Question 1

According to the Argument from Disagreement, if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about some claim, then

Accepted Answer

The Argument from Disagreement suggests that if there is persistent disagreement among well-informed and rational people about a claim, then it is not justified to believe that claim until more evidence or a consensus is reached. This is because the existence of disagreement undermines the confidence in the truth of the claim, as there are equally intelligent and informed people who hold opposing beliefs. Therefore, option B ("we are not justified in believing that claim") is the best choice.

Question 2

If it is true that we are not justified in believing some claim if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about it, then knowledge about which of the following subjects could be called into doubt?

Accepted Answer

All of the above subjects have well-informed, rational people who persistently disagree on them, therefore their knowledge could be called into doubt based on the premise given in the question.

Question 3

According to the No Certainty Argument, we can know a claim is true only if we are certain of its

Accepted Answer

The No Certainty Argument states that we can only know a claim is true if we are certain of its truth. Therefore, the correct answer is A, as being certain of the truth of a claim is essential to knowing it is true according to this argument.

Question 4

According to the No Certainty Argument, moral knowledge is

Accepted Answer

The No Certainty Argument states that there is no way to be absolutely certain about moral knowledge, making it impossible to attain with complete certainty. Therefore, choice D is the most accurate answer.

Question 5

To be certain is to have a belief that

Accepted Answer

To be certain means to have a belief that cannot be false and cannot be rationally doubted. This suggests a very high level of confidence, much higher than simply having a well-supported belief (option D) or a belief that one feels confident about (option A). Option B (everybody agrees about) is not a defining characteristic of certainty.

Question 6

A problem with the No Certainty Argument is that

Accepted Answer

The No Certainty Argument assumes that knowledge requires absolute certainty, which sets the bar for knowledge too high. This is a known criticism of the argument.

Question 7

According to the Argument from Authority,

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the Argument from Authority,
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Question 8

According to the text, you can have moral knowledge

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that you can have moral knowledge even if you are not a designated moral authority or the author of morality. Therefore, both option A and B are correct. Option C is incorrect as it implies that only moral authorities can have moral knowledge, which is not supported by the text.

Question 9

According to the Irrelevant Influences Argument,

Accepted Answer

The Irrelevant Influences Argument asserts that many of the factors that influence our moral beliefs are irrelevant (such as upbringing, cultural norms, personal experiences), and therefore, our moral beliefs are not justified. This does not mean that we cannot have moral beliefs, but rather that we cannot claim that these beliefs are based on rational justification. Therefore, according to this argument, no one's moral beliefs are justified.

Question 10

Knowledge requires beliefs that are not only true but also

Accepted Answer

Knowledge requires not only true beliefs but also beliefs that are justified or supported by good reasons or evidence. False beliefs may lead to incorrect knowledge, and beliefs that are irrelevantly influenced by biases or emotions may also lead to unreliable knowledge. Certainty may be desirable but not always necessary for knowledge, as some justified beliefs may still carry some degree of uncertainty.

Question 11

How could one defend the claim that your moral beliefs are not justified because they are influenced by your parents or culture?

Accepted Answer

The argument is that if your moral beliefs are solely influenced by your parents or culture, it is merely a matter of luck that they align with moral truths, which undermines the justification for claiming knowledge of those beliefs.

Question 12

According to the Argument from Irrelevant Influences, which of the following influences over our beliefs are irrelevant?

Accepted Answer

The Argument from Irrelevant Influences is based on the idea that certain influences over our beliefs are irrelevant because they don't have anything to do with whether or not those beliefs are true. Parents, culture, and evolution are all examples of such influences, as they can shape our beliefs in various ways but don't necessarily have any bearing on whether or not those beliefs are actually true. Therefore, the best answer is D, "All of the above."

Question 13

Evolutionary pressures work to instill beliefs that are

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary pressures work to instill beliefs that are adaptive, meaning they provide a survival advantage to the individual or group. These beliefs may not necessarily be objectively true, but rather true in the sense that they help the organisms survive and reproduce in their environment. Beliefs that are not adaptive will be selected against and eventually eliminated through natural selection.

Question 14

According to the text, we have reason to doubt whether someone's belief amounts to knowledge when the belief

Accepted Answer

The text states that "we have reason to doubt whether someone's belief amounts to knowledge when the belief is due entirely to parental, cultural or evolutionary influences, and not at all to attentive reflection."

Question 15

According to the text, even when our beliefs have irrelevant influences, moral knowledge remains possible so long as

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that if our beliefs have irrelevant influences, moral knowledge can still be possible if we have a variety of beliefs that have different origins. This diversity of beliefs allows us to critically examine and question our beliefs, leading to a deeper understanding of moral principles. The other options (A, C, D) are not supported by the text as necessary for moral knowledge to be possible.

Question 16

According to Hume's argument, moral claims are

Accepted Answer

Hume argued that moral claims are not derived from reason (which would make them conceptual truths) nor are they derived from empirical observation (which would make them empirical truths). Instead, he believed that moral judgments stem from our feelings or sentiments.

Question 17

According to Hume's Argument,

Accepted Answer

Hume's Argument posits that human knowledge can be divided into two categories: conceptual truths (matters of fact) and empirical truths (relations of ideas). This distinction underlies his empirical approach to understanding the world, emphasizing that knowledge either stems from direct experience or from the logical relations between ideas.

Question 18

According to Hume's argument, we can have no _______ knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Hume argued that moral knowledge is not derived from reason or empirical observation but from feelings and emotions, thus we cannot have certain or objective moral knowledge.

Question 19

A conceptual truth is one that has which of the following features?

Accepted Answer

A conceptual truth is a proposition that is necessarily true and true just in virtue of its meaning, which can be known just by understanding it. Therefore, all the options are correct.

Question 20

What is an empirical truth?

Accepted Answer

Empirical truths are known only by relying on evidence from our five senses, also known as empirical evidence. This evidence can be observed, measured, and verified by others, which makes empirical truths different from necessary truths (A) that are true by definition and do not depend on empirical evidence. Empirical truths are also different from truths known just by understanding their meaning (B), which are called analytic truths. Finally, empirical truths are not necessarily controversial (D), as they can be established through reliable methods of observation and experimentation.

Quiz 21: Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity