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INTRODUCTION
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM
INSTRUCTIONS: Select the best answer according to the text.
TRUE/FALSE
1. A philosopher is anyone who has a philosophy.
2. A philosopher is a wise person.
3. Epistemology is the study of what is real.
4. An archetype is the same thing as a philosopher.
5. Sages, gurus, shamans, and skeptics are examples of
archetypes.
6. Wisdom is a form of knowledge based primarily on
education and intelligence.
7. Theoretical knowledge is the accurate compilation
and assessment of factual and systematic information
and relationships.
8. Practical knowledge consists of skills needed to do
such things as play the piano or bake a cake.
9. Philosophers distinguish between knowledge and wisdom.
10. All belief is mere belief by definition.
11. Age confers wisdom.
12. Willed ignorance is another name for original sin.
13. Wisdom is the same thing as educated intelligence.
14. Unlike technical knowledge, wisdom is neat and orderly.
15. The first philosophers were lovers of wisdom.
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16. According to Bertrand Russell, philosophy is to be studied
for the answers it provides.
17. Relativism is the name for the belief that knowledge is
determined by specific qualities of the observer.
18. Mellow relativism allows for the possibility of absolute
knowledge, but only in rare instances.
19. Mere belief reduces truth to a matter of conviction.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
20. The word philosophy derives from Greek roots
meaning _____ .
a. lover of knowledge
b. wise person
c. one who wonders
d. none of these
21. Metaphysics is the area of philosophy that _____ .
a. addresses the problem of what is real
b. concerns itself with the good life
c. studies knowledge
d. studies the rules of correct reasoning
22. Logic is the area of philosophy that _____ .
a. addresses the problem of what is real
b. concerns itself with the good life
c. studies knowledge
d. studies the rules of correct reasoning
23. Ethics is the area of philosophy that _____ .
a. addresses the problem of what is real
b. concerns itself with the good life
c. studies knowledge
d. studies the rules of correct reasoning
24. Epistemology is the area of philosophy that _____ .
a. addresses the problem of what is real
b. concerns itself with the good life
c. studies knowledge
d. studies the rules of correct reasoning
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25. An archetype is _____ .
a. a basic image that represents our conception of the
essence of a certain type of person
b. any philosopher interested in truth
c. another name for guru or sage
d. the philosophical equivalent of a religious prophet
26. According to C. G. Jung, an archetype _____ .
a. is usually creatively insane
b. is unique to a given culture and speaks only in a
cultural context
c. is an image that has been shared by the whole
human race from the earliest times
d. is a form of stereotype
27. The history of Western philosophy has been increasingly
dominated by _____ .
a. women
b. American thinkers
c. an emphasis on intuition and emotional expression
d. logical reasoning and written argument
28. Philosophers generally define knowledge as _____ .
a. absolute certainty
b. awareness of the truth
c. factual correctness combined with psychological
conviction
d. true belief
29. _____ refers to the subjective mental acceptance that
a claim is true.
a. Knowledge
b. Belief
c. Mere belief
d. Willed ignorance
30. Willed ignorance _____ .
a. refers to the subjective mental acceptance that
a claim is true
b. occurs when we hold on to a belief regardless
of the facts
c. occurs when what we thought we knew turns out
to be mistaken
d. is the same thing as mere belief
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31. The expression _____ is a reflection of willed
ignorance.
a. I m not interested in your opinion
b. Nothing anyone can say will make me change
my mind
c. I have no idea what you re talking about
d. I know the answer, but I can t think of it at the
moment
32. _____ holds on to a position regardless of the facts.
a. Religion
b. Science
c. Willed ignorance
d. Mere belief
33. According to the text, ignorance _____ .
a. defines the human condition
b. is always a matter of opinion
c. is not an option
d. must not be allowed to interfere with the pursuit
of happiness
34. _____ is general knowledge of what does and does
not produce human happiness.
a. Theoretical knowledge
b. Practical knowledge
c. Moral knowledge
d. None of these
35. Traditionally, wisdom has been associated with
______ in a way that knowledge has not.
a. intelligence and talent
b. environment and chance
c. heredity and environment
d. experience and maturity
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Introduction
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SEARCH FOR WISDOM
1. How would you explain what philosophy is to someone who
does not know? Be sure to identify the primary areas of philosophy
and give an example of the kinds of questions covered in each.
2. Make the case that our culture is suffering from a kind of
philosophical illiteracy. Don t be overly general. Cite specific
examples and patterns that support your case, being sure to explain
exactly what you mean by philosophical illiteracy. *
3. Do you think that all knowledge is really just a matter of
opinion? (Be honest.) If you do, how do you explain scientific and
technological progress? If you do not think that all knowledge is
really just a matter of opinion, how do you account for the
persistence of different religions, moralities, and political ideals? *
4. What is wisdom? Explain how it is related to knowledge. How
is wisdom acquired? Can wisdom be taught? Should schools teach
wisdom? Explain.
5. Do you think that a universal hunger for meaning really exists?
What is your evidence? How good are we at satisfying it? Support
your position.
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INTRODUCTION ANSWERS