Question 1

Hacking (1999) notes that one of the main sticking points in the war between science and constructionism is:

Accepted Answer

In the book "The Social Construction of What?" (1999), Hacking argues that the main sticking point between science and constructionism is contingency, meaning the idea that scientific knowledge is not absolute and depends on historical, cultural and social factors. Science believes in finding universal truths, while constructionism believes that knowledge is relative to the cultural and social context in which it is produced.

Question 2

According to the text, ____________ rather than _________ is arguably the correct antonym to absolutism.

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that contingency, the idea that things are dependent on certain conditions or circumstances, is a better antonym to absolutism than relativism, which is the belief that truth or morality is relative to the individual or culture.

Question 3

According to the text, when _________ is applied to science, it falls apart.

Accepted Answer

Relativism, the belief that knowledge is subjective and dependent on individual perspectives, contradicts the objective and universal nature of scientific inquiry. Science relies on empirical evidence and the ability to objectively test and verify hypotheses, which is impossible under a relativistic framework. Therefore, when relativism is applied to science, it cannot function effectively and falls apart.

Question 4

The credo of science itself is to question everything and believe nothing until proven beyond a/an ________doubt.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "beyond a reasonable doubt" is commonly used in the legal system to refer to the standard of proof necessary for a conviction in a criminal case. In this context, "reasonable doubt" means that a rational person could have doubts about the guilt of the accused based on the available evidence. In the scientific context, the same phrase is used to emphasize the high standard of proof required to establish a scientific fact or theory. Therefore, the best choice is C, which accurately conveys the notion of questioning everything and requiring solid evidence before accepting any claim as true.

Question 5

Rationalism and empiricism are rival epistemologies, both of which stand against radical ________to claim that we can obtain objective truths.

Accepted Answer

Radical relativism rejects the assertion that objective truths can be obtained. Rationalism and empiricism both argue against radical relativism and support the claim that objective truths exist and can be obtained.

Question 6

The primary tool for empiricism is:

Accepted Answer

Empiricism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of experience and evidence, particularly sensory experience, as the basis for knowledge. Therefore, the primary tool for empiricism is sense experience. Logic can be used to analyze and interpret that sensory experience, and repeatable tests can be employed to confirm or disconfirm hypotheses based on that experience, but the initial source of knowledge in empiricism is sensory experience.

Question 7

___________idealize mathematics as the only true paradigm of truth because mathematical thinking is analytic.

Accepted Answer

Rationalists idealize mathematics as the only true paradigm of truth because they believe that mathematical thinking is analytic, meaning that its propositions can be deduced from first principles without reference to empirical evidence.

Question 8

Francis Bacon was the first to radically depart from the methods of ________ and to stoutly defend the alternative.

Accepted Answer

Francis Bacon is known for departing from traditional Aristotelian methods and advocating for the empirical method, which relies on observation and experimentation. Therefore, none of the provided options (empirical, realism, relativism) accurately describe a method from which he radically departed.

Question 9

Which of Bacon's (1620) four idols represents the errors to faulty learning and selective perception-the ideological goggles that let us only see certain things?

Accepted Answer

The Idols of the Cave represent the errors that come from individual prejudices and faulty education. These are the factors that can cause us to perceive things in a certain way and be closed off to other perspectives. This is often seen as the individual equivalent of the Idols of the Tribe, which represent errors that come from group tendencies and collective biases. While the other two types of idols (Market Place and Theatre) can also contribute to faulty learning and perception, the Idols of the Cave are the most directly related to this concept.

Question 10

Which of Bacon's (1620) four idols are due to the ambiguities of language-words and concepts meaning different things in different contexts-and thus confuse our understanding of nature?

Accepted Answer

The Idols of the Market Place are due to ambiguities of language, with words and concepts having different meanings in different contexts, leading to confusion in our understanding of nature. The Idols of the Tribe refer to inherent human tendencies and limitations in perception, while the Idols of the Cave arise from individual bias and perspective. The Idols of the Theatre relate to false philosophical systems and dogmatic beliefs.

Question 11

Kuhn (1970) wrote that ____________ is conducted within a paradigm, which is a set of fundamental theories, assumptions, concepts, values, and practices shared by a scientific discipline that guide its view of reality.

Accepted Answer

Kuhn's concept of "normal science" refers to the routine, day-to-day scientific activities that occur within a particular paradigm. The other options (experimental, psychological, and social science) do not specifically apply to Kuhn's concept.

Question 12

Shared environments (everything siblings shared such as parents, social class, religion, neighborhood, etc.) account for almost _____ variance in almost all cognitive and personality traits in adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Shared environments have been found to account for little to no variance in cognitive and personality traits in adulthood, as individual experiences and genetic factors tend to have a greater influence. Studies have shown that non-shared environments, such as unique experiences and personal relationships, are a stronger predictor of adult traits.

Question 13

The idea that there are no absolute standards for deciding among conflicting beliefs of right and wrong, and all cultural value systems are equally valid limits discussion of issues of morality and truth.

Accepted Answer

This idea is known as moral relativism, which asserts that moral truth is subjective and varies depending on cultural, historical, or personal circumstances. It can limit discussion of issues of morality and truth because it undermines the possibility of rational discussion, objective evaluation, or progress towards a common understanding of ethics and justice.

Question 14

Thomas Kuhn's book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1970) supported radical positions about the instability, relativity, and subjectivity of science.

Accepted Answer

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions was first published in 1962, not 1970. It introduced the concept of paradigm shifts in scientific progress, but it did not primarily focus on the instability, relativity, and subjectivity of science.

Question 15

A meta-analysis of the MAOA-maltreatment literature concluded that the interaction between MAOA and maltreatment is not a significant predictor of antisocial behavior.

Accepted Answer

The meta-analysis of the MAOA-maltreatment literature generally supports the conclusion that the interaction between MAOA gene variants and maltreatment experiences is a significant predictor of antisocial behavior, suggesting that individuals with the low-activity MAOA genotype who are maltreated are at an increased risk for developing antisocial behavior compared to those with the high-activity MAOA genotype.

Quiz 3: Relativism, Rationalism, Empiricism, and Paradigm Shifts