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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Locke say is a philosopher's primary method, in Locke's account?
(a) Debate.
(b) Analysis.
(c) Reflection.
(d) Experimentation.

2. Which grammatical particle does Locke examine in detail?
(a) Under.
(b) On.
(c) But.
(d) In.

3. Why does Locke say we cannot have an innate morality?
(a) Because there is no room in the genes.
(b) Because he demonstrates that morality is not instinctual.
(c) Because innate ideas are impossible.
(d) Because instincts are not moral.

4. In what way was Locke's perspective unique in the debate between free will and fate?
(a) He demonstrated the inevitability of free choice.
(b) He advocated experiments in free will.
(c) He proposed different ways to tempt fate.
(d) He proposed a third position.

5. What does Locke say we about words that cannot be defined any further?
(a) They are complex ideas.
(b) They are general words.
(c) They are essential ideas.
(d) They are simple ideas.

6. When does desire become action, in Locke's opinion?
(a) When it first stirs.
(b) When it develops into a philosophy.
(c) When it is unrequited.
(d) When it merges with will.

7. What does Locke say about the form of signs and words?
(a) They are divine.
(b) They are arbitrary.
(c) They are innate.
(d) They are determined.

8. What does Locke say desires have in common?
(a) Ineffability.
(b) The ability to mitigate unease.
(c) Unhappiness as a result.
(d) A motivating force to alleviate discomfort.

9. What does Locke say we use when we define a word?
(a) A prophecy.
(b) A memory of pleasure or pain.
(c) An image.
(d) The next general word.

10. What would happen if words referred to particular things, in Locke's opinion?
(a) No one would know that classes of things existed.
(b) There would have to be a word for each thing.
(c) Everyone would need to be an even larger language for classes of things.
(d) No one would understand each other's vocabulary.

11. What does Locke say God gave man in order to fulfill his purpose?
(a) Images.
(b) Technology.
(c) Words.
(d) Weapons.

12. Why don't most words refer to simple ideas, in Locke's account?
(a) Locke says that most words are general.
(b) Locke says that there is too little room for interpretation in simple ideas.
(c) Locke says that most simple ideas are too unspecific.
(d) Locke says that simple ideas are too pervasive.

13. What can we talk about once we begin to abstract?
(a) Particular things.
(b) Things in general.
(c) Essences of things.
(d) The context for things.

14. What are people who believe in human freedom called?
(a) Fatalists.
(b) Libertarians.
(c) Determinists.
(d) Relativists.

15. What does Locke say the increase of our intellectual powers follows?
(a) Abstraction of ideas.
(b) Simplification of ideas.
(c) Standardization of terminology.
(d) Expansion of vocabulary.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Locke say liberty is aimed at?

2. What does Locke say words refer to?

3. What idea does Locke say we use when we define a horse?

4. What is it that contributed to the pervasiveness of language, in Locke's account?

5. What are all words generated by, in Locke's account?

(see the answer keys)

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