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Empiricism: The Foundation of Knowledge

Description: Empiricism: The Foundation of Knowledge
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: philosophy modern philosophy empiricism knowledge
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According to empiricism, what is the primary source of knowledge?

  1. Reason and logic

  2. Experience and observation

  3. Divine revelation

  4. Intuition and introspection


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Empiricism emphasizes the role of experience and observation in acquiring knowledge, asserting that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences.

Who is widely regarded as the father of empiricism?

  1. René Descartes

  2. John Locke

  3. David Hume

  4. Immanuel Kant


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

John Locke is often considered the father of empiricism due to his influential work, "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding," which laid the foundation for empiricist thought.

What is the fundamental principle of empiricism?

  1. Knowledge is innate and apriori.

  2. Knowledge is derived from experience and observation.

  3. Knowledge is acquired through rational deduction.

  4. Knowledge is revealed through divine inspiration.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Empiricism asserts that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences and that there is no innate or apriori knowledge.

According to empiricists, what is the role of reason in acquiring knowledge?

  1. Reason is the primary source of knowledge.

  2. Reason is used to organize and interpret sensory experiences.

  3. Reason is irrelevant in the process of acquiring knowledge.

  4. Reason is used to deduce knowledge from innate principles.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Empiricism acknowledges the role of reason in organizing and interpreting sensory experiences, but it emphasizes that reason alone cannot generate knowledge without sensory input.

Empiricists argue that knowledge is:

  1. Absolute and unchanging.

  2. Relative and subject to change.

  3. Innate and apriori.

  4. Derived from divine revelation.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Empiricism maintains that knowledge is relative and subject to change because it is derived from sensory experiences, which are constantly evolving and changing.

What is the empiricist critique of rationalism?

  1. Rationalism relies too heavily on abstract reasoning.

  2. Rationalism ignores the role of experience in acquiring knowledge.

  3. Rationalism is incompatible with the scientific method.

  4. All of the above.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Empiricists argue that rationalism relies too heavily on abstract reasoning, ignores the role of experience, and is incompatible with the scientific method, which emphasizes empirical evidence.

Which empiricist philosopher famously argued that "nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses"?

  1. John Locke

  2. David Hume

  3. George Berkeley

  4. Thomas Hobbes


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

John Locke famously stated "nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses," emphasizing the empiricist view that all knowledge is derived from sensory experiences.

According to David Hume, what are the two types of knowledge?

  1. A priori and a posteriori

  2. Analytic and synthetic

  3. Empirical and rational

  4. Absolute and relative


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

David Hume distinguished between a priori knowledge, which is known independently of experience, and a posteriori knowledge, which is derived from experience.

Hume's skepticism about induction is based on the problem of:

  1. Circular reasoning

  2. Infinite regress

  3. Lack of empirical evidence

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Hume's skepticism about induction is based on the problem of circular reasoning, infinite regress, and the lack of empirical evidence to justify the principle of induction.

What is the empiricist response to the problem of skepticism?

  1. Appeal to common sense

  2. Rely on faith and divine revelation

  3. Adopt a pragmatic approach

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Empiricists often adopt a pragmatic approach to the problem of skepticism, arguing that while absolute certainty may be unattainable, we can still rely on our sensory experiences and the scientific method to acquire knowledge that is useful and reliable.

Which empiricist philosopher famously argued that the material world is nothing but a collection of ideas?

  1. John Locke

  2. David Hume

  3. George Berkeley

  4. Thomas Hobbes


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

George Berkeley famously argued that the material world is nothing but a collection of ideas, proposing the idea of "immaterialism" or "idealism."

What is the empiricist view of the relationship between language and knowledge?

  1. Language is a tool for expressing innate ideas.

  2. Language is a product of social interaction and experience.

  3. Language is a divine gift that allows us to access knowledge.

  4. Language is irrelevant to the process of acquiring knowledge.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Empiricists argue that language is a product of social interaction and experience, shaped by our sensory encounters with the world.

How do empiricists justify the reliability of our sensory experiences?

  1. By appealing to divine revelation

  2. By relying on innate principles

  3. By demonstrating the consistency of our experiences

  4. By using deductive reasoning


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Empiricists often justify the reliability of our sensory experiences by pointing to their consistency across different individuals and contexts.

What is the empiricist critique of metaphysics?

  1. Metaphysics is too abstract and divorced from experience.

  2. Metaphysics relies on unverified assumptions.

  3. Metaphysics is incompatible with the scientific method.

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Empiricists argue that metaphysics is too abstract, relies on unverified assumptions, and is incompatible with the scientific method, which emphasizes empirical evidence.

Which empiricist philosopher famously argued that "the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing"?

  1. John Locke

  2. David Hume

  3. George Berkeley

  4. Socrates


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

While Socrates is not strictly an empiricist, he is often associated with the empiricist tradition due to his emphasis on questioning and seeking knowledge through experience.

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