Question 1

The largest expansion of the public spheres of cities occurred in
A) 13ᵗʰ century High Middle Ages
B) the fourteenth century Renaissance
C) the 16ᵗʰ century Reformation
D) the 17ᵗʰ century scientific revolution
E) 18ᵗʰ century Enlightenment

Accepted Answer

The 18th century Enlightenment was a period marked by significant advancements in philosophy, science, and politics. This era emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional institutions, which led to the expansion of public spheres in cities. Enlightenment thinkers advocated for public discourse and the exchange of ideas, contributing to the growth of public spaces like cafes, salons, and libraries where people could gather and discuss new ideas.

Question 2

The first place in the West where newspapers were prominent was
A) Holland
B) Britain
C) France
D) the United States
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Holland was the first place in the West where newspapers became prominent, due to its robust trade networks and relatively high levels of literacy and freedom of the press in the 17th century.

Question 3

In reaction to revolutions in the Eighteenth century, some 19ᵗʰ century urban planners
A) built wider side walks
B) built boulevards to divide the working class from the poor
C) increased the building of churches
D) developed zoning laws

Accepted Answer

In the 19th century, urban planners built wide boulevards to prevent barricades and facilitate troop movement, often dividing working-class neighborhoods.

Question 4

The redesign of railroad passenger cars so that all the seats faced forward did what to the social psychology of passengers?
A) discouraged speaking to each other
B) encouraged reading silently
C) encouraged looking a vistas triggering memory
D) a, b and c
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The redesign of railroad passenger cars so that all the seats faced forward had multiple effects on the social psychology of passengers. It discouraged speaking to each other as people were now facing forward rather than towards each other. It encouraged reading silently as before the redesign, people could have interacted with each other, but now they are more likely to focus on their books. It also encouraged looking at vistas as the forward-facing seats gave passengers an unobstructed view of the scenery outside the train, triggering their memory. Therefore, all three options (a, b, and c) are correct, making D the best choice.

Question 5

In the Middle Ages which was a common organization of household activities
A) many activities went on in the same room
B) people ate on benches rather than chairs
C) people ate larger quantities of food than in modern times
D) people had no individualized eating utensils
E) a, b, c, d
F) none of the above

Accepted Answer

In the Middle Ages, households typically had a limited number of rooms, so many activities went on in the same room, including eating. People often ate on benches rather than individual chairs, and they tended to consume larger quantities of food than in modern times. They also typically did not have individualized eating utensils, with spoons and knives being shared at the table.

Question 6

The dangers of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction include
A) the reification of symbols
B) difficulty living in the present
C) becoming excessively critical
D) becoming increasingly manipulative
E) a, b, c, d
F) neither a, b, c, d

Accepted Answer

The dangers of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction include all of the options listed (A, B, C, D), leading to a negative impact on one's ability to effectively interact with reality and relationships. Reification of symbols can lead to a failure to recognize the subjective nature of reality, difficulty living in the present can result from excessive focus on abstract concepts and ideas, becoming excessively critical can impact relationships and interactions with others, and becoming increasingly manipulative can be a consequence of attempting to control abstract concepts and symbols.

Question 7

In Medieval science what was lacking was induction in which evidence was connected with
A) authorities
B) testimony
C) definition
D) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Medieval science often relied heavily on authorities, such as Aristotle or the Church, and on testimony or written works from those authorities, rather than on empirical evidence and inductive reasoning to form scientific conclusions. Therefore, the statement that induction was lacking in connecting evidence with authorities, testimony, or definitions is not accurate, as the primary issue was the lack of empirical observation and experimentation, not a failure to connect evidence with these elements.

Question 8

The differences between signs in the Middle Ages as opposed to signs that were part of the methodology of the scientific revolution is that signs during the scientific revolution became indicators of
A) correspondences
B) circumstantial evidence
C) tests
D) dabbling
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of The differences between signs in the Middle...

Question 9

In the Middle Ages
A) signs were inseparable from causes
B) there were no coincidences.
C) every sign had meaning
D) there was an emphasis on formal or final causes, not efficient or material causes
E) knowledge was gained through demonstration
F) a, b, c, d
G) none of the above

Accepted Answer

In the Middle Ages, signs were believed to be inseparable from their causes, there were no coincidences, every sign had meaning, and there was an emphasis on formal or final causes rather than efficient or material causes. Additionally, knowledge was gained through demonstration rather than empirical observation.

Question 10

In Europe the first scientists
A) worked with artisans
B) worked with alchemists and magicians
C) a and b
D) neither a or b. Scientists worked independently of both

Accepted Answer

In Europe, the early scientists often worked closely with artisans to develop their skills and knowledge, and also collaborated with alchemists and magicians, who were considered to have scientific knowledge at the time. Therefore, both options a and b are correct, making the correct answer C.

Question 11

An example of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction about time and place is the work of
A) Newton on gravity
B) Galileo and falling bodies
C) Kepler and the motion of the planets
D) neither a, b or c
E) a, b and c

Accepted Answer

Newton's laws of motion, Galileo's studies on the motion of falling bodies, and Kepler's laws of planetary motion all involve abstract concepts that do not directly relate to specific times or places, making them examples of 3rd order abstraction.

