evil demon deceiving him into believing that 2 + 3 equals 5 when it does not. He argued that since he is a thinking being, he can be certain of his own thoughts and that there must be some innate truth within him that allows him to recognize the falsehood of such a belief. Therefore, the statement "True" is the correct answer.

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  • 14. 

    Direct realism says that a tree is "simple".  One option for what "simple" means is "involvement", and that means:

    • We don't notice a tree unless we get involved in our experience

    • My experience could not occur if the tree were not present

    • I don't see the tree; I see only a representation of it.

    Correct Answer
    A. My experience could not occur if the tree were not present
    Explanation
    According to direct realism, the correct option for what "simple" means is that our experience could not occur if the tree were not present. This implies that direct realism suggests that our perception of the tree is not a representation or a construct in our mind, but rather a direct experience of the tree itself. In other words, our experience of the tree is dependent on its actual presence.

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  • 15. 

    According to the "commonsense view" of perception:

    • It is impossible to have an experience of a cricket-like sound unless a cricket is making the sound you are hearing.

    • When you stop observing a rabbit on your lawn, the rabbit remains where it was for up to an hour.

    • By way of our sense organs, external things cause us to have beliefs that are fairly accurate.

    • If I have a false belief, that is always the result of a faulty sense organ.

    Correct Answer
    A. By way of our sense organs, external things cause us to have beliefs that are fairly accurate.
    Explanation
    The "commonsense view" of perception suggests that our sense organs allow us to accurately perceive external things, which in turn leads to beliefs that are fairly accurate. This means that our perception is generally reliable and trustworthy. It implies that our senses provide us with information about the external world that aligns with reality, allowing us to form beliefs that are in line with the actual state of things.

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  • 16. 

    Descartes claimed that a non-existent being could still be perfect if it was God.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    Descartes did not claim that a non-existent being could still be perfect if it was God. In fact, Descartes argued that existence is a necessary attribute of perfection, and therefore, a non-existent being cannot be perfect. This is contrary to the statement presented in the question, making the correct answer False.

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  • 17. 

    Even if the brain-in-a-vat scenario is impossible, you could still be a brain in a vat that thinks it is possible.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    This statement is false because if the brain-in-a-vat scenario is impossible, it means that the idea of being a brain in a vat is not a possibility. Therefore, it would not be possible for a brain in a vat to think that it is possible.

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  • 18. 

    Direct realism says that seeing a tree is "simple".  One option for what "simple" means is "transparent", and transparent means:

    • I can't see through the tree; it is opaque

    • My brain determines how the tree looks to me.

    • Only the tree dictates the character of my experience of it

    Correct Answer
    A. Only the tree dictates the character of my experience of it
    Explanation
    According to direct realism, the correct answer is "only the tree dictates the character of my experience of it." This means that in direct realism, the perception of the tree is not influenced by external factors such as the brain or personal interpretation. Instead, the experience of the tree is solely determined by the tree itself, suggesting that our perception directly corresponds to the external world.

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  • 19. 

    An idealist still thinks physical objects exist, but believes that we experience them indirectly by way of ideas.

    • True

    • False

    Correct Answer
    A. False
    Explanation
    The given statement is false. An idealist believes that physical objects do not exist independently and that they are only a product of our ideas or perceptions. They argue that our experiences of the physical world are subjective and cannot be separated from our thoughts and consciousness. Therefore, an idealist does not think that physical objects exist in the same way as realists do.

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  • 20. 

    Psychologist Steven Pinker informs us that the brain makes the assumption that:

    • An object that is retinally smaller must be in front of an object that is retinally larger. 

    • A copper-colored rectangle must be the side of a penny

    • If dots on a balloon get increasingly closer, the balloon is getting closer too

    • None of the above

    Correct Answer
    A. None of the above

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 24, 2021
    Quiz Created by
    Alfredhook3
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