The Arguments for Anti-Skepticism

Description: This quiz is designed to test your understanding of the arguments for anti-skepticism, a philosophical position that challenges the skeptical claim that we cannot know anything for certain. The quiz covers various arguments, including the argument from common sense, the argument from coherence, and the argument from evil.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: epistemology skepticism anti-skepticism common sense coherence evil
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

Which of the following is a common argument against skepticism?

  1. The argument from common sense

  2. The argument from coherence

  3. The argument from evil

  4. The argument from authority


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The argument from common sense is a common argument against skepticism. It argues that we can trust our senses and our everyday experiences as a source of knowledge. For example, we can see that the sun is shining and feel that the wind is blowing, and we can use these experiences to form beliefs about the world around us.

What is the main idea behind the argument from coherence?

  1. Our beliefs are justified if they are consistent with each other.

  2. Our beliefs are justified if they are supported by evidence.

  3. Our beliefs are justified if they are based on common sense.

  4. Our beliefs are justified if they are held by authorities.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The argument from coherence is a common argument against skepticism. It argues that our beliefs are justified if they are consistent with each other. For example, if we believe that the sun is shining and that the sky is blue, then these beliefs are consistent with each other. This consistency provides some justification for our beliefs, even if we cannot prove them with certainty.

How does the argument from evil challenge skepticism?

  1. It argues that the existence of evil is evidence that God does not exist.

  2. It argues that the existence of evil is evidence that the world is not created by a benevolent God.

  3. It argues that the existence of evil is evidence that we cannot know anything for certain.

  4. It argues that the existence of evil is evidence that we should not trust our senses.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The argument from evil is a common argument against skepticism. It argues that the existence of evil in the world is evidence that the world is not created by a benevolent God. If God is benevolent, then he would not create a world that contains evil. Therefore, the existence of evil suggests that there is no benevolent God, and this undermines the skeptical claim that we cannot know anything for certain.

Which of the following is a common objection to the argument from common sense?

  1. The senses can be deceived.

  2. Common sense beliefs are often inconsistent with each other.

  3. Common sense beliefs are not supported by evidence.

  4. Common sense beliefs are based on authority.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A common objection to the argument from common sense is that the senses can be deceived. For example, we might see a mirage in the desert and mistake it for a pool of water. This shows that we cannot always trust our senses, and therefore we cannot rely on them as a source of certain knowledge.

How does the argument from coherence address the problem of inconsistent beliefs?

  1. It argues that we should reject any beliefs that are inconsistent with our other beliefs.

  2. It argues that we should try to find a way to reconcile our inconsistent beliefs.

  3. It argues that we should ignore our inconsistent beliefs and focus on our consistent beliefs.

  4. It argues that we should adopt a skeptical attitude towards all of our beliefs.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The argument from coherence addresses the problem of inconsistent beliefs by arguing that we should try to find a way to reconcile them. For example, if we believe that the sun is shining and that the sky is blue, but we also believe that it is raining, then we have a problem. We can try to resolve this problem by finding a way to explain how it can be both sunny and rainy at the same time. If we can find a way to reconcile our beliefs, then this will provide some justification for them, even if we cannot prove them with certainty.

What is the main conclusion of the argument from evil?

  1. God does not exist.

  2. The world is not created by a benevolent God.

  3. We cannot know anything for certain.

  4. We should not trust our senses.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The main conclusion of the argument from evil is that the world is not created by a benevolent God. This is because the existence of evil in the world is incompatible with the idea of a benevolent God. If God is benevolent, then he would not create a world that contains evil. Therefore, the existence of evil suggests that there is no benevolent God.

Which of the following is a common objection to the argument from evil?

  1. The problem of hidden evil

  2. The problem of free will

  3. The problem of theodicy

  4. The problem of induction


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A common objection to the argument from evil is the problem of hidden evil. This objection argues that there may be evil in the world that we are not aware of. For example, there may be people who are suffering in remote parts of the world, or there may be animals who are suffering in the wild. We cannot know for sure that there is no hidden evil in the world, and therefore we cannot use the argument from evil to conclude that there is no benevolent God.

How does the argument from common sense respond to the objection that the senses can be deceived?

