View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What modern movement did Locke prefigure in his arguments about philosophical language?
(a) Ordinary language philosophy.
(b) Relativists.
(c) Ontology.
(d) Deconstruction.

2. How does Locke define the difference between freedom and will?
(a) Freedom is the ability to act; will is a type of power.
(b) Freedom is riding light in the harness; will is the engine for progress.
(c) Freedom is the ability to let an internal power dictate one's actions; will is the source of the internal power.
(d) Freedom is the ability to act; will is the freedom to choose.

3. What does Locke say allows us to see ourselves as free agents?
(a) Fate.
(b) Determinism.
(c) Desire.
(d) Will.

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

5. What consequence does Locke describe if there were individual words for each thing?
(a) Politics would be chaotic.
(b) Trade would be impossible.
(c) Economies would remain simple.
(d) Knowledge would be impeded.

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

7. What does Locke say pleasure and pain are the foundation for?
(a) Good and evil.
(b) God and religion.
(c) Culture.
(d) Language.

8. What is the philosopher's most important job, according to Locke?
(a) Demolish opponents' arguments.
(b) Recall the steps by which truth was arrived at.
(c) Arrive at truth.
(d) Clarify meanings of terms.

9. What abuse does Locke say is typical of scholars?
(a) Using technical language.
(b) Using poetic language.
(c) Using foreign languages.
(d) Using obscure words.

10. What does Locke's illustration show?
(a) That a man can be deceived about his relation with other men.
(b) That fate wears a human face.
(c) That hell is other people.
(d) That a man can be clear in will but unfree in action.

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

12. What is the consequence of using words to refer to personal ideas, according to Locke?
(a) Art.
(b) Unintelligibility.
(c) Prophesy.
(d) Madness.

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

14. How does Locke say people should use language?
(a) In ways that undermine received truths.
(b) In ways that lead to interesting visions.
(c) In ways that can be understood.
(d) In ways that express personality.

15. What is the limit toward which our idea of number extends, according to Locke?
(a) One.
(b) Zero.
(c) Ultimate variety.
(d) Infinity.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Locke say is a philosopher's primary method, in Locke's account?

2. What is reification?

3. What does Locke say is ultimately grounded in pleasure and pain?

4. What does Locke use to illustrate the difference between freedom and fate?

5. What does Locke's discussion of number lead into a discussion of?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 492 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample