Test #2 Study Questions

1.) What is Pascal's wager? To whom is it directed? How does it provide a rational motivation

for pursuing religion?

2.) Based upon our lectures how according to Kierkegaard is reason antithetical to (in direct opposition to) the true goals of religion? What other position might one adopt regarding the relationship between reason and faith?

3.) What is a criticism of Pascal's wager? Remember that a complete answer must describe the relevant features of Pascal's wager. (See lecture notes)

4.) What is the project that Descartes sets for himself in the Meditation I? What is his negative

goal? What is his positive goal? What is his methodology?

5.) Explain how the dream/evil demon hypothesis might undermine one's knowledge of the

external world.

6.) What is the sole foundational belief upon which Descartes must rebuild his knowledge in the

meditations? What is it about this belief that it can serve as the foundation for his knowledge?

7.) How does Descartes characterize the epistemological problem with regard to the external

world in mediation III? To what does Descartes appeal in solving this problem?

8.) Does Descartes think that the mind is the same thing as the physical body? If they differ how

do they differ? If they differ what is their relationship?

9.) What is the distinction Locke draws between primary and secondary properties. What sorts of

knowledge can we have about objects in virtue of our ideas of primary and secondary properties

respectively.