PHIL 202 MIDTERM 1 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
What does Renaissance mean?
Renaissance of what? - Answers - means "new birth". Greco-Roman culture.
• literature & philosophy
• art & architecture
• humanism → humanities
4 Greek ideas re-introduced leading up to and during the Renaissance. - Answers - •
atomism (Democritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius)
• humanistic ethics (Socrates & Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Stoicism, etc.)
• political theory (Plato, Aristotle)
• rhetoric (Plato, Aristotle)
WHY the "re-birth" of Greco-Roman culture? (in 14 c Florence) - Answers - • wealthy
Florentines traded with the Ottoman Empire and so
1. the Florentines were wealthy (Medici family)
2. this reintroduces Greek texts into Italy (12th c)
• improvements to oil painting (mid-15th c)
• new study of anatomy
• archeological study of Roman architecture (14th c)
Similarities and differences between Greco-Roman Art and Renaissance Art - Answers
- Greco-Roman Art • realism
• focus on the human form
• pagan heroes, gods, and themes
Renaissance Art
• realism
• focus on the human form
• Christian saints and themes
Similarities and differences between Greek and Roman Architecture - Answers - Greek
Architecture
• symmetry, Golden Ratio
• Greek columns
• post and lintel system
Roman Architecture
• symmetry, Golden Ratio
• Greek columns
• arches and domes
,3 events that happened with selling indulgences for St. Peter's Basilica. - Answers -
1515 papal indulgence issued to fund St. Peter's
1517 John Tetzel sell indulgences in Germany "as soon as the coin in the coffer rings, a
soul from purgatory to heaven springs"
1517 Luther publishes the 95 Theses
What were the 2 consequences for sin? - Answers - 1. guilt
2. punishment
What were the 3 steps for Penance that resolves the consequences of sin? Which steps
remove which consequences? - Answers - 1. contrition
2. confession
(1. and 2. Removes Guilt)
3. satisfaction (good works)
• prayer & fasting • almsgiving
• participating in the crusades
• purchasing an indulgence
(3. Reduces Punishment)
How did John Tetzel sell indulgences? - Answers - "as soon as the coin in the coffer
rings, a soul from purgatory to heaven springs".
Indulgences were sold as a way to reduce the time of punishment in purgatory
3 main themes from Luther's 95 Theses - Answers - 1. Selling indulgences to finance
the building of St. Peter's is wrong.
2. The pope has no power over Purgatory.
3. Buying indulgences gives people a false sense of security and endangers their
salvation.
What happened after the 95 Theses. Why was the church concerned with Luther? -
Answers - • the real concern of the Church was Luther's implicit challenge to papal
authority
• Luther continued his criticisms in other publications and public debates
• A Sermon on Indulgences and Grace (1518)
• debate with Johann Eck (1519)
• Diet of Worms (1521)
What happened in the Diet of Worms? - Answers - Luther's "trial" asked only 2
questions
1. did you write these books?
2. do you stand by what you wrote or recant them?
Luther's reply (widely circulated account)
"Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me, amen."
, Luther's reply (historically accepted account)
"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of scriptures or indisputable argument, I am
bound by the scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the word of
God."
Describe Luther's Legacy - Answers - Luther's Legacy (The Reformation: very short
intro)
• unlike prior movements, Luther's Reformation was successful
• he lived
• he was able to use the printing press
• and he gave voice to widespread attitudes about Church hierarchy
• the challenge to authority
• religious freedom
• political revolution
• modern science
• modern individualism
Two approaches to political theory (How a leader should be) - Answers - 1. Idealism
(traditional political theory) (Greco-Roman, Medieval)
There is a standard for what a good government/ruler is, and the gov./ruler should, as
much as possible, live up to that ideal.
• the prince should be virtuous
• his aim should be to benefit society
• method: abstract reasoning about ideal society
2. Realism (Machiavelli is a propnent of realism)
There is the political reality, and the gov./ruler should do what they can to advance their
goals within that framework / limitation
• the prince should be effective
• his aim should be to maintain power
• method: examples from history (empirical)
Why would you want Realism and not Idealism? How is Realism Justified? - Answers - •
realism is justified b/c people are bad
"If men were entirely good this precept would not hold; but because they are bad" it
does hold.
• idealism is disadvantageous
"how one [actually] lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who
neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his
preservation"
What is amoral political calculation? - Answers - • the end justifies the means
• disregard for morality and good character
ANSWERS
What does Renaissance mean?
