MA Philosophy 2

Question 1

David Hume's problem of induction challenges the justification of inductive reasoning primarily because:

Accepted Answer

Past regularities cannot logically guarantee future ones without circular reasoning

Answer

Inductive conclusions are always false

Answer

Inductive arguments are deductively valid

Answer

Science does not use inductive reasoning

Question 2

In Aristotle's ethics, eudaimonia is best translated and understood as:

Accepted Answer

Flourishing or living and faring well in accordance with virtue

Answer

Pleasure and hedonistic satisfaction

Answer

Dutiful obedience to moral rules

Answer

The absence of pain and disturbance

Question 3

Which of the following philosophers is most associated with the development of pragmatism as an American philosophical tradition?

Accepted Answer

William James and John Dewey

Answer

Bertrand Russell and G.E. Moore

Answer

Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre

Answer

Gilbert Ryle and A.J. Ayer

Question 4

The 'trolley problem,' introduced by Philippa Foot and extended by Judith Jarvis Thomson, is primarily designed to test intuitions about:

Accepted Answer

Whether there is a morally significant difference between doing harm and allowing harm

Answer

The validity of social contract theory

Answer

The justification of retributive punishment

Answer

Epistemic responsibilities in moral judgment

Question 5

Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the 'will to power' is best understood as:

Accepted Answer

A fundamental drive for self-mastery, creative expression, and overcoming resistance

Answer

A desire for political domination over others

Answer

The inevitable will of the Übermensch to rule society

Answer

A biological instinct for sexual reproduction

Question 6

The 'mind-body problem' as formulated by Descartes arises because he held which two seemingly incompatible theses?

Accepted Answer

Mind is an unextended thinking substance and body is an extended non-thinking substance

Answer

Mind and body are both material substances of different densities

Answer

Mind is an extended substance and body is a thinking substance

Answer

Mind and body are both immaterial substances

Question 7

Which of the following is the central claim of philosophical anti-realism about science?

Accepted Answer

We should remain agnostic or instrumentalist about unobservable theoretical entities

Answer

Scientific theories are literally true descriptions of unobservable entities

Answer

Successful science requires belief in the existence of theoretical entities

Answer

Science and metaphysics are identical disciplines