PHIL 101 2025 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
What are the etymological roots of philosophy?
Love and wisdom
What does G.W. Foote mean when he says that most of our beliefs are accidental? G.W.
Foote was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
Foote argues that most of our beliefs are taught to us from our parents, culture, and society. Since
we do not choose where we are born, it appears to be by accident.
What is logic?
Philosophical study of proper thinking and the structure of our thoughts and arguments
In philosophy, what is feminism?
A re-evaluation of the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy from the perspective
of sex and gender.
We were introduced to two concepts in philosophy, subjectivity and objectivity. How did
we say these terms apply to beauty?
Objective beauty is when something is seen as beautiful in itself and everyone should be able to
recognize the beauty that is there. Subjective beauty is when what is deemed beautiful is always
relative to the person viewing the object.
What is ethics
Philosophical study of the value of human action, character, and life goals
What is epistemology?
The philosophical study of knowledge and what it means to say I know something
What does G.W. Foote think we should do when we become rational adults? G.W. Foote
was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
,We should justify all our beliefs using reason.
What is metaphysics?
The philosophical study of essence and other fundamental questions
What does G.W. Foote say religion uses to convince us to have certain beliefs? G.W. Foote
was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
Foote says that religion uses the promise of rewards (eternal paradise in heaven) and the threat of
punishment (eternal suffering in hell) to persuade people.
Why did Professor Agassiz have Samuel H. Scudder make observations about a simple fish
all day long for three days straight?
As a lesson to learn that it takes time to see beyond the obvious and uncover deeper observations.
Why does Bertrand Russell worry that the working class is wasting it leisure time?
Bertrand Russell worries that the working class is so tired at the end of the work day that she or
he has only enough energy for very passive leisure time pursuits, like vegetating in front of the tv
to watch a mindless sitcom, rather than more energy intensive pursuits like reading a chapter
from a book of philosophy.
What two things happened during World War I that caused Bertrand Russell to conclude
that people do not need to work as much and could earn close to the same salary?
The work force increased considerably and permanently with the addition of many women. The
efficiency of factories increased exponentially. At a minimum, workers could produce twice any
many products as before. Thus they could maintain productivity with just a half day's shift, and
there would be enough workers to find someone to work the other half day.
What is Bertrand Russell's position on leisure time?
Leisure time can be wasted or it can be put to good use bringing society together, developing
insightful cultural artifacts, and studying things like philosophy.
Why does Bertrand Russell suggest philosophy is an important and useful pursuit in your
leisure time?
, Bertrand Russell argues that a study of philosophy brings about a deep appreciation of life.
What is a false dilemma?
A false dilemma is when someone is offered only two options when there are other unstated
options. For instance, someone might force you to answer the question, will you be a philosopher
OR a plumber?
What is Bertrand Russell's middle path?
Bertrand Russell argues society shouldn't split itself up into the working class and the leisure
class. The middle way is to balance in your life both work and leisure.
We read both a conservative and liberal response to Marco Rubio's statement about
philosophy and welding. What did the conservative and liberal agree upon in their
respective responses?
Both conservative and liberal agreed that one could be both a welder and a philosopher.
We watched a TED talk by Dan Arely. What is his concept of the red button?
Arely says that we need to figure out ways to engineer our lives to help us avoid temptation. A
red button might be not sitting next to a friend that we are tempted to talk to during class.
What kind of ethical reasoning will sometimes lead to cheating?
Instrumental reasoning. Someone with the goal of passing a class may start to look for any
means to reach this goal.
We watched a TED talk by Dan Arely. What is his concept of reward substitution?
Sometimes the real benefits of our actions are in the future and though those benefits are far
more important than any suffering we might experience now, they are not enough to compel us
to do what is best now. Thus we substitute in a reward that can be immediate. This reward
substitution can help motivate us to do what is ultimately best for our future self.
Ethical justification that is consequentialist (also called instrumental) will argue:
The ends justify the means.
CORRECT ANSWERS!!