Question 12

An example of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction where symbols "square themselves" and take on a life of their own independently of objects is
A) algebra
B) trigonometry
C) calculus
D) theories of perspective
E) musical theory based on notations
F) all of the above

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (algebra, trigonometry, calculus, theories of perspective, and musical theory based on notations) are examples of 3rd order abstraction. In these fields, symbols and concepts are used in ways that abstract away from direct physical objects and interactions, allowing for the manipulation of ideas and relationships in a purely symbolic realm. This level of abstraction enables the symbols to "square themselves" and operate independently of the physical world, embodying a form of thought and analysis that transcends direct sensory experience.

Question 13

In second order abstraction there is little attention paid to the following mistakes about reasoning about probability
A) base rate neglect
B) small sample,
C) unrepresentative sample
D) gambler's fallacy
E) a, b, c, d
F) neither a, b, c, d

Accepted Answer

Second order abstraction involves reasoning about reasoning itself, including how we think about probabilities. All the listed mistakes (A: base rate neglect, B: small sample, C: unrepresentative sample, D: gambler's fallacy) are common errors in reasoning about probability that second order abstraction aims to address by encouraging a more nuanced understanding of how these errors influence our judgments and decisions.

Question 14

The social origins of third order probability theory were
A) annuity policies of merchants in the 17ᵗʰ century
B) tracking demographics of birth and death of state populations
C) polling predictions in the 20ᵗʰ century
D) a, b, c,
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

Third-order probability theory, like many statistical methods, has roots in various practical applications over time, including annuity policies of merchants in the 17th century, tracking demographics of birth and death of state populations, and polling predictions in the 20th century. Each of these applications contributed to the development and refinement of probability theory as a tool for understanding and predicting outcomes in complex systems.

Question 15

The following are example(s) of the capitalist system generating irrational results using third order abstraction
A) producing commodities people don't say they want and not producing commodities people say they want
B) investing in roads and sewer systems
C) paying workers a wage
D) competing with other capitalists
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The capitalist system operates on the principle of supply and demand, but it can generate irrational results when it comes to producing commodities. Sometimes producers may produce goods that people do not really need or want while neglecting commodities which people truly want or need. This occurs because capitalists often seek to maximize profits rather than addressing basic human needs or values.

Question 16

The most concrete of all forms of exchange is
A) coined money
B) paper money
C) checking accounts
D) bartering
E) credit cards

Accepted Answer

Bartering is the direct exchange of goods and services without the use of money. It is a concrete form of exchange because there is a direct trade of physical items or labor without the use of abstract concepts like credit or paper money.

Question 17

Before the scientific revolution people could think using third order abstraction but how many people used it and for how often depended on
A) technologies that forced people to use third order abstraction in their work settings
B) economies that required using it in order to exchange goods and services
C) their class membership
D) their gender
E) a, b, c, d
F) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The use of third-order abstraction before the scientific revolution was influenced by a combination of factors including technologies that necessitated such thinking in work settings, economic systems that required its use for the exchange of goods and services, and societal structures such as class membership and gender roles. These elements collectively shaped the extent to which individuals engaged in higher-level abstract thinking.

Question 18

The form of capitalism that invites the most third order abstraction is
A) merchant capital with profits being made on circulation
B) agricultural capitalism with profits made on land and slaves
C) industrial capital with profits being made on labor and industry
D) finance capital with profits being made on credit and loans
E) all of the above

Accepted Answer

Finance capital involves a high level of abstraction as it is based on the creation and manipulation of money, credit, and financial instruments rather than physical production or trade. This abstraction allows for complex financial systems and speculation, making finance capital the most prone to third-order abstraction.

Question 19

The intellectuals of the European Enlightenment were critical of the aristocracy and the royal courts for their ideas about what it means to be civilized.

Accepted Answer

The intellectuals of the European Enlightenment were critical of the aristocracy and the royal courts for their ideas about what it means to be civilized. They believed that reason, education, and individualism were the keys to true civilization, rather than inherited titles or wealth.

Question 20

The difference between 2ⁿᵈ order and 3ʳᵈ order abstraction is that third order abstraction is more intelligent.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The level of intelligence does not depend on the order of abstraction. Both 2nd and 3rd order abstractions involve higher levels of thinking and abstraction, but neither is inherently more intelligent than the other.

Quiz 16: Public Spaces, Individualism, and Cognition in the Modern Age

The largest expansion of the public spheres of cities occurred in

The first place in the West where newspapers were prominent was

In reaction to revolutions in the Eighteenth century, some 19ᵗʰ century urban planners

The redesign of railroad passenger cars so that all the seats faced forward did what to the social psychology of passengers?

In the Middle Ages which was a common organization of household activities

The dangers of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction include

In Medieval science what was lacking was induction in which evidence was connected with

The differences between signs in the Middle Ages as opposed to signs that were part of the methodology of the scientific revolution is that signs during the scientific revolution became indicators of

In the Middle Ages

In Europe the first scientists

An example of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction about time and place is the work of

An example of 3ʳᵈ order abstraction where symbols "square themselves" and take on a life of their own independently of objects is

In second order abstraction there is little attention paid to the following mistakes about reasoning about probability

The social origins of third order probability theory were

The following are example(s) of the capitalist system generating irrational results using third order abstraction

The most concrete of all forms of exchange is

Before the scientific revolution people could think using third order abstraction but how many people used it and for how often depended on

The form of capitalism that invites the most third order abstraction is

The intellectuals of the European Enlightenment were critical of the aristocracy and the royal courts for their ideas about what it means to be civilized.

The difference between 2ⁿᵈ order and 3ʳᵈ order abstraction is that third order abstraction is more intelligent.