SparkNotes: Critique of Practical Reason: Quiz

What does theoretical reason show about freedom, according to the first Critique?

(A) Nothing, except that it can never legislate for or against it

(B) That it can not exist because of determinism

(C) That adherence to the moral law requires belief in it

(D) That it can only truly be obtained by the elimination of desire

What does Kant say about Hume's refutation of the reality of causality?

(A) That it is exactly right, and that it woke him from his dogmatic slumbers

(B) that it would be true of noumenal things, but not phenomenal things

(C) That it threatened to undermine morality

(D) That it invited mysticism, though rightly refuting empiricism

When one meets a humble but upright person, how does Kant predict one will feel?

(A) One feels relieved that moral goodness is obtainable after all.

(B) One bows, but one's spirit does not bow.

(C) One is amazed that it is possible to overcome social disadvantages to achieve moral greatness.

(D) One's self-conceit is struck down by respect for the moral law.

Which is not an example of an action Kant cites as ruled out by the categorical imperative?

(A) Rigidly adhering to principle, come what may

(B) Committing suicide when weary of life

(C) Telling a harmless lie to help a friend

(D) Being indifferent to the needs of others

Which does Kant take as a greater threat to practical reason, mysticism or empiricism?

(A) Mysticism, for pursuing pleasure can coincide with morality, but pursuing a supersensible kingdom of God is fanaticism

(B) Mysticism, for the inscrutible will of God is susceptible to many harmful interpretations

(C) Empiricism, for it is the moral natural error for the common run of humanity

(D) Empiricism, for Hume's critique of causality has penetrated the thinking of the common man, and threatens to dissolve science

Which historical event took place within Kant's lifetime?

(A) The signing of the Magna Carter

(B) The Napoleanic Wars

(C) World War I

(D) The French Revolution

If one takes the good as antecedent to the moral law, what other mistake is one led to, according to Kant?

(A) Taking noumenal concepts to apply to the phenomenal world

(B) Taking Hume's empiricism to be true

(C) Taking the distinction between good and evil to be the same as that between pleasure and pain

(D) Taking oneself to possess a holy will

Kant quotes a Stoic who cries out, while suffering intense pain, "Pain, however you torment me, I will never admit that you are something evil." He believes the Stoic is:

(A) Correct, and a good illustration of a philosophical distinction

(B) Incorrect, and a good illustration of the confusion philosophy creates

(C) Correct, and an example of the holy will

(D) Incorrect, and an example of self-conceit

What is the highest good, in the sense that is the object of pure practical reason?

(A) That everyone be virtuous

(B) That everyone be happy

(C) There is no such thing

(D) That all virtuous people be happy

How does Kant recommend we teach morals?

(A) We start by discussing the metaphysical foundations of the moral law.

(B) We start by associating the idea of duty in children's mind with the idea of reward.

(C) There is no need. Human beings are naturally rational and grow towards the moral law of their own accord.

(D) We start by discussing particular examples of morally questionable and upright behavior.

What city did Kant live in all his life?

(A) Konigsberg

(B) Moscow

(C) Berlin

(D) Riga

(E) Frankfurt

What is, for Kant, the relation of self-love to morality?

(A) Acting on self-love opposes the moral law; one's impulses are morally irrelevant as long as one acts on the motive of duty.

(B) The selfish inclinations are evil. Only when they are eradicated is moral goodness possible.

(C) Self-love is a valuable ally in moral education, and moral excellence requires a high level of self-esteem.

(D) It is irrelevant what one's motives in acting are, it only matters that one's actions conform to the rule.

How does the law of pure practical reason impinge on our consciousness?

(A) In no particular way, for we cannot sense the moral law

(B) By constricting the influence of our desires, and by the feeling of elevation in one's own freedom

(C) By the pleasure we take in satisfying our desire to act morally

(D) By the noble feelings we experience when we act truly morally

How does Kant view the relationship between freedom and morality?

(A) Following the moral law constricts your freedom

(B) A free person can act either morally or immorally

(C) Following the moral law is freedom

(D) Freedom is irrelevant to question of morality

What is Kant's view of determinism?

(A) It is false in the phenomenal world, which we know because we are morally responsible for actions in the phenomenal world.

