Suggested questions to revise

Question 1

Explain what Descartes means by ‘clear and distinct perception’. (2 marks)

Answer 1

To gain 2 marks make sure that you can:

show that you clearly understand the terms ‘clear’ and ‘distinct’ as used by Descartes

select relevant content for your answer The following answer would gain 2 marks:

A perception is ‘clear’ when it is present and accessible to the attentive mind. (1 mark)A perception is ‘distinct’ if, as well as being clear, it is separated from all other perceptions and contains only what is clear. (1 mark)

Question 2

The questions will sometimes ask you to evaluate a theory or an idea. For example:

Explain two problems with the claim ‘whatever I perceive very clearly and distinctly is true’? (4 marks)

Answer 2

You can gain 2 marks for explaining each problem — a total of 4 marks for the whole answer.

To gain 2 marks for each problem make sure that you can:

identify a problem with Descartes’ claim ‘whatever I perceive very clearly and distinctly is true’ (1 mark)

give additional information on the problem you’ve identified (1 mark) The following answer would gain 4 marks:

Descartes’ explanation of what he means by clear and distinct perceptions is vague (1 mark) — what is clear and distinct to Descartes may not be clear and distinct to someone else. (1 mark)

In order to help guarantee that we can have knowledge based on the clear and distinct rule, Descartes brings in his proof for God. (1 mark) His argument for God relies on clear and distinct perceptions, which is circular reasoning. (1 mark)

Question 3

What does Mill mean by ‘higher pleasures’ and ‘lower pleasures’?

(1 mark)

Answer 3

Higher pleasures appeal to higher faculties, lower pleasures are animalistic. (1 mark)

Question 4

The questions will sometimes ask you to evaluate a theory or an idea. For example:

‘Mill was wrong. I’d much rather go for a pizza than go to the opera.’ Explain why this could be seen as an unfair criticism of Mill’s higher and lower pleasures. (3 marks)

Answer 4

To gain 3 marks you must focus on why the criticism in the question is unfair.

The following answer would gain 3 marks:

This criticism wrongly assumes that Mill’s distinction between higher and lower pleasures is based on his personal preferences. (1 mark) Going to the opera is his example of the sort of thing that would, if it appealed to the higher faculties, count as a higher pleasure but going for a pizza is unlikely to ever be the kind of experience that would count as a higher pleasure. (1 mark) Mill doesn’t say that people would always choose the higher pleasures over the lower pleasures — he wouldn’t expect someone who was really hungry to give up a meal to engage in a higher pleasure. (1 mark)

Question 5

Why does Mill believe that a competent judge would prefer higher pleasures to lower pleasures? (4 marks)

Answer 5

To gain 4 marks, make sure that you can:
 explain what is meant by a competent judge
 give reasons why a competent judge would prefer higher pleasures to lower pleasures
The following answer would gain 4 marks:
Competent judges have experienced both higher and lower pleasures. (1 mark) They can therefore make a judgement on the quality of pleasure and the quantity. (1 mark) Competent judges would regard some pleasures as more valuable than others — Mill thinks no person would choose to become like an animal engaging only in lower pleasures. (1 mark) Consistently choosing lower pleasures would be for a person to become like an animal or for an educated person to become ignorant. (1 mark)