View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Russell visit Russia?

2. Who is a contemporary of Kant's who writes so as to confound, confuse and attract disciples at the same time?

3. What does Bertram Russell's Mysticism and Logic refute?

4. What affects Schopenhauer as he travels through France and Austria?

5. Who is the author of Time and Free-will?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the two periods of Bertram Russell's philosophical life.

2. Define the contrast between Bergson and Croce.

3. Describe Schopenhauer's views of youth and old age.

4. In his The Critique of Pure Reason how does Kant say knowledge comes?

5. How does Nietzsche show his attitude toward religion?

6. How does Spencer see his fame?

7. How does Schopenhauer illustrate, along with Aristotle, that the power of will drives plants, animals and man?

8. Analyzing religious ideas in First Principles, what does Spencer conclude?

9. How does Kant's work ironically work against his stated aim?

10. What does Nietzsche's first and only completed book prove?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on Kant's statement: Morality is not properly the doctrine how we may make ourselves happy, but how we may make ourselves worthy to be happy. Explain what it means and give examples.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on Spinoza's idea that one thing may be good, bad, or indifferent all at the same time which he illustrates by music. In your essay identify and explain how something like modern electronics may be good, bad, or indifferent all at the same time.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on philosopher-kings. Include in your essay the way proponents of philosopher-kings probably saw themselves as able to govern justly. Explain why the theory that sounds well never worked well in reality.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 690 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample