Test Terms

Question 1

Presocratics

Answer 1

First philosophers

Question 2

Theory of Forms

Answer 2

A perfect, ideal world exists, which this world is a mere reflection of. (Attributed to either Socrates, Plato, or both)

Question 3

Athens

Answer 3

City of the philosophers (named after Athena, goddess of Wisdom and War)

Question 4

Socrates

Answer 4

Famous for knowing nothing, and asking questions (Died by Hemlock, 399 B.C.)

Question 5

Plato

Answer 5

Student of Socrates who advanced Forms and internal knowledge (points up)

Question 6

Aristotle

Answer 6

Student of Plato who advocates external knowledge and science (points down)

Question 7

Gnosticism

Answer 7

“The material world is evil and only secret, spiritual knowledge (gnosis) can free us from it”

Question 8

Constantine

Answer 8

Roman Emperor who converted to Christianity

Question 9

Augustine

Answer 9

Major theologian who wed Greek and Christian thought (wrote ‘Confessions’)

Question 10

Muhammad

Answer 10

Founder of Islam

Question 11

Crusades

Answer 11

200 years of wars between Christians and Muslims, primarily over the Holy Land

Question 12

Eastern Orthodoxy

Answer 12

Split from Catholics in 1054 schism (centered primarily around Eastern Europe/Russia)

Question 13

The Black Death

Answer 13

Killed 75-200 million people

Question 14

Scholasticism

Answer 14

Medieval European theology and philosophy (merged Aristotle and Church Fathers)

Question 15

Thomas Aquinas

Answer 15

Major scholastic thinker (wrote ‘Summa Theologiae’)

Question 16

The Reformation

Answer 16

Protestant split from Catholics (1500s)

Question 17

Martin Luther

Answer 17

Launched Protestant Reformation (95 Theses nailed to Wittenburg Door in 1517)

Question 18

Rene Descartes

Answer 18

Rationalist who doubted everything except his own mind (“I think therefore I am”)

Question 19

Immanuel Kant

Answer 19

Split the world into phenomena (what is experienced) and noumena (the mysterious realm beyond experience)

Question 20

Charles Darwin

Answer 20

Darwinian evolution (Published ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859)