PSYCH 311 Thayne Exam Rated A+
Verified
Construct an argument for why psychology is -- or is not -- a science. - Answer- I
believe it is a science and here is why. Science is always changing; it will never stay the
same. Humans follow the same fundamental principle but just in a shorter time. So
instead of waiting for millions of years or flying light-years away, ideas and creations
can change in a matter of minutes to over the span of a life. (Think worldview)
Identify the two different ways of defining "science" that we discussed in class. Provide
an example of each definition. - Answer- o World view: Everything is governed by
natural laws.
o Method view: Truth is found by observation. (numbers riddle)
Identify and describe the worldview and perspective of three different pre-socratic
philosophers (Thales, Anaximander, Democritus, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Pythagoras).
- Answer- o Heraclitus: Everything in nature was changing.
o Thales: Everything flows like water in a constant change, everything comes from
water.
o Pythagoras: everything could be solved with math.
o Democritus: Everything could be broken down to an atomic level, the smallest
particles are indestructible.
o Anaximander: Physis is fire.
o Parmenides: Nothing ever changes. Trusting our senses lies to us while reason
shows us the truth.
Identify and describe each of Aristotle's four causes. In addition, describe the four
causes of your car / bike. - Answer- o Material- What is it made of
o Formal- Shape
o Efficient-Who built it
o Finale- What it does (EX: bike transports)
Define the following terms. Provide an example of a philosopher who embraced each
position (and explain why). - Answer- o Empiricism: Experience is the only reliable way
of discovering something. (Hobbes)
o Rationalism: Ideas and knowledge are the primary givers of understanding. (Kant)
o Realism:
o Nominalism: The ideas we have, describe the physical world but do not exists. (
o Deism: God created the world but left it to its own accord. (Newton)
o Naturalism: All things have natural laws (Pythagoras)
o Determinism:
o Materialism: All things are physical (Democritus)
o Expressive individualism: Self expression (Roseau)
, Identify the three consequences of the importation of Greek philosophy into the
Christian faith. Provide examples of each. - Answer- 1: God was an abstraction rather
than a real person.
2: Reason became source of knowledge over revelation
3: Practical affairs of life seen as profane
Compare and contrast the perspectives and chief contributions of both St. Augustine
and St. Aquinas. - Answer- St. Augustine: He is most responsible for bringing Plato's
ideas into the Christian world. He took a lot of scripture's and described them and used
them to relatively apply thought and reason with Neo-Platonism.
St. Aquinas: "tried to marry Christianity with Aristotle's thought"- Prof Thyne
Lots of the operations that Christians commonly thought was then added with
Aristotelianism. The value of observation and reason is what will help us find and
understand the divine.
Reason and logic (with nature) is one of the sure ways we can know God.
They say that after Aristotle's writing were brought into the church that they became
almost as sacred as the bible.
· Identify four key components of Isaac Newton's naturalistic worldview. - Answer- o
Aesthetic: Everything is beautiful, and you are led by desire and passion.
o Ethical: You follow society's morals and accept responsibility. (USE REASONABLE)
o Religious: You know God as something different and personal. It has helped you
transcend the normal world. (USE FAITH)
Define what is meant by the "technological ideal of science." What did Francis Bacon
believe was the purpose of scientific investigation? - Answer- Because of his radical
empiricist nature (think of when he compared to ants) that means in order to progress in
scientific exploration we have to experience it firsthand to truly KNOW it.
His central purpose was to produce engineers to help life.
Describe three different approaches to the mind-body problem (interactionism, pre-
established harmony, occasionalism, epiphenomenalism, emergence, etc.). Provide an
example of a thinker who embraced each. - Answer- Epiphenomenalism: The mind is
only and echo of the body. What ever happens to the body the mind will react in a
certain way, but it is only subject to the physical experience first.
Pre-established harmony: The mind and body are sperate by nature, however the goal
and path are still the same, so they appeared synced. EX: two clocks set at the same
time.
Parallelism: Mind and body exists on separate tracks. But they are the same causal
tracks.
