PHL 301 Practice Exam 1 Fall 2007 This isn't as long as the actual exam, which will have five additional questions, but I hope it gives you the flavor. A. Aristotle B. Plato C. Confucius D. Kant E. Mill F. Laozi 1. Without acquaintance with propriety, it's impossible to establish one's character. 2. . . . the function of man is an activity of soul which follows or implies a rational principle. . . . 3. . . . the greatest thing a man can do is to converse about virtue every day. . . . 4. But up to what point and to what extent a man must deviate before he becomes blameworthy it is not easy to determine by reasoning, any more than anything else that is perceived by the senses; such things depend on particular facts, and the decision rests with perception. 5. Consider a case of conflict, in which the person who has willpower resists his desires and the person who is weak of will gives in to them. A person in such a situation seems to be at war with himself. 6. Dao produces ten thousand things, and De nourishes them. 7. Happiness, then, is something final and self-sufficient, and is the end of action. 8. . . . the human charioteer drives his in a pair; and one of them is noble and of noble breed, and the other is ignoble and of ignoble breed; and the driving of them of necessity gives a great deal of trouble to him. 9. It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied. 10. Isn't it pleasant to learn and to apply what you've learned? Isn't it delightful to have friends coming from far away? Isn't he a person of complete virtue who doesn't get angry that others don't recognize him? 11. . . . there is not one knowledge or science of the past, another of the present, a third of what is likely to be best and what will be best in the future; but that of all three there is one science only. . . . 12. Nothing can possibly be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called good, without qualification, except a good will. 13. Since there are evidently more than one end, and we choose some of these (e.g. wealth, flutes, and in general instruments) for the sake of something else, clearly not all ends are final ends; but the chief good is evidently something final. 14. . . . anger at times goes to war with desire, as though they were two distinct things. 15. Act without acting, manage affairs without trouble, taste without tasting. 16. So act as to treat humanity, whether in thine own person or in that of any other, in every case as an end withal, never as means only. 17. The value of the Way depends on man; the value of man doesn't depend on the Way. 18. There is therefore but one categorical imperative, namely, this: Act only on that maxim whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should become a universal law. 19. What is that common quality, which is the same in all these cases, and which is called courage? 20. What the superior person seeks is in himself. What the inferior person seeks is in others. 21. When you know something, to maintain that you know it; when you don't know something, to admit that you don't know it-- this is knowledge. 22. One who knows does not speak, one who speaks does not know. 23. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure. 24. Confucius thinks of li as a. adherence to traditional social rules b. obedience to authority c. respect for others d. righteousness e. a virtue that cannot be captured by rules 25. Plato's early and middle theories of virtue agree about whether a. there is one virtue or many b. weakness of will is possible c. there are parts of the soul d. virtue is knowledge e. virtue is possible 26. A virtue, for Aristotle, a. is a kind of knowledge b. requires overcoming desire c. requires a triumph of reason d. constrains a drive or emotion e. rests on self-knowledge 27. The "one thread" of Confucius's doctrine is to a. be true to the principles of our nature b. exercise benevolence toward others c. show respect for propriety d. practice sincerity e. a and b 28. Without knowledge, Confucius says, virtues a. are limited to the virtues of the self b. are limited to filial piety c. are limited to fraternal submission d. depend on reciprocity e. turn into their opposites 29. Plato infers from the possibility of weakness of will that a. inner conflict is possible b. there are different parts of the soul c. the virtues are distinct d. virtue is not knowledge e. all of the above 30. The theory of knowledge is known as a. metaphysics b. epistemology c. ethics d. philosophy e. dialectic 31. Socrates tends to attack definitions by arguing that they are a. unclear b. too broad c. too narrow d. b and c e. a, b, and c 32. For Socrates, every virtue amounts to a. courage b. justice c. a mean between extremes d. rational activity e. knowing what to do and what not to do 33. Plato's spirited element a. allies itself with reason b. is the source of desire c. conflicts with reason d. is reason's source e. is the driver of the chariot in Plato's metaphor 34. For Plato, virtue requires a. subjugating will and desire to reason b. each part of the soul to play its proper role c. a balance of the soul d. rational control e. all of the above 35. Which of the following is most likely to be viewed as an intrinsic good? a. a pencil b. a notebook c. a pizza d. a hammer e. a tire 36. The function of a human being, according to Aristotle, is a. to glorify God b. to be self-conscious c. to reflect on the meaning of life d. to act according to rational plans e. to have virtue 37. We become good, Aristotle says, by a. knowing what to do b. doing good things c. observing tradition d. having a good will e. studying philosophy 38. Which of the following is NOT a reasonable translation of ren? a. benevolence b. justice c. virtue d. kindness e. love 39. Which is NOT a core Confucian virtue? a. generosity b. sincerity c. kindness d. seriousness e. courage 40. The virtues of the self stem ultimately from a. feeling b. sincerity c. knowledge d. the Way e. reciprocity 41. There is only one categorical imperative, says Kant, because a. moral imperatives are universal b. there is only one intrinsic good c. virtues are ultimately one d. all virtue rests on knowledge e. God sets the moral law 42. If the maxim of my action cannot be a universal law, then my action is a. impossible b. unjust c. immoral, but not unjust d. permissible e. right 43. Which argument for freedom of speech is NOT consequentialist? a. censorship doesn't work b. censors make mistakes c. censorship impedes the search for truth d. censorship violates rights e. none of the above 44. Which is not one of Kant's applications of the categorical imperative? a. suicide b. making false promises c. stealing d. developing talents e. charity 45. What is NOT an argument Bentham gives for the principle of utility? a. it agrees with common sense b. arguments for other views presuppose it c. it is implied by the concept of rationality d. our ability to resolve conflicts shows that we have a measure of value e. none of the above 46. Aristotle and Plato (in the Republic) would disagree about which of the following? a. virtue is a central concept of ethics b. virtues constrain emotions or desires c. virtue is knowledge d. all virtues are identical e. all virtuous people are happy 47. Confucius and Socrates would agree that a. virtue is a central concept of ethics b. knowledge is a key to virtue c. the examined life is better than the unexamined life d. obligations to family can take precedence over obligations to others e. all of the above 48. The Dao, according to Laozi, is a. virtue b. the proper way to live c. the unity underlying everything d. reason e. all of the above 49. Laozi would reject as harmful which of the following virtues? a. diligence b. propriety c. righteousness d. ambition e. all of the above 50. In an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Glorificus the demon enters this world, and threatens to destroy it, by entering the body of an innocent person. Buffy refuses to kill him, even though his existence endangers the universe. Giles tells him, "She's a hero; she's not like us"--and then smothers him. Philosophically, it appears, Buffy is a(n) _____ and Giles is a(n) ______. a. Aristotelian; Kantian b. Kantian; Confucian c. Kantian; consequentialist d. consequentialist; Platonist e. Platonist; consequentialist