Philosophy 201 Study Guide Question
and answers rated A+ latest version
2025
What does philosophy mean? - correct answer ✔Derived from two Greek
words: "philein" meaning to love and "sophia" meaning wisdom. Philosophy
means the love of exercising one's curiosity and intelligence.
How does Pythagoras characterize a philosopher's activity in contrast with the
activities of an athlete and a businessperson? - correct answer ✔Pythagoras
claimed philosophers' activity was to seek truth through contemplation. In
contrast, athletes seeked fame through trained skill and businessmen seeked
profit through practical shrewdness.
What significant way of thinking can we learn from Zeno's arguments against
motion? - correct answer ✔The truth is that even though we may see an
event occur it may not mean that it is true
What is Russell's targeted view regarding philosophy in this chapter? - correct
answer ✔Russell's targeted view is the practical people's conception of
philosophy. That if philosophy is valuable, it must have concrete and definite
results.
What are the two misconceptions of this view? (Value of Philosophy) - correct
answer ✔1. Practical people only see the physical end to a life, not the
spiritual end. Life is a process, not defined when we die. Philosophy places
value on the process of searching for truth
2. Thus the practical mind can't see the philosophical goods for the mind or
the soul and for the world, not just oneself
, How does Russell differentiate physics from philosophy in terms of their goods
for people's lives? Does the value of philosophy lie in the goods of the body or
in the goods of the mind? - correct answer ✔Russell states that physics is
much more physical in that it provides definite answers for the practical
people. It affects all of mankind through the medium of technical inventions.
Whereas philosophy only affects those who study the subject, and does not
directly affect the public. Philosophy lies in the goods of the mind, within our
lives we have spiritual needs of hope and desire, not just physical material
needs.
Why do practical people find philosophy a waste of time? - correct answer
✔Practical people find philosophy a waste of time because practical people
only recognize material goods for their bodies but fail to realize goods for their
minds
What kind of knowledge does philosophy seek to obtain? - correct answer
✔Philosophy seeks to obtain the uncertain answers to questions from multiple
perspectives, partial truths.
What are the characteristics of philosophical knowledge in comparison with
scientific knowledge? - correct answer ✔Philosophical knowledge doesn't
provide definite answers, it gives unity and system to the body of the
sciences, and it critically examines the grounds of our convictions, prejudices
and beliefs
Why does Russell think that without studying philosophy, one's life is
imprisoned in prejudices? - correct answer ✔Because the person who does
not study philosophy has no questions and contemptuously rejects any
Unfamiliar Possibilities.
What specific prejudices does he refer to? (Practical people) - correct answer
✔1. Common sense
2. Habitual beliefs of his age and nation
and answers rated A+ latest version
2025
What does philosophy mean? - correct answer ✔Derived from two Greek
words: "philein" meaning to love and "sophia" meaning wisdom. Philosophy
means the love of exercising one's curiosity and intelligence.
How does Pythagoras characterize a philosopher's activity in contrast with the
activities of an athlete and a businessperson? - correct answer ✔Pythagoras
claimed philosophers' activity was to seek truth through contemplation. In
contrast, athletes seeked fame through trained skill and businessmen seeked
profit through practical shrewdness.
What significant way of thinking can we learn from Zeno's arguments against
motion? - correct answer ✔The truth is that even though we may see an
event occur it may not mean that it is true
What is Russell's targeted view regarding philosophy in this chapter? - correct
answer ✔Russell's targeted view is the practical people's conception of
philosophy. That if philosophy is valuable, it must have concrete and definite
results.
What are the two misconceptions of this view? (Value of Philosophy) - correct
answer ✔1. Practical people only see the physical end to a life, not the
spiritual end. Life is a process, not defined when we die. Philosophy places
value on the process of searching for truth
2. Thus the practical mind can't see the philosophical goods for the mind or
the soul and for the world, not just oneself
, How does Russell differentiate physics from philosophy in terms of their goods
for people's lives? Does the value of philosophy lie in the goods of the body or
in the goods of the mind? - correct answer ✔Russell states that physics is
much more physical in that it provides definite answers for the practical
people. It affects all of mankind through the medium of technical inventions.
Whereas philosophy only affects those who study the subject, and does not
directly affect the public. Philosophy lies in the goods of the mind, within our
lives we have spiritual needs of hope and desire, not just physical material
needs.
Why do practical people find philosophy a waste of time? - correct answer
✔Practical people find philosophy a waste of time because practical people
only recognize material goods for their bodies but fail to realize goods for their
minds
What kind of knowledge does philosophy seek to obtain? - correct answer
✔Philosophy seeks to obtain the uncertain answers to questions from multiple
perspectives, partial truths.
What are the characteristics of philosophical knowledge in comparison with
scientific knowledge? - correct answer ✔Philosophical knowledge doesn't
provide definite answers, it gives unity and system to the body of the
sciences, and it critically examines the grounds of our convictions, prejudices
and beliefs
Why does Russell think that without studying philosophy, one's life is
imprisoned in prejudices? - correct answer ✔Because the person who does
not study philosophy has no questions and contemptuously rejects any
Unfamiliar Possibilities.
What specific prejudices does he refer to? (Practical people) - correct answer
✔1. Common sense
2. Habitual beliefs of his age and nation
