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Quiz about A Journey Through Western Philosophy
Quiz about A Journey Through Western Philosophy

A Journey Through Western Philosophy Quiz


A few questions about some better known western philosophers and political scientists. It's pretty basic stuff that you'd probably learn in a high school political science class. Thanks for taking my quiz, please let me know what you think of it.

A multiple-choice quiz by dudeinc. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
dudeinc
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
244,494
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
5460
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 76 (7/10), gracious1 (9/10), Guest 47 (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. This thinker taught that man was good by nature and corrupted by society. His famous quote was "Man was born free, and is everywhere in chains." Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. This Enlightenment thinker coined the term "separation of powers." Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Francois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778) wrote by this pen name and was perhaps the most famous freedom of speech advocate. He is attributed with saying, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. This Italian philosopher is famous for writing "The Prince", a book that gives advice on how government can keep control of its people. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. He was famous for writing "Leviathan", one of the first works to promote the social contract theory. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Thomas Jefferson practically committed plagiarism when he wrote that men have inalienable rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Which famous thinker was he paraphrasing? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. This Englishman wrote the pamphlet "Common Sense". He was an ardent supporter of American independence from Britain and believed that men are free and equal in respect to their rights. Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This Scottish philosopher believed that moderation was the key to a peaceful society and said that we need to balance our demands for liberty with the need for a strong authority, without sacrificing either. Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This thinker is known as the founder of modern philosophy and is famously known for writing, "Cogito ergo sum (I think, Therefore I am)". Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This man is known as the Father of the U.S. Constitution and is credited with synthesizing the U.S. Bill of Rights. He was a co-author of "The Federalist Papers" where he wrote how Republicanism would better be supported in a large country with many different interests and factions, rather than in a small country where special interests would dominate. Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Apr 16 2024 : Guest 76: 7/10
Apr 16 2024 : gracious1: 9/10
Apr 15 2024 : Guest 47: 8/10
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 172: 10/10
Apr 07 2024 : Guest 195: 6/10
Apr 01 2024 : Guest 113: 7/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 188: 8/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 104: 6/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 172: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This thinker taught that man was good by nature and corrupted by society. His famous quote was "Man was born free, and is everywhere in chains."

Answer: Jean-Jacques Rousseau

He's a philosopher from the European Age of Enlightenment. His definition of man being good by nature did not mean that men naturally act civilly and justly, but rather they were good because they were self-sufficient.
2. This Enlightenment thinker coined the term "separation of powers."

Answer: Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu

Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu is better known as Montesquieu. His philosophy is featured prominently in the U.S. constitution.
3. Francois-Marie Arouet (1694-1778) wrote by this pen name and was perhaps the most famous freedom of speech advocate. He is attributed with saying, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Answer: Voltaire

The quote was actually never written by Voltaire. It was written in 1906 by Evelyn Beatrice Hall who was writing under the pen name S.G. Tallentyre. It was her synopsis of his doctrine; she said she was summarizing this Voltaire quote, "Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too."
4. This Italian philosopher is famous for writing "The Prince", a book that gives advice on how government can keep control of its people.

Answer: Niccolo Machiavelli

Also famous for developing the concept that "the end justifies the means", although he never used those exact words.
5. He was famous for writing "Leviathan", one of the first works to promote the social contract theory.

Answer: Thomas Hobbes

The social contract theory states that that all members of a society agree to comply with a set of cultural rules, because if they didn't agree they would leave the society.
6. Thomas Jefferson practically committed plagiarism when he wrote that men have inalienable rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Which famous thinker was he paraphrasing?

Answer: John Locke

He was also one of the first in the modern world to teach that government should only rule by the consent of the people and was revolutionary in saying that people have the right to overthrow an unjust government.
7. This Englishman wrote the pamphlet "Common Sense". He was an ardent supporter of American independence from Britain and believed that men are free and equal in respect to their rights.

Answer: Thomas Paine

He also wrote "Rights of Man" in which he outlined his beliefs that men are born with rights to liberty, property, security and resistance of oppression.
8. This Scottish philosopher believed that moderation was the key to a peaceful society and said that we need to balance our demands for liberty with the need for a strong authority, without sacrificing either.

Answer: David Hume

He resisted joining either of Britain's political parties (the Whigs and Tories) and taught that the best way to govern was by impartial laws. The type of government wasn't a big concern as long as the laws were just.
9. This thinker is known as the founder of modern philosophy and is famously known for writing, "Cogito ergo sum (I think, Therefore I am)".

Answer: Rene Descartes

He said that the only thing he can ever be sure of is that thought exists. Therefore, if you think, you must exist.
10. This man is known as the Father of the U.S. Constitution and is credited with synthesizing the U.S. Bill of Rights. He was a co-author of "The Federalist Papers" where he wrote how Republicanism would better be supported in a large country with many different interests and factions, rather than in a small country where special interests would dominate.

Answer: James Madison

He was an anti-social social who became one of the best American presidents. Because of his tendency to seem dull he is one of the unsung heros of the revolution. He is also a personal favorite of mine because of his credo, "All men having power should be distrusted to a certain degree."
Thanks for taking my quiz, I hope you enjoyed it. This is my first quiz so if you can take the time to send me some feedback on how I did, how I could improve, etc. it would be greatly appreciated.
Source: Author dudeinc

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