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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Dewey had to fight for funding in his department. He tried to get funding for the laboratory by _________.

2. In 1908 'The Process of Government' was published by __________.

3. Pragmatism states "people are the agents of their own destinies" and was not used by _________.

4. William James believed that people have beliefs because the object of belief has been shown to have _________.

5. James believed that reality operated in the following ways except _________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How were students taught at the laboratory school in Chicago by Dewey and the staff?

2. Why did the new theory of cultural pluralism seem to foster prejudice and discrimination?

3. What did Dewey believe about mind and reality in his time after leaving Chicago?

4. What did Pierce have to do because of the cancer that ravaged his body in his later years?

5. What was the greatest achievement of Holmes which occurred before he was 40 years old?

6. Who are the two authors who both worked on a theory of pragmatism, though they were vastly different?

7. What did Randolph Bourne believe his purpose in life was, according to this book?

8. What was the theory put forth by Holmes' lecture series, "The Common Law?"

9. Why was Cattell fired from Columbia University with the start of WWI?

10. Why was Pierce fired from his job at Johns Hopkins University around January of 1884?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is curious that the main characters in this story are men and that the great thoughts of America seem to come only from men.

Part 1: Why do you think this book focused on the ideas of men rather than including more women thinkers?

Part 2: Why do you think women were unable to become a part of the Metaphysical Club?

Part 3: Do you think the author believes women did not contribute anything of value at this time? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Many of the great thinkers in this book worked on ideas about probability and the laws of errors.

Part 1: Why do you think probability was such a hot topic in those days?

Part 2: Why do you think society wanted to learn more about probability? How would these findings influence their lives?

Part 3: Do you think probability is an important topic of study? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The disagreement with the idea of creationism and evolution began early on in educational discourse.

Part 1: Why do you think people clung so tightly to the story of creation?

Part 2: In what ways might creationism and evolutionary theory work together?

Part 3: Do you side with evolutionary thinkers or creationism thinkers? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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