Verified
Construct an argument for why psychology is -- or is not -- a science. - Answer- I
believe it is a science and here is why. Science is always changing; it will never stay the
same. Humans follow the same fundamental principle but just in a shorter time. So
instead of waiting for millions of years or flying light-years away, ideas and creations
can change in a matter of minutes to over the span of a life. (Think worldview)
Identify the two different ways of defining "science" that we discussed in class. Provide
an example of each definition. - Answer- o World view: Everything is governed by
natural laws.
o Method view: Truth is found by observation. (numbers riddle)
Identify and describe the worldview and perspective of three different pre-socratic
philosophers (Thales, Anaximander, Democritus, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Pythagoras).
- Answer- o Heraclitus: Everything in nature was changing.
o Thales: Everything flows like water in a constant change, everything comes from
water.
o Pythagoras: everything could be solved with math.
o Democritus: Everything could be broken down to an atomic level, the smallest
particles are indestructible.
o Anaximander: Physis is fire.
o Parmenides: Nothing ever changes. Trusting our senses lies to us while reason
shows us the truth.
Identify and describe each of Aristotle's four causes. In addition, describe the four
causes of your car / bike. - Answer- o Material- What is it made of
o Formal- Shape
o Efficient-Who built it
o Finale- What it does (EX: bike transports)
Define the following terms. Provide an example of a philosopher who embraced each
position (and explain why). - Answer- o Empiricism: Experience is the only reliable way
of discovering something. (Hobbes)
o Rationalism: Ideas and knowledge are the primary givers of understanding. (Kant)
o Realism:
o Nominalism: The ideas we have, describe the physical world but do not exists. (
o Deism: God created the world but left it to its own accord. (Newton)
o Naturalism: All things have natural laws (Pythagoras)
o Determinism:
o Materialism: All things are physical (Democritus)
o Expressive individualism: Self expression (Roseau)
, Identify the three consequences of the importation of Greek philosophy into the
Christian faith. Provide examples of each. - Answer- 1: God was an abstraction rather
than a real person.
2: Reason became source of knowledge over revelation
3: Practical affairs of life seen as profane
Compare and contrast the perspectives and chief contributions of both St. Augustine
and St. Aquinas. - Answer- St. Augustine: He is most responsible for bringing Plato's
ideas into the Christian world. He took a lot of scripture's and described them and used
them to relatively apply thought and reason with Neo-Platonism.
St. Aquinas: "tried to marry Christianity with Aristotle's thought"- Prof Thyne
Lots of the operations that Christians commonly thought was then added with
Aristotelianism. The value of observation and reason is what will help us find and
understand the divine.
Reason and logic (with nature) is one of the sure ways we can know God.
They say that after Aristotle's writing were brought into the church that they became
almost as sacred as the bible.
· Identify four key components of Isaac Newton's naturalistic worldview. - Answer- o
Aesthetic: Everything is beautiful, and you are led by desire and passion.
o Ethical: You follow society's morals and accept responsibility. (USE REASONABLE)
o Religious: You know God as something different and personal. It has helped you
transcend the normal world. (USE FAITH)
Define what is meant by the "technological ideal of science." What did Francis Bacon
believe was the purpose of scientific investigation? - Answer- Because of his radical
empiricist nature (think of when he compared to ants) that means in order to progress in
scientific exploration we have to experience it firsthand to truly KNOW it.
His central purpose was to produce engineers to help life.
Describe three different approaches to the mind-body problem (interactionism, pre-
established harmony, occasionalism, epiphenomenalism, emergence, etc.). Provide an
example of a thinker who embraced each. - Answer- Epiphenomenalism: The mind is
only and echo of the body. What ever happens to the body the mind will react in a
certain way, but it is only subject to the physical experience first.
Pre-established harmony: The mind and body are sperate by nature, however the goal
and path are still the same, so they appeared synced. EX: two clocks set at the same
time.
Parallelism: Mind and body exists on separate tracks. But they are the same causal
tracks.
