Quiz 5 – April 8, 2004 Name: ______________________

1. The point of Descartes’ wax example from Meditation 2 is to show that
[ ] A. since substances can go out of existence, like wax when it melts, we can’t be sure our own minds or souls won’t go out of existence.
[ ] B. since everything we think we know about the wax we would also believe if we were dreaming about the wax – it would have the same apparent properties and change in the same way – we can never know whether we are dreaming or awake.
[x] C. since all the properties of the wax that we can sense might change, our knowledge of the wax cannot be knowledge from our senses, but is rather from our intellects.
[ ] D. if the wax had thoughts and memories, it would be a thinking thing like him.

2. According to Locke, the main consideration for the identity of vegetables is
[ ] A. their location in space (and time).
[ ] B. the atoms that make them up.
[ ] C. the kind of vegetable it is.
[x] D. None of the above

3. According to Locke, the main consideration for the identity of persons is
[x] A. continuity of consciousness.
[ ] B. the atoms that make them up.
[ ] C. the ‘thinking substance’ that is their soul.
[ ] D. None of the above.

4. The point of Dennett’s example of his committing a crime in California and his subsequent incarceration is
[x] A. there are reasons not to assume that the person is where their brain is.
[ ] B. there are reasons not to assume that the person is where their body is.
[ ] C. that where an action is performed is not relevant to personal identity.
[ ] D. that where an action is performed is relevant to personal identity.

5. Williams’ second example, involving the evil tyrant, is meant to
[ ] A. support the idea that change in memories is sufficient for change of person.
[ ] B. support a Lockean theory of personal identity.
[x] C. cast doubt on the idea that change in memories is sufficient for change of person.
[ ] D. Both A and B.

6. Williams’ conclusion is
[ ] A. Locke’s memory account of personal identity is correct.
[ ] B. Locke’s memory account of personal identity is untenable.
[ ] C. He thinks there is no answer, and that’s because there really isn’t the ‘problem’ of personal identity that people think there is.
[x] D. He’s not sure. And he finds that disturbing.