PHIL101 Yates JMU Final Exam Fall
2025/2026: Questions with 100% Complete
Answers
Q1. What motivates philosophy according to the course introduction?
A. Scientific experimentation
B. The search for meaning, wonder, awe, curiosity, and addressing questions like God's
existence, mortality, and moral values
C. Historical documentation
D. Artistic expression
Answer: B
Rationale: Philosophy is driven by fundamental questions about life and existence, as
emphasized in Yates' lectures on the love of wisdom (philosophia). Scientific
experimentation is a method but not the motivation; historical documentation is secondary;
artistic expression relates more to aesthetics.
Q2. "Philosophia" means:
A. Love of history
B. Love of wisdom (from Greek "philein" and "sophia")
C. Rule of law
D. Pursuit of wealth
Answer: B
Rationale: Directly from Greek roots: philein (to love) + sophia (wisdom), central to Yates'
definition of philosophy as friendship with wisdom. Other options do not align with
etymology.
Q3. Who said, "To live the examined life"?
A. Plato
,B. Aristotle
C. Socrates
D. Nietzsche
Answer: C
Rationale: Socrates' famous declaration in Plato's Apology, highlighting philosophy's call
to self-examination, a key theme in Yates' ancient philosophy section. Plato recorded it;
Aristotle focused on eudaimonia; Nietzsche on will to power.
Q4. Luc Ferry's main 'quest' in philosophy is:
A. Scientific proof of God
B. Salvation through philosophy or science, not necessarily religion
C. Political reform
D. Artistic beauty
Answer: B
Rationale: Ferry argues for secular salvation via reason, as discussed in Yates' orientation
to modern philosophy. God-proof is theological; reform is ethics; beauty is aesthetics.
Q5. The three orientations of philosophy are:
A. Theory, practice, and art
B. Theory, ethics, and salvation/wisdom
C. Logic, rhetoric, and dialectic
D. Metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates follows Luc Ferry: theory (truth-seeking), ethics (right/wrong),
salvation/wisdom (living well). Other triads are subfields or methods, not orientations.
Q6. "Reason, like life, is limited" is a quote from:
A. Kant
,B. Luc Ferry
C. Descartes
D. Hume
Answer: B
Rationale: Ferry emphasizes philosophy's boundaries in a post-religious world, per Yates'
lectures. Kant on pure reason; Descartes on certainty; Hume on empiricism.
Q7. Nuance in philosophy involves:
A. Ignoring differences
B. Running comparisons and drawing distinctions to find meaning
C. Accepting absolutes
D. Emotional appeals
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates stresses nuance as comparative analysis, essential for philosophical depth.
Ignoring differences leads to dogmatism; absolutes are critiqued; appeals are rhetorical.
Q8. The "Queen of the Sciences" refers to:
A. Biology
B. Philosophy
C. Physics
D. Theology
Answer: B
Rationale: Medieval term for philosophy as foundational to all knowledge, echoed in Yates'
intro to metaphysics. Others are derived fields.
Q9. Philosophy concerns itself primarily with:
A. Empirical data
B. Truth and underlying assumptions
, C. Factual reporting
D. Narrative storytelling
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates highlights philosophy's focus on presuppositions and criticism for truth.
Empirical data is science; reporting is journalism; storytelling is literature.
Q10. The four approaches to doing philosophy include:
A. Logic and proofs, being visionary, and two others
B. Only empirical methods
C. Artistic interpretation
D. Historical chronology
Answer: A
Rationale: Yates outlines logic/proofs, visionary thinking, historical contextualization, and
personal reflection. Others are not approaches.
Q11. Socrates was accused of:
A. Praising the gods
B. Corrupting the youth and impiety
C. Political ambition
D. Scientific heresy
Answer: B
Rationale: In Plato's Apology, charges of corrupting youth and not honoring city gods,
central to Yates' Socratic section. Others misrepresent.
Q12. The "mocking view" of Socrates reflects:
A. Admiration for his wisdom
B. People thinking philosophy was ridiculous
C. Religious devotion
2025/2026: Questions with 100% Complete
Answers
Q1. What motivates philosophy according to the course introduction?