Renaissance of what? - Answers - means "new birth". Greco-Roman culture.
• literature & philosophy
• art & architecture
• humanism → humanities
4 Greek ideas re-introduced leading up to and during the Renaissance. - Answers - •
atomism (Democritus, Epicurus, and Lucretius)
• humanistic ethics (Socrates & Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Stoicism, etc.)
• political theory (Plato, Aristotle)
• rhetoric (Plato, Aristotle)
WHY the "re-birth" of Greco-Roman culture? (in 14 c Florence) - Answers - • wealthy
Florentines traded with the Ottoman Empire and so
1. the Florentines were wealthy (Medici family)
2. this reintroduces Greek texts into Italy (12th c)
• improvements to oil painting (mid-15th c)
• new study of anatomy
• archeological study of Roman architecture (14th c)
Similarities and differences between Greco-Roman Art and Renaissance Art - Answers
- Greco-Roman Art • realism
• focus on the human form
• pagan heroes, gods, and themes
Renaissance Art
• realism
• focus on the human form
• Christian saints and themes
Similarities and differences between Greek and Roman Architecture - Answers - Greek
Architecture
• symmetry, Golden Ratio
• Greek columns
• post and lintel system
Roman Architecture
• symmetry, Golden Ratio
• Greek columns
• arches and domes
,3 events that happened with selling indulgences for St. Peter's Basilica. - Answers -
1515 papal indulgence issued to fund St. Peter's
1517 John Tetzel sell indulgences in Germany "as soon as the coin in the coffer rings, a
soul from purgatory to heaven springs"
1517 Luther publishes the 95 Theses
What were the 2 consequences for sin? - Answers - 1. guilt
2. punishment
What were the 3 steps for Penance that resolves the consequences of sin? Which steps
remove which consequences? - Answers - 1. contrition
2. confession
(1. and 2. Removes Guilt)
3. satisfaction (good works)
• prayer & fasting • almsgiving
• participating in the crusades
• purchasing an indulgence
(3. Reduces Punishment)
How did John Tetzel sell indulgences? - Answers - "as soon as the coin in the coffer
rings, a soul from purgatory to heaven springs".
Indulgences were sold as a way to reduce the time of punishment in purgatory
3 main themes from Luther's 95 Theses - Answers - 1. Selling indulgences to finance
the building of St. Peter's is wrong.
2. The pope has no power over Purgatory.
3. Buying indulgences gives people a false sense of security and endangers their
salvation.
What happened after the 95 Theses. Why was the church concerned with Luther? -
Answers - • the real concern of the Church was Luther's implicit challenge to papal
authority
• Luther continued his criticisms in other publications and public debates
• A Sermon on Indulgences and Grace (1518)
• debate with Johann Eck (1519)
• Diet of Worms (1521)
What happened in the Diet of Worms? - Answers - Luther's "trial" asked only 2
questions
1. did you write these books?
2. do you stand by what you wrote or recant them?
Luther's reply (widely circulated account)
"Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise, God help me, amen."
, Luther's reply (historically accepted account)
"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of scriptures or indisputable argument, I am
bound by the scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the word of
God."
Describe Luther's Legacy - Answers - Luther's Legacy (The Reformation: very short
intro)
• unlike prior movements, Luther's Reformation was successful
• he lived
• he was able to use the printing press
• and he gave voice to widespread attitudes about Church hierarchy
• the challenge to authority
• religious freedom
• political revolution
• modern science
• modern individualism
Two approaches to political theory (How a leader should be) - Answers - 1. Idealism
(traditional political theory) (Greco-Roman, Medieval)
There is a standard for what a good government/ruler is, and the gov./ruler should, as
much as possible, live up to that ideal.
• the prince should be virtuous
• his aim should be to benefit society
• method: abstract reasoning about ideal society
2. Realism (Machiavelli is a propnent of realism)
There is the political reality, and the gov./ruler should do what they can to advance their
goals within that framework / limitation
• the prince should be effective
• his aim should be to maintain power
• method: examples from history (empirical)
Why would you want Realism and not Idealism? How is Realism Justified? - Answers - •
realism is justified b/c people are bad
"If men were entirely good this precept would not hold; but because they are bad" it
does hold.
• idealism is disadvantageous
"how one [actually] lives is so far distant from how one ought to live, that he who
neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his
preservation"
What is amoral political calculation? - Answers - • the end justifies the means
• disregard for morality and good character
