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The Role of Free Will in Human Action

Description: This quiz will test your understanding of the role of free will in human action, a central topic in medieval philosophy.
Number of Questions: 14
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Tags: medieval philosophy free will human action
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According to medieval philosophers, what is the primary faculty responsible for human action?

  1. Intellect

  2. Will

  3. Senses

  4. Appetite


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that the will is the primary faculty responsible for human action because it is the faculty that allows us to choose between different courses of action.

What is the relationship between intellect and will in human action?

  1. Intellect determines the ends of action, while will determines the means.

  2. Will determines the ends of action, while intellect determines the means.

  3. Intellect and will are equally responsible for determining both the ends and the means of action.

  4. Intellect and will are not involved in human action.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that the intellect is responsible for determining the ends of action, while the will is responsible for determining the means to achieve those ends.

What is the role of free will in human action?

  1. Free will allows us to choose between different courses of action.

  2. Free will allows us to act independently of our desires.

  3. Free will allows us to overcome the limitations of our nature.

  4. Free will is an illusion.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is the ability to choose between different courses of action, even when those courses of action are contrary to our desires or our nature.

What are the limits of free will?

  1. Free will is limited by our desires.

  2. Free will is limited by our nature.

  3. Free will is limited by our circumstances.

  4. Free will is unlimited.


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is limited by our desires, our nature, and our circumstances. Our desires can lead us to choose courses of action that are contrary to our reason, our nature can limit our ability to choose certain courses of action, and our circumstances can make it impossible for us to choose certain courses of action.

What is the relationship between free will and moral responsibility?

  1. Free will is necessary for moral responsibility.

  2. Moral responsibility is necessary for free will.

  3. Free will and moral responsibility are independent of each other.

  4. Free will and moral responsibility are incompatible with each other.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is necessary for moral responsibility because it is only when we have the ability to choose between different courses of action that we can be held responsible for our choices.

What are the arguments for and against the existence of free will?

  1. The argument from consciousness, the argument from moral responsibility, and the argument from libertarianism.

  2. The argument from determinism, the argument from compatibilism, and the argument from skepticism.

  3. The argument from the soul, the argument from the body, and the argument from the mind.

  4. The argument from God, the argument from evil, and the argument from suffering.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The main arguments for the existence of free will are the argument from consciousness, the argument from moral responsibility, and the argument from libertarianism. The main arguments against the existence of free will are the argument from determinism, the argument from compatibilism, and the argument from skepticism.

What are the implications of free will for human life?

  1. Free will gives us the ability to create our own destiny.

  2. Free will gives us the ability to overcome the limitations of our nature.

  3. Free will gives us the ability to achieve our full potential.

  4. Free will gives us the ability to make mistakes.


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Free will gives us the ability to create our own destiny, overcome the limitations of our nature, achieve our full potential, and make mistakes.

Is free will compatible with determinism?

  1. Yes, free will and determinism are compatible.

  2. No, free will and determinism are incompatible.

  3. It is impossible to know whether free will and determinism are compatible.

  4. The question of whether free will and determinism are compatible is meaningless.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The question of whether free will and determinism are compatible is one of the most debated questions in philosophy. There are strong arguments on both sides of the issue, and it is impossible to say definitively whether or not free will and determinism are compatible.

What is the relationship between free will and divine providence?

  1. Free will is incompatible with divine providence.

  2. Divine providence is incompatible with free will.

  3. Free will and divine providence are independent of each other.

  4. Free will and divine providence are compatible.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will and divine providence are compatible. They argued that God can know what we will choose to do without determining our choices. This is because God exists outside of time and space, and so he can see all of our possible choices at once.

What is the role of grace in human action?

  1. Grace enables us to overcome the limitations of our nature.

  2. Grace enables us to achieve our full potential.

  3. Grace enables us to make mistakes.

  4. Grace is irrelevant to human action.


Correct Option:
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that grace enables us to overcome the limitations of our nature and achieve our full potential. Grace is a gift from God that helps us to choose the good and avoid the evil.

What is the relationship between free will and the problem of evil?

  1. Free will is the cause of evil.

  2. Evil is the result of the misuse of free will.

  3. Evil is independent of free will.

  4. The problem of evil is irrelevant to the question of free will.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that evil is the result of the misuse of free will. They argued that God created us with free will so that we could choose to love him and obey his commandments. However, we have misused our free will by choosing to sin. This is the cause of evil in the world.

What is the relationship between free will and human flourishing?

  1. Free will is necessary for human flourishing.

  2. Human flourishing is necessary for free will.

  3. Free will and human flourishing are independent of each other.

  4. Free will and human flourishing are incompatible with each other.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is necessary for human flourishing. They argued that human beings are rational creatures who are capable of choosing between different courses of action. This ability to choose is what allows us to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

What is the relationship between free will and the common good?

  1. Free will is necessary for the common good.

  2. The common good is necessary for free will.

  3. Free will and the common good are independent of each other.

  4. Free will and the common good are incompatible with each other.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is necessary for the common good. They argued that the common good is the good of the whole community, and that it can only be achieved if individual members of the community are free to choose to act in ways that benefit the community as a whole.

What is the relationship between free will and political authority?

  1. Free will is necessary for political authority.

  2. Political authority is necessary for free will.

  3. Free will and political authority are independent of each other.

  4. Free will and political authority are incompatible with each other.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Medieval philosophers believed that free will is necessary for political authority. They argued that political authority is legitimate only if it is based on the consent of the governed. This consent can only be given freely, and so free will is necessary for political authority.

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