Here is a quiz I found online that I thought would be great for a brain/philosophical exercise.
Section 1: Multiple Choice
1. On Russell’s theory of definite descriptions, “The present King of France is bald” is equivalent to
- Socrates is a man.
- Socrates is mortal.
- All swans are white.
- Anything follows from a contradiction.
- The cat is on the mat.
2. If I could do something besides take this exam, I would prefer to.
- Intuit an essence.
- Analyze a concept.
- Dissect a brain.
- Have a beer.
- A deconstruction of the concept of will shows the bankruptcy of the very notion of choice, so a fortiori of multiple choice.
Section 2: Short Answer
- Define reality. Give two (2) examples.
- Using only basic first order logic, develop a rational foundation from which to prove the truth of radical relativism.
- Analyze the fundamental nature of being. Introduce new distinctions and obfuscatory neologisms.
- Escape the hermeneutic circle with only fishing line and a Swiss Army knife.
- Demonstrate the validity of the fallacy of composition.
- Evaluate the following argument: “If conventionalism is true, it must be true by convention. We do not believe in conventionalism. Therefore, we should change our beliefs because conventionalism is self-evident.”
- Translate Heidegger’s Being and Time into Latin and Aramaic. Provide an analysis of the nature of translation which explains why neither translation makes sense.
- Assume solipsism to be correct. Explain why more people aren’t solipsists.
- Explain the Cartesian distinction between res cogitans and res extensa without going into any intentional states, e.g. thinking of Descartes.
- List three beliefs held by eliminative materialists.
Section 3: Lab Practical
- On the bench you will find a slave boy. Prompt him to remember the Pythagorean theorem.
- Next to the slave boy you will find a cave. Break free of your shackles, climb into the light, and behold the form of the Good. When you’re done, return to the cave and wisely rule your fellows.
- On the bench you will find the thing-in-itself. Treat it as a limiting conception and say nothing further about it.
- Next to the cave, you will find a brain in a vat. Determine its principles of operation. Determine what philosophical problems remain after you have done so. Write down several dozen of them.
- By staring at the brain, you will be provided with sense data. Arrange and combine them so that everything you know can be expressed in terms of them.
- Amidst the sense data you will find the Given. Debunk myths about it. Show its equivalence to the Taken-away.
- In addition to the beings on the bench, you will find Being as such. Use it to explain the difference between temporality and Temporality. Then use it to boil an egg.
- After having found Being you will find Nothing. Determine who this is presenting himself as Nothingness on the grounds of the nihilation of the bench.
Picasso says Moof! This test ©1998 by P.D. Magnus and Ryan Hickerson. You are encouraged to use it for nefarious, quasi-educational purposes.