  1. It argues that the senses are always reliable.

  2. It argues that we should be skeptical of our senses.

  3. It argues that we should use our reason to correct our senses.

  4. It argues that we should ignore our senses and focus on our beliefs.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The argument from common sense responds to the objection that the senses can be deceived by arguing that we should use our reason to correct our senses. For example, if we see a mirage in the desert, we can use our reason to conclude that it is not a real pool of water. This shows that we can use our reason to overcome the limitations of our senses and gain knowledge about the world.

What is the main idea behind the argument from testimony?

  1. We can gain knowledge from the testimony of others.

  2. We should always trust the testimony of others.

  3. We should be skeptical of the testimony of others.

  4. We should ignore the testimony of others and focus on our own experiences.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The argument from testimony is a common argument against skepticism. It argues that we can gain knowledge from the testimony of others. For example, we can learn about history by reading books written by historians, and we can learn about science by reading books written by scientists. This shows that we can rely on the testimony of others to gain knowledge about the world, even if we cannot experience everything for ourselves.

How does the argument from testimony address the problem of false testimony?

  1. It argues that we should always trust the testimony of others.

  2. It argues that we should be skeptical of the testimony of others.

  3. It argues that we should use our reason to evaluate the testimony of others.

  4. It argues that we should ignore the testimony of others and focus on our own experiences.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The argument from testimony addresses the problem of false testimony by arguing that we should use our reason to evaluate the testimony of others. For example, if someone tells us that they saw a flying saucer, we can use our reason to evaluate their testimony. We can ask them questions about what they saw, and we can try to find out if they have any biases or motives that might lead them to lie. This shows that we can use our reason to determine whether or not the testimony of others is reliable.

Which of the following is a common objection to the argument from testimony?

  1. The problem of false testimony

  2. The problem of bias

  3. The problem of self-interest

  4. The problem of induction


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A common objection to the argument from testimony is the problem of false testimony. This objection argues that people often lie or make mistakes, and therefore we cannot always trust the testimony of others. For example, someone might tell us that they saw a flying saucer, but they might be lying or they might have been mistaken. This shows that we cannot always rely on the testimony of others to gain knowledge about the world.

How does the argument from coherence respond to the problem of inconsistent beliefs?

  1. It argues that we should reject any beliefs that are inconsistent with our other beliefs.

  2. It argues that we should try to find a way to reconcile our inconsistent beliefs.

  3. It argues that we should ignore our inconsistent beliefs and focus on our consistent beliefs.

  4. It argues that we should adopt a skeptical attitude towards all of our beliefs.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The argument from coherence responds to the problem of inconsistent beliefs by arguing that we should try to find a way to reconcile them. For example, if we believe that the sun is shining and that the sky is blue, but we also believe that it is raining, then we have a problem. We can try to resolve this problem by finding a way to explain how it can be both sunny and rainy at the same time. If we can find a way to reconcile our beliefs, then this will provide some justification for them, even if we cannot prove them with certainty.

What is the main conclusion of the argument from evil?

  1. God does not exist.

  2. The world is not created by a benevolent God.

  3. We cannot know anything for certain.

  4. We should not trust our senses.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The main conclusion of the argument from evil is that the world is not created by a benevolent God. This is because the existence of evil in the world is incompatible with the idea of a benevolent God. If God is benevolent, then he would not create a world that contains evil. Therefore, the existence of evil suggests that there is no benevolent God.

Which of the following is a common objection to the argument from evil?

  1. The problem of hidden evil

  2. The problem of free will

  3. The problem of theodicy

  4. The problem of induction


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

A common objection to the argument from evil is the problem of hidden evil. This objection argues that there may be evil in the world that we are not aware of. For example, there may be people who are suffering in remote parts of the world, or there may be animals who are suffering in the wild. We cannot know for sure that there is no hidden evil in the world, and therefore we cannot use the argument from evil to conclude that there is no benevolent God.

How does the argument from common sense respond to the objection that the senses can be deceived?

  1. It argues that the senses are always reliable.

  2. It argues that we should be skeptical of our senses.

  3. It argues that we should use our reason to correct our senses.

  4. It argues that we should ignore our senses and focus on our beliefs.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The argument from common sense responds to the objection that the senses can be deceived by arguing that we should use our reason to correct our senses. For example, if we see a mirage in the desert, we can use our reason to conclude that it is not a real pool of water. This shows that we can use our reason to overcome the limitations of our senses and gain knowledge about the world.

- Hide questions