What are the etymological roots of philosophy?
Love and wisdom
What does G.W. Foote mean when he says that most of our beliefs are accidental? G.W.
Foote was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
Foote argues that most of our beliefs are taught to us from our parents, culture, and society. Since
we do not choose where we are born, it appears to be by accident.
What is logic?
Philosophical study of proper thinking and the structure of our thoughts and arguments
In philosophy, what is feminism?
A re-evaluation of the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophy from the perspective
of sex and gender.
We were introduced to two concepts in philosophy, subjectivity and objectivity. How did
we say these terms apply to beauty?
Objective beauty is when something is seen as beautiful in itself and everyone should be able to
recognize the beauty that is there. Subjective beauty is when what is deemed beautiful is always
relative to the person viewing the object.
What is ethics
Philosophical study of the value of human action, character, and life goals
What is epistemology?
The philosophical study of knowledge and what it means to say I know something
What does G.W. Foote think we should do when we become rational adults? G.W. Foote
was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
,We should justify all our beliefs using reason.
What is metaphysics?
The philosophical study of essence and other fundamental questions
What does G.W. Foote say religion uses to convince us to have certain beliefs? G.W. Foote
was the British freethinker that wrote the book, Infidel Death Beds.
Foote says that religion uses the promise of rewards (eternal paradise in heaven) and the threat of
punishment (eternal suffering in hell) to persuade people.
Why did Professor Agassiz have Samuel H. Scudder make observations about a simple fish
all day long for three days straight?
As a lesson to learn that it takes time to see beyond the obvious and uncover deeper observations.
Why does Bertrand Russell worry that the working class is wasting it leisure time?
Bertrand Russell worries that the working class is so tired at the end of the work day that she or
he has only enough energy for very passive leisure time pursuits, like vegetating in front of the tv
to watch a mindless sitcom, rather than more energy intensive pursuits like reading a chapter
from a book of philosophy.
What two things happened during World War I that caused Bertrand Russell to conclude
that people do not need to work as much and could earn close to the same salary?
The work force increased considerably and permanently with the addition of many women. The
efficiency of factories increased exponentially. At a minimum, workers could produce twice any
many products as before. Thus they could maintain productivity with just a half day's shift, and
there would be enough workers to find someone to work the other half day.
What is Bertrand Russell's position on leisure time?
Leisure time can be wasted or it can be put to good use bringing society together, developing
insightful cultural artifacts, and studying things like philosophy.
Why does Bertrand Russell suggest philosophy is an important and useful pursuit in your
leisure time?
, Bertrand Russell argues that a study of philosophy brings about a deep appreciation of life.
What is a false dilemma?
A false dilemma is when someone is offered only two options when there are other unstated
options. For instance, someone might force you to answer the question, will you be a philosopher
OR a plumber?
What is Bertrand Russell's middle path?
Bertrand Russell argues society shouldn't split itself up into the working class and the leisure
class. The middle way is to balance in your life both work and leisure.
We read both a conservative and liberal response to Marco Rubio's statement about
philosophy and welding. What did the conservative and liberal agree upon in their
respective responses?
Both conservative and liberal agreed that one could be both a welder and a philosopher.
We watched a TED talk by Dan Arely. What is his concept of the red button?
Arely says that we need to figure out ways to engineer our lives to help us avoid temptation. A
red button might be not sitting next to a friend that we are tempted to talk to during class.
What kind of ethical reasoning will sometimes lead to cheating?
Instrumental reasoning. Someone with the goal of passing a class may start to look for any
means to reach this goal.
We watched a TED talk by Dan Arely. What is his concept of reward substitution?
Sometimes the real benefits of our actions are in the future and though those benefits are far
more important than any suffering we might experience now, they are not enough to compel us
to do what is best now. Thus we substitute in a reward that can be immediate. This reward
substitution can help motivate us to do what is ultimately best for our future self.
Ethical justification that is consequentialist (also called instrumental) will argue:
The ends justify the means.
