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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What would happen if words referred to particular things, in Locke's opinion?
(a) Everyone would need to be an even larger language for classes of things.
(b) No one would know that classes of things existed.
(c) No one would understand each other's vocabulary.
(d) There would have to be a word for each thing.

2. What defines a civil word, according to Locke?
(a) Words used in court.
(b) Words used in everyday communication.
(c) Words used in diplomacy.
(d) Words used in politics.

3. What do we have when an abstract idea cannot be broken down?
(a) Complex ideas.
(b) Simple ideas.
(c) Distinct ideas.
(d) Detailed words.

4. According to Locke, the lack of what would make social life impossible?
(a) Manufacturing.
(b) Communication.
(c) Trade.
(d) Money.

5. What does Locke say each distinct idea is?
(a) A general idea.
(b) An essence.
(c) A simple idea.
(d) A word.

6. What does Locke say pleasure and pain are the foundation for?
(a) Culture.
(b) Good and evil.
(c) God and religion.
(d) Language.

7. What does Locke use as a definition of active powers?
(a) Will or volition.
(b) Gravity.
(c) Heat.
(d) Luck.

8. What abuse does Locke say is typical of scholars?
(a) Using foreign languages.
(b) Using technical language.
(c) Using poetic language.
(d) Using obscure words.

9. What does Locke say we use when we define a word?
(a) A prophecy.
(b) The next general word.
(c) An image.
(d) A memory of pleasure or pain.

10. What does Locke say desires have in common?
(a) A motivating force to alleviate discomfort.
(b) Ineffability.
(c) Unhappiness as a result.
(d) The ability to mitigate unease.

11. What is Locke really discussing in his discussion of pleasure and pain?
(a) Variety.
(b) Complex modes of ideas.
(c) Number.
(d) Morality.

12. When does desire become action, in Locke's opinion?
(a) When it first stirs.
(b) When it is unrequited.
(c) When it develops into a philosophy.
(d) When it merges with will.

13. What does Locke say the increase of our intellectual powers follows?
(a) Simplification of ideas.
(b) Expansion of vocabulary.
(c) Abstraction of ideas.
(d) Standardization of terminology.

14. How does Locke define the essence of a thing?
(a) The chemical composition of the thing.
(b) The being-in-time of each thing.
(c) The divine intention in every thing.
(d) The properties that distinguish it from other similar things.

15. What modern movement did Locke prefigure in his arguments about philosophical language?
(a) Ontology.
(b) Relativists.
(c) Deconstruction.
(d) Ordinary language philosophy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Locke say liberty is aimed at?

2. What happens to the man in the illustration?

3. Where does Locke say our idea of number comes from?

4. What does Locke say is a philosopher's primary method, in Locke's account?

5. What do we have when a word can no longer be defined, according to Locke?

(see the answer keys)

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