(B) It is true in the phenomenal world, but freedom depends on the noumenal.

(C) It is true in the noumenal, intelligible world, but false in the phenomenal, sensible world.

(D) It is true in the noumenal and phenomenal worlds.

What is the relation of practical and theoretical reason, according to Kant?

(A) The needs of practical reason can lead us to understand things incomprehensible to theoretical reason.

(B) The needs of practical reason can lead us to postulate things outside the limits of theoretical reason, but not to understand them.

(C) Practical reason and theoretical reason have the same limits.

(D) Practical reason is a matter of action, not knowledge, and cannot alter the results of theoretical reason.

What does Kant claim as the purpose of the Critique of Practical Reason?

(A) To show that pure practical reason oversteps its limits

(B) To show that self-interest is supported by pure practical reason

(C) To show that reason can only be the slave of the passions

(D) To show that pure practical reason is valid

What is the fundamental law of pure practical reason?

(A) Act so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number.

(B) If your right eye offends you, pluck it out.

(C) So act that the maxim of your will could always hold at the same time as a principle in the giving of universal law.

(D) Only action in which one faces up to the angst of total freedom is authentic.

Why does Kant feel that a critique of practical reason is necessary?

(A) We must critique the application of impure as opposed to pure practical reason.

(B) We must critique pure practical reason, which like pure theoretical reason, is always in danger of overstepping its bounds.

(C) We must critique pure practical reason in order to be true our inner feelings.

(D) We must critique practical reason because otherwise it will infringe on the prerogatives of theoretical reason.

In the Doctrine of Method, Kant describes what sort of example as best illustrating the worthiness of the moral principle?

(A) The man who cleverly reconciles the demands of morality with those of self- interest

(B) The man who despite being miserable unto thoughts of suicide lives on out of duty

(C) The man whose moral behavior provides benefits for many people

(D) The man who not only does his duty, but acts nobly from natural kindness of heart

If one does someone a good turn based on the material principle that one ought to help others, this would be, according to Kant:

(A) A dutiful action

(B) Displaying moral worth

(C) Showing lack of healthy self-regard

(D) Ultimately based on self-love

What is the determining ground of the practical law?

(A) Its matter

(B) Its form

(C) The incentive it offers

(D) The faculty it appeals to

What, according to Kant, is the most important reason not to commit suicide?

(A) Because such behavior could not be universally willed

(B) Because it would show disrespect for those who care for you

(C) Because it would show disobedience to God, who ought to rather choose your fate

(D) Because it is the nature of humans to seek life, so suicide is unnatural

Kant regards stimulating the moral emotions as:

(A) Essential to moral development, for without compassion, acting from duty has no worth

(B) Essential to moral development, as only emotions and desires can motivate behavior

(C) At best a partial means to moral education, for only conceptual principles can provide long-term moral strength

(D) Irrelevant to moral development, as the moral agent should be able exert total control over his emotions

What is the difference between a practical maxim and a practical law?

(A) The law is merely subjective, the maxim objective, necessary, and universal

(B) The maxim is a thing in itself, the law is an appearance

(C) The maxim is merely subjective, the law objective, necessary, and universal

(D) The law is a thing in itself, the maxim is an appearance

How many laws exist, according to Kant, which are suited to governing a free will?

(A) One

(B) Zero

(C) No information

(D) Many

Does the moral law apply to the "holy will"?

(A) Yes, the moral law is universal.

(B) No, the moral law is created by God, so it doesn't apply to God.

(C) Yes, the holiness of the holy will consists in its self-restraint.

(D) No, it is only a law if the agent is capable of flouting it.

Autonomy is to freedom as:

(A) Wrong is to right

(B) Day is to night

(C) The moral law is to the practical law

(D) The categorical imperative is to the hypothetical imperative

Kant regards pure practical reason as:

(A) Partially constituted by the superego

(B) A faculty which philosophers have long understood quite well, though the common run of humanity confuses with self-love

(C) Being much less liable to misunderstanding than pure theoretical reason

(D) Requiring greatness of soul to properly utilize

When does Kant think we (correctly) regard doing ill to people as appropriate?

(A) Never

(B) To wrongdoers when it will aid in reforming them

(C) When they have committed acts of wrongdoing

(D) Whenever it will further the overall good