PHIL 101 END TERM EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS!!
In his "What Is Philosophy?", Simon Blackburn offers three different answers to the
question of why someone should study philosophy. Which of the below reasons does
Blackburn call his middle-ground answer?
Philosophical training helps us do other activities better (academic or vocational)--reflection is
continuous with practice.
(T/F) According to the syllabus, electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.) are permitted in
class.
False
According to the Veritasium video, "The Science of Thinking," learning involves . . .
-The process of building more and bigger chunks by storing and further connecting information
in long-term memory.
-Passing off tasks from System 2 "Drew" to System 1 "Gunn."
-Active and effortful engagement with information by System 2 "Drew"
(T/F) According to Willingham, in his article "How to Get Your Mind to Read", reading
comprehension is simply a general skill that can be applied with equal success to all texts.
False
(T/F) According to the Veritasium video, "The Science of Thinking, " thinking requires a
level of effort that, for most of us, is unpleasant or uncomfortable (unlike the good
sensation of merely watching YouTube videos).
True
(T/F) A valid argument can have false premises and a false conclusion
True
If an argument is unsound, then this just means that the conclusion. .
, Is not supported by that argument
Using Shafer-Landau's three-part intuitive test for validity, determine whether the
following argument is valid or invalid:
P1: If this is a chicken, then this is a bird.
P2: This is a bird.
C: Therefore, this is a chicken.
Invalid
A sound argument is an argument that...
Has all true premises AND is valid.
According to Shafer-Landau, moral reasoning can fail in two kinds of ways:
The logic is flawed, or the premises are implausible
(T/F) Shafer-landau defines morality as simply the traditional principles that are widely
shared within a culture or society.
False
Which consideration does Shafer-Landau think gives us good reason to be skeptical about
the existence of moral right and wrong?
o Since even really smart people disagree over ethics, then there can't be objective right and
wrong.
o Since science tells us what's true about the world, but science says nothing about morality, then
morality must not really exist (just a fiction)
o If there were objective moral rules, then it should be always wrong to break them--but since
every rule admits of exceptions, this just shows that there are no objective moral rules.
o None of the above.(ANSWER = None of the above)
(T/F) According to Shafer-Landau, one starting constraint on our ethical reasoning should
be the notion that self-interest isn't the only thing that matters to morality.
True
AND CORRECT ANSWERS!!
In his "What Is Philosophy?", Simon Blackburn offers three different answers to the
question of why someone should study philosophy. Which of the below reasons does
Blackburn call his middle-ground answer?
Philosophical training helps us do other activities better (academic or vocational)--reflection is
continuous with practice.
(T/F) According to the syllabus, electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.) are permitted in
class.
False
According to the Veritasium video, "The Science of Thinking," learning involves . . .
-The process of building more and bigger chunks by storing and further connecting information
in long-term memory.
-Passing off tasks from System 2 "Drew" to System 1 "Gunn."
-Active and effortful engagement with information by System 2 "Drew"
(T/F) According to Willingham, in his article "How to Get Your Mind to Read", reading
comprehension is simply a general skill that can be applied with equal success to all texts.
False
(T/F) According to the Veritasium video, "The Science of Thinking, " thinking requires a
level of effort that, for most of us, is unpleasant or uncomfortable (unlike the good
sensation of merely watching YouTube videos).
True
(T/F) A valid argument can have false premises and a false conclusion
True
If an argument is unsound, then this just means that the conclusion. .
, Is not supported by that argument
Using Shafer-Landau's three-part intuitive test for validity, determine whether the
following argument is valid or invalid:
P1: If this is a chicken, then this is a bird.
P2: This is a bird.
C: Therefore, this is a chicken.
Invalid
A sound argument is an argument that...
Has all true premises AND is valid.
According to Shafer-Landau, moral reasoning can fail in two kinds of ways:
The logic is flawed, or the premises are implausible
(T/F) Shafer-landau defines morality as simply the traditional principles that are widely
shared within a culture or society.
False
Which consideration does Shafer-Landau think gives us good reason to be skeptical about
the existence of moral right and wrong?
o Since even really smart people disagree over ethics, then there can't be objective right and
wrong.
o Since science tells us what's true about the world, but science says nothing about morality, then
morality must not really exist (just a fiction)
o If there were objective moral rules, then it should be always wrong to break them--but since
every rule admits of exceptions, this just shows that there are no objective moral rules.
o None of the above.(ANSWER = None of the above)
(T/F) According to Shafer-Landau, one starting constraint on our ethical reasoning should
be the notion that self-interest isn't the only thing that matters to morality.
True
