PHIL 105 exam UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
padding - CORRECT ANSWER - name for identifying background noise (e.g. setting,
restatement, jokes, definition)
Biases, perceptions - CORRECT ANSWER - two main obstacles to critical thinking
psychological obstacles - CORRECT ANSWER - those hindrances to critical thinking that
arise because of how we think (e.g. fears, motivations, attitudes, desires)
philosophical obsatcles - CORRECT ANSWER - those hindrances to critical thinking that
arise because of what we think (e.g. our beliefs about beliefs)
The Almighty Self (self-interested thinking) - CORRECT ANSWER - Accepting a claim
solely because it furthers your interest e.g. "this university shouldn't rise the fees because I don't
want to pay more tuition
confirmation bias - CORRECT ANSWER - type of self-interested thinking that defines the
tendency to search for, interpret, or recall information in a way that confirms one's beliefs or
hypotheses
selective attention - CORRECT ANSWER - making a conscious effort to look for
opposing evidence
skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER - A questioning attitude of doubt/disbelief towards
knowledge, facts and opinions
social relativism - CORRECT ANSWER - The view that truth is relative to societies. e.g.
burning witches, slavery
, usually - CORRECT ANSWER - is proving something beyond reasonable doubt
sufficient?
no - CORRECT ANSWER - is proving something beyond all doubt required?
Philosophical skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER - a form of skepticism which says that
knowledge requires certainty
truth preserving - CORRECT ANSWER - how we describe valid arguments
yes - CORRECT ANSWER - even if the content is absurd, can the form be valid for an
argument?
syllogism - CORRECT ANSWER - a deductive argument composed of 2 premises and a
conclusion (3 statements)
affirming the antecedent (Modus Ponens), VALID - CORRECT ANSWER - argument
form:
If p, then q
p.
therefore, q.
Modus Tollens (denying the consequent), VALID - CORRECT ANSWER - argument
form:
If p, then q
not q.
therefore not p.
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
padding - CORRECT ANSWER - name for identifying background noise (e.g. setting,
restatement, jokes, definition)
Biases, perceptions - CORRECT ANSWER - two main obstacles to critical thinking
psychological obstacles - CORRECT ANSWER - those hindrances to critical thinking that
arise because of how we think (e.g. fears, motivations, attitudes, desires)
philosophical obsatcles - CORRECT ANSWER - those hindrances to critical thinking that
arise because of what we think (e.g. our beliefs about beliefs)
The Almighty Self (self-interested thinking) - CORRECT ANSWER - Accepting a claim
solely because it furthers your interest e.g. "this university shouldn't rise the fees because I don't
want to pay more tuition
confirmation bias - CORRECT ANSWER - type of self-interested thinking that defines the
tendency to search for, interpret, or recall information in a way that confirms one's beliefs or
hypotheses
selective attention - CORRECT ANSWER - making a conscious effort to look for
opposing evidence
skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER - A questioning attitude of doubt/disbelief towards
knowledge, facts and opinions
social relativism - CORRECT ANSWER - The view that truth is relative to societies. e.g.
burning witches, slavery
, usually - CORRECT ANSWER - is proving something beyond reasonable doubt
sufficient?
no - CORRECT ANSWER - is proving something beyond all doubt required?
Philosophical skepticism - CORRECT ANSWER - a form of skepticism which says that
knowledge requires certainty
truth preserving - CORRECT ANSWER - how we describe valid arguments
yes - CORRECT ANSWER - even if the content is absurd, can the form be valid for an
argument?
syllogism - CORRECT ANSWER - a deductive argument composed of 2 premises and a
conclusion (3 statements)
affirming the antecedent (Modus Ponens), VALID - CORRECT ANSWER - argument
form:
If p, then q
p.
therefore, q.
Modus Tollens (denying the consequent), VALID - CORRECT ANSWER - argument
form:
If p, then q
not q.
therefore not p.
