Skepticism and Certainty

Description: Skepticism and Certainty Quiz
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy philosophy of knowledge skepticism certainty
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What is the primary concern of skepticism?

  1. The nature of reality

  2. The limits of knowledge

  3. The existence of God

  4. The meaning of life


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Skepticism is a philosophical school of thought that questions the possibility of certain knowledge. Skeptics argue that our senses are unreliable and that our beliefs are based on faith or opinion rather than on solid evidence.

Which of the following is a common skeptical argument?

  1. The Dream Argument

  2. The Evil Demon Argument

  3. The Matrix Argument

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Dream Argument, the Evil Demon Argument, and the Matrix Argument are all skeptical arguments that attempt to show that we cannot be certain of anything we experience.

What is the main response to skepticism?

  1. Foundationalism

  2. Coherentism

  3. Pragmatism

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Foundationalism is a philosophical theory that holds that there are certain basic beliefs that are self-evident and cannot be doubted. These beliefs are then used to justify other beliefs.

Which philosopher is most closely associated with foundationalism?

  1. René Descartes

  2. John Locke

  3. David Hume

  4. Immanuel Kant


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

René Descartes is the philosopher most closely associated with foundationalism. He argued that the only thing we can be certain of is our own existence, and that all other beliefs must be justified by reference to this basic belief.

What is the main problem with foundationalism?

  1. It is circular

  2. It is too narrow

  3. It is too broad

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main problem with foundationalism is that it is circular. In order to justify our basic beliefs, we must rely on other beliefs, and so on. This leads to an infinite regress, which means that we can never be certain of anything.

Which philosopher is most closely associated with coherentism?

  1. René Descartes

  2. John Locke

  3. David Hume

  4. Immanuel Kant


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Immanuel Kant is the philosopher most closely associated with coherentism. He argued that the truth of a belief is determined by its coherence with other beliefs.

What is the main problem with coherentism?

  1. It is too narrow

  2. It is too broad

  3. It is circular

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The main problem with coherentism is that it is too broad. It allows for the possibility that contradictory beliefs can be true, as long as they are coherent with each other.

Which philosopher is most closely associated with pragmatism?

  1. René Descartes

  2. John Locke

  3. William James

  4. Immanuel Kant


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

William James is the philosopher most closely associated with pragmatism. He argued that the truth of a belief is determined by its practical consequences.

What is the main problem with pragmatism?

  1. It is too narrow

  2. It is too broad

  3. It is circular

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main problem with pragmatism is that it is too narrow. It only considers the practical consequences of a belief, and not its truth or falsity.

Which of the following is not a type of skepticism?

  1. Methodological skepticism

  2. Academic skepticism

  3. Pyrrhonian skepticism

  4. Cartesian skepticism


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Academic skepticism is not a type of skepticism. It is a school of thought that holds that we should suspend judgment on all matters of belief.

What is the difference between methodological skepticism and Pyrrhonian skepticism?

  1. Methodological skepticism is more radical than Pyrrhonian skepticism

  2. Pyrrhonian skepticism is more radical than methodological skepticism

  3. They are the same thing

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Methodological skepticism is more radical than Pyrrhonian skepticism because it holds that we should not even try to form beliefs, while Pyrrhonian skepticism only holds that we should suspend judgment on our beliefs.

Which of the following is a skeptical argument against the existence of God?

  1. The Problem of Evil

  2. The Argument from Ignorance

  3. The Ontological Argument

  4. The Cosmological Argument


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Problem of Evil is a skeptical argument against the existence of God that asks why an all-powerful, all-good God would allow evil to exist.

Which of the following is a skeptical argument against the possibility of knowledge?

  1. The Dream Argument

  2. The Evil Demon Argument

  3. The Matrix Argument

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The Dream Argument, the Evil Demon Argument, and the Matrix Argument are all skeptical arguments that attempt to show that we cannot be certain of anything we experience.

What is the main conclusion of skepticism?

  1. We can know nothing

  2. We can know some things

  3. We can know everything

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main conclusion of skepticism is that we can know nothing. Skeptics argue that our senses are unreliable and that our beliefs are based on faith or opinion rather than on solid evidence.

What is the main problem with skepticism?

  1. It is too radical

  2. It is too conservative

  3. It is self-refuting

  4. None of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The main problem with skepticism is that it is self-refuting. If we cannot know anything, then we cannot know that we cannot know anything. This leads to a contradiction.

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