A. Scientific experimentation
B. The search for meaning, wonder, awe, curiosity, and addressing questions like God's
existence, mortality, and moral values
C. Historical documentation
D. Artistic expression
Answer: B
Rationale: Philosophy is driven by fundamental questions about life and existence, as
emphasized in Yates' lectures on the love of wisdom (philosophia). Scientific
experimentation is a method but not the motivation; historical documentation is secondary;
artistic expression relates more to aesthetics.
Q2. "Philosophia" means:
A. Love of history
B. Love of wisdom (from Greek "philein" and "sophia")
C. Rule of law
D. Pursuit of wealth
Answer: B
Rationale: Directly from Greek roots: philein (to love) + sophia (wisdom), central to Yates'
definition of philosophy as friendship with wisdom. Other options do not align with
etymology.
Q3. Who said, "To live the examined life"?
A. Plato
,B. Aristotle
C. Socrates
D. Nietzsche
Answer: C
Rationale: Socrates' famous declaration in Plato's Apology, highlighting philosophy's call
to self-examination, a key theme in Yates' ancient philosophy section. Plato recorded it;
Aristotle focused on eudaimonia; Nietzsche on will to power.
Q4. Luc Ferry's main 'quest' in philosophy is:
A. Scientific proof of God
B. Salvation through philosophy or science, not necessarily religion
C. Political reform
D. Artistic beauty
Answer: B
Rationale: Ferry argues for secular salvation via reason, as discussed in Yates' orientation
to modern philosophy. God-proof is theological; reform is ethics; beauty is aesthetics.
Q5. The three orientations of philosophy are:
A. Theory, practice, and art
B. Theory, ethics, and salvation/wisdom
C. Logic, rhetoric, and dialectic
D. Metaphysics, epistemology, and aesthetics
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates follows Luc Ferry: theory (truth-seeking), ethics (right/wrong),
salvation/wisdom (living well). Other triads are subfields or methods, not orientations.
Q6. "Reason, like life, is limited" is a quote from:
A. Kant
,B. Luc Ferry
C. Descartes
D. Hume
Answer: B
Rationale: Ferry emphasizes philosophy's boundaries in a post-religious world, per Yates'
lectures. Kant on pure reason; Descartes on certainty; Hume on empiricism.
Q7. Nuance in philosophy involves:
A. Ignoring differences
B. Running comparisons and drawing distinctions to find meaning
C. Accepting absolutes
D. Emotional appeals
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates stresses nuance as comparative analysis, essential for philosophical depth.
Ignoring differences leads to dogmatism; absolutes are critiqued; appeals are rhetorical.
Q8. The "Queen of the Sciences" refers to:
A. Biology
B. Philosophy
C. Physics
D. Theology
Answer: B
Rationale: Medieval term for philosophy as foundational to all knowledge, echoed in Yates'
intro to metaphysics. Others are derived fields.
Q9. Philosophy concerns itself primarily with:
A. Empirical data
B. Truth and underlying assumptions
, C. Factual reporting
D. Narrative storytelling
Answer: B
Rationale: Yates highlights philosophy's focus on presuppositions and criticism for truth.
Empirical data is science; reporting is journalism; storytelling is literature.
Q10. The four approaches to doing philosophy include:
A. Logic and proofs, being visionary, and two others
B. Only empirical methods
C. Artistic interpretation
D. Historical chronology
Answer: A
Rationale: Yates outlines logic/proofs, visionary thinking, historical contextualization, and
personal reflection. Others are not approaches.
Q11. Socrates was accused of:
A. Praising the gods
B. Corrupting the youth and impiety
C. Political ambition
D. Scientific heresy
Answer: B
Rationale: In Plato's Apology, charges of corrupting youth and not honoring city gods,
central to Yates' Socratic section. Others misrepresent.
Q12. The "mocking view" of Socrates reflects:
A. Admiration for his wisdom
B. People thinking philosophy was ridiculous
C. Religious devotion
