Partial preview of the text
Download FRE 449 The French Enlightenment ExamSprint Handbook and more Exams Technology in PDF only on Docsity!
Handbook
QUESTION 1. WHICH ENLIGHTENMENT PRINCIPLE BEST ENCAPSULATES THE SHIFT FROM THE
DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS TO A RATIONAL BASIS FOR POLITICAL LEGITIMACY?
A) SEPARATION OF POWERS
B) SOCIAL CONTRACT
C) DEISM
D) NATURAL LAW
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY, ARTICULATED BY ROUSSEAU AND LOCKE, REPLACES
HEREDITARY DIVINE AUTHORITY WITH THE IDEA THAT POLITICAL POWER DERIVES FROM AN
AGREEMENT AMONG FREE INDIVIDUALS.
QUESTION 2. THE LATIN MOTTO “SAPERE AUDE” ENCOURAGED ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS TO:
A) ACCEPT TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY UNQUESTIONINGLY
B) SEEK KNOWLEDGE THROUGH PERSONAL REASON
C) EMBRACE MYSTICISM OVER SCIENCE
D) PRIORITIZE RELIGIOUS FAITH ABOVE REASON
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: “SAPERE AUDE” (“DARE TO KNOW”) URGED INDIVIDUALS TO USE THEIR OWN
UNDERSTANDING, A CORE KANTIAN INFLUENCE ON FRENCH PHILOSOPHES.
QUESTION 3. IN THE DEBATE BETWEEN DEISM AND MATERIALISM, VOLTAIRE’S METAPHOR OF THE
“GRAND ARCHITECT” REPRESENTS:
A) A LITERAL GOD WHO INTERVENES DAILY
B) A DISTANT CREATOR WHO DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE WORLD
C) THE MECHANISTIC BRAIN OF MAN
D) AN ALLEGORY FOR THE MONARCHY
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: VOLTAIRE’S DEIST VIEW SEES GOD AS A WATCHMAKER WHO SET THE UNIVERSE IN
MOTION BUT DOES NOT INTERVENE, CONTRASTING WITH MATERIALIST DENIAL OF ANY DEITY.
Handbook
QUESTION 4. WHICH WORK BY LA METTRIE ARGUES THAT HUMANS ARE ESSENTIALLY
“MACHINES”?
A) L’HOMME MACHINE
B) CANDIDE
C) LE NEVEU DE RAMEAU
D) DISCOURS SUR L’ORIGINE DE L’INÉGALITÉ
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: LA METTRIE’S “L’HOMME MACHINE” ADVANCES A RADICAL MATERIALIST VIEW,
TREATING THE HUMAN BODY AS A COMPLEX AUTOMATON.
QUESTION 5. THE ENLIGHTENMENT BELIEF THAT EDUCATION AND SCIENCE CAN PERFECT SOCIETY
IS KNOWN AS:
A) RELATIVISM
B) SKEPTICISM
C) PROGRESS
D) FATALISM
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: PROGRESS DENOTES THE CONVICTION THAT HUMAN SOCIETIES CAN IMPROVE
CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH RATIONAL INQUIRY AND LEARNING.
QUESTION 6. MONTESQUIEU’S “DE L’ESPRIT DES LOIS” IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH:
A) THE MORAL DUTIES OF THE KING
B) THE CLASSIFICATION OF LITERARY GENRES
C) THE THEORY OF SEPARATION OF POWERS
D) THE NATURE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: MONTESQUIEU’S SEMINAL WORK OUTLINES THE DIVISION OF GOVERNMENTAL
FUNCTIONS INTO EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES TO PREVENT TYRANNY.
Handbook
QUESTION 10. THE CALAS AFFAIR, WHICH VOLTAIRE CHAMPIONED IN “TRAITÉ SUR LA
TOLÉRANCE,” HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR:
A) STRONGER ROYAL AUTHORITY
B) RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF PROTESTANTS
C) LEGAL REFORMS PROTECTING RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
D) EXPANSION OF COLONIAL EMPIRE
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: THE WRONGFUL EXECUTION OF JEAN CALAS FOR ALLEGED MURDER DUE TO HIS
PROTESTANT FAITH SPURRED VOLTAIRE’S CALL FOR TOLERANCE AND JUDICIAL FAIRNESS.
QUESTION 11. DIDEROT’S “ENCYCLOPÉDIE” INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT OF “RENVOIS.” THESE
WERE:
A) INDEX PAGES FOR CROSS‑REFERENCING ARTICLES
B) ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS
C) PREFACES ENDORSING THE MONARCHY
D) APPENDICES OF POETRY
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: “RENVOIS” (CROSS‑REFERENCES) LINKED RELATED TOPICS, ENCOURAGING READERS TO
SEE KNOWLEDGE AS INTERCONNECTED AND UNDERMINING ISOLATED AUTHORITY.
QUESTION 12. “JACQUES LE FATALISTE” EXPLORES THE TENSION BETWEEN:
A) DETERMINISM AND FREE WILL
B. THEOCRACY AND SECULARISM
C. MONARCHY AND REPUBLICANISM
D. COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: THE DIALOGUE QUESTIONS WHETHER HUMAN ACTIONS ARE PREDESTINED OR SUBJECT
TO PERSONAL CHOICE, REFLECTING DIDEROT’S PHILOSOPHICAL SKEPTICISM.
Handbook
QUESTION 13. IN “LE NEVEU DE RAMEAU,” THE TITULAR CHARACTER IS BEST DESCRIBED AS:
A. AN EMBODIMENT OF ENLIGHTENMENT VIRTUE
B. A SOCIAL PARASITE WHO CRITIQUES MORAL HYPOCRISY
C. A REVOLUTIONARY LEADER
D. A SCIENTIFIC PIONEER
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: RAMEAU’S NEPHEW IS A WITTY, MORALLY AMBIGUOUS FIGURE WHO EXPOSES THE
CONTRADICTIONS OF POLITE SOCIETY AND THE PHILOSOPHES THEMSELVES.
QUESTION 14. ROUSSEAU’S “DISCOURS SUR L’ORIGINE DE L’INÉGALITÉ” ARGUES THAT PRIVATE
PROPERTY IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF:
A. MORAL VIRTUE
B. SOCIAL INEQUALITY
C. SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS
D. RELIGIOUS FAITH
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU CLAIMS THAT THE INVENTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY CORRUPTED THE
NATURAL EQUALITY OF THE STATE OF NATURE, CREATING SOCIAL HIERARCHIES.
QUESTION 15. THE “GENERAL WILL” IN ROUSSEAU’S “DU CONTRAT SOCIAL” REFERS TO:
A. THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN A PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
B. THE COLLECTIVE INTEREST THAT TRANSCENDS INDIVIDUAL DESIRES
C. THE MONARCH’S DIVINE RIGHT TO RULE
D. THE ECONOMIC PREFERENCES OF THE BOURGEOISIE
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE GENERAL WILL REPRESENTS THE COMMON GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH
MAY DIFFER FROM THE SUM OF PRIVATE WILLS AND IS THE BASIS FOR LEGITIMATE POLITICAL
AUTHORITY.
Handbook
QUESTION 19. CENSORSHIP IN THE ANCIEN RÉGIME LED MANY AUTHORS TO PUBLISH WORKS:
A. UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE KING EXCLUSIVELY
B. AS OPEN CRITIQUES OF THE MONARCHY WITHOUT FEAR
C. ANONYMOUSLY OR THROUGH ALLEGORY TO EVADE THE BASTILLE’S PRESS RESTRICTIONS
D. ONLY IN LATIN TO AVOID PUBLIC SCRUTINY
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: TO AVOID PUNITIVE ACTION, WRITERS EMPLOYED PSEUDONYMS, CODED LANGUAGE,
AND CLANDESTINE PRINTING PRESSES TO CIRCULATE SUBVERSIVE IDEAS.
QUESTION 20. THE FRENCH ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE PRIMARILY AIMED TO:
A. PROMOTE RELIGIOUS ORTHODOXY
B. STANDARDIZE THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND LITERARY STYLE
C. FUND REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITIES
D. TRANSLATE ANCIENT GREEK TEXTS INTO FRENCH
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE, THE ACADÉMIE SET LINGUISTIC NORMS, REFLECTING THE
ENLIGHTENMENT’S DESIRE FOR RATIONAL ORDER IN LANGUAGE.
QUESTION 21. VOLTAIRE’S “ZADIG” BELONGS TO WHICH LITERARY GENRE THAT USES TRAVEL
NARRATIVE TO EXPLORE PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS?
A. CONTE PHILOSOPHIQUE
B. ROMAN ÉPISTOLAIRE
C. TRAGICOMEDY
D. HISTORICAL NOVEL
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: “ZADIG” IS A PHILOSOPHICAL TALE WHERE THE PROTAGONIST’S JOURNEYS ILLUSTRATE
MORAL AND EPISTEMIC QUESTIONS.
Handbook
QUESTION 22. THE EPISTOLARY NOVEL FORMAT, AS USED BY ROUSSEAU IN “JULIE, OU LA
NOUVELLE HÉLOÏSE,” IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT:
A. ALLOWS MULTIPLE AUTHORS TO WRITE SIMULTANEOUSLY
B. CREATES INTIMACY THROUGH PERSONAL LETTERS, EXPOSING SOCIAL CRITIQUE
C. AVOIDS ANY NARRATIVE STRUCTURE ALTOGETHER
D. EMPHASIZES ACTION OVER INTERIORITY
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: LETTERS PROVIDE A DIRECT WINDOW INTO CHARACTERS’ THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS,
ENABLING SUBTLE COMMENTARY ON SOCIETAL NORMS.
QUESTION 23. BEAUMARCHAIS’S “LE MARIAGE DE FIGARO” IS HISTORICALLY NOTABLE FOR:
A. REINFORCING ARISTOCRATIC PRIVILEGE
B. SATIRIZING THE NOBILITY AND FORESHADOWING REVOLUTIONARY SENTIMENT
C. CELEBRATING ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
D. BEING A PURELY RELIGIOUS DRAMA
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE PLAY’S WITTY CRITICISM OF CLASS HIERARCHY AND ITS DEMAND FOR “THE RIGHT
TO MARRY” RESONATED WITH GROWING DISCONTENT LEADING UP TO THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
QUESTION 24. IN THE INTERNAL ENLIGHTENMENT DEBATE, WHICH PHILOSOPHER IS MOST
ASSOCIATED WITH THE “RADICAL” CAMP THAT EMPHASIZED NATURAL HUMAN GOODNESS AND THE
CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF CIVILIZATION?
A. MONTESQUIEU
B. VOLTAIRE
C. ROUSSEAU
D. DIDEROT
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU ARGUED THAT HUMANS ARE NATURALLY VIRTUOUS AND THAT SOCIETY’S
INSTITUTIONS CORRUPT THIS INNATE GOODNESS.
Handbook
QUESTION 28. THE TERM “NOBLE SAVAGE,” POPULARIZED BY ROUSSEAU, SUGGESTS THAT:
A. PRIMITIVE PEOPLES ARE MORALLY SUPERIOR TO CIVILIZED EUROPEANS
B. ALL SOCIETIES INEVITABLY BECOME MORE REFINED OVER TIME
C. SAVAGERY IS A PRODUCT OF ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION
D. THE ARISTOCRACY IS INHERENTLY NOBLE
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU’S ROMANTICIZED VIEW HOLDS THAT HUMANS IN A STATE OF NATURE
POSSESS INNATE VIRTUE, CORRUPTED BY THE ARTIFICES OF CIVILIZATION.
QUESTION 29. WHICH ENLIGHTENMENT WORK EXPLICITLY USES SATIRE TO ATTACK THE JESUITS
AND THEIR INFLUENCE IN FRENCH SOCIETY?
A. CANDIDE
B. LE DICTIONNAIRE PHILOSOPHIQUE
C. L’ENCYCLOPÉDIE
D. DISCOURS SUR L’ORIGINE DE L’INÉGALITÉ
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: VOLTAIRE’S DICTIONARY CONTAINS ENTRIES THAT MOCK THE JESUITS, CRITICIZING
THEIR DOGMATISM AND POLITICAL MEDDLING.
QUESTION 30. MONTESQUIEU’S THEORY OF “CLIMATE” INFLUENCING LAWS POSITS THAT:
A. ALL SOCIETIES DEVELOP IDENTICAL LEGAL SYSTEMS REGARDLESS OF GEOGRAPHY
B. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT SHAPE THE CHARACTER OF PEOPLES AND THUS THEIR LEGAL
INSTITUTIONS
C. LAW IS PURELY A PRODUCT OF DIVINE WILL
D. CLIMATE HAS NO IMPACT ON POLITICAL STRUCTURES
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: IN “DE L’ESPRIT DES LOIS,” MONTESQUIEU ARGUES THAT GEOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATIC
CONDITIONS AFFECT SOCIAL CUSTOMS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORKS.
Handbook
QUESTION 31. THE “SALONS” OF PARIS WERE PRIMARILY ORGANIZED BY:
A. MALE ARISTOCRATS SEEKING POLITICAL POWER
B. WOMEN OF THE BOURGEOISIE WHO FACILITATED INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE
C. CLERGY ENFORCING RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE
D. ROYAL OFFICIALS MONITORING DISSENT
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: WOMEN LIKE MADAME GEOFFRIN HOSTED SALONS THAT BECAME CRUCIAL VENUES
FOR DISCUSSION AMONG PHILOSOPHES, WRITERS, AND SCIENTISTS.
QUESTION 32. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BEST REFLECTS VOLTAIRE’S VIEW ON
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE?
A. ALL RELIGIONS SHOULD BE ABOLISHED IN FAVOR OF DEISM
B. ONLY CATHOLICISM IS COMPATIBLE WITH REASON
C. INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE FREE TO PRACTICE ANY FAITH WITHOUT PERSECUTION
D. RELIGIOUS BELIEF SHOULD BE MANDATORY FOR MORAL BEHAVIOR
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: VOLTAIRE ARGUED FOR FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND OPPOSED THE PERSECUTION OF
MINORITIES, EXEMPLIFIED BY HIS DEFENSE OF THE CALAS FAMILY.
QUESTION 33. DIDEROT’S “ENCYCLOPÉDIE” WAS CENSORED BY THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES
BECAUSE IT:
A. PROMOTED