Descartes Quiz

Question 1

What is Descartes called the father of?

Answer 1

Modern Philosophy

Question 2

What is rationalism?

Answer 2

We know according to pure reason

Question 3

What is empiricism?

Answer 3

We know according to our senses

Question 4

What kind of Christianity did Descartes believe in?

Answer 4

Roman Catholicism

Question 5

What is Scholasticism?

Answer 5

Predominant philosophy of the Middle Ages. Synthesize Christianity w/ Aristotle. Invented by Saint Thomas Aquinas.

Question 6

Which ancient philosopher did the Scholastics follow the most?

Answer 6

Aristotle

Question 7

What does Descartes mean by “reading the book of the world”?

Answer 7

well-traveled

Question 8

Which science does Descartes want philosophy to emulate?

Answer 8

Mathematics

Question 9

Why is metaphysics not the same as math?

Answer 9

Philosophy can doubt math; & there are certain concepts that math cannot know (i.e., God & the cogito)

Question 10

What does First Philosophy mean?

Answer 10

Metaphysics
book: “Meditations on the First Philosophy”

Question 11

What is the significance of the three dreams Descartes had?

Answer 11

Motivated him to break w/
Scholasticism once & for all

Question 12

Where did Descartes write most of his books?

Answer 12

Holland

Question 13

Which monarch hired Descartes as a tutor?

Answer 13

Christina (Queen of Sweden)

Question 14

Where did Descartes die? How?

Answer 14

Died in Sweden; died of a cold

Question 15

What kind of ideas can we be certain about for Descartes?

Answer 15

Clear & distinct ideas

Question 16

What is the most important phrase Descartes ever said?

Answer 16

I think, therefore, I am (Cogito Ergo Sum)

Question 17

What are the four stages of doubt?

Answer 17

1. The Senses
2. Are you awake?
3. Can you do math?
4. Evil Genius

Question 18

Why can’t God be a deceiver?

Answer 18

God is perfect, & deception is the mark of an imperfect being.

Question 19

What is the Archimedean point?

Answer 19

Unmovable point; the Archimedean point in Meditation 2 is you, as a thinking thing. (cogito)

Question 20

How do we know that the piece of wax remains the same?

Answer 20

Our intellect perceives it as a material substance. We do not use our senses to know definitions, & knowing in the strict sense is knowing something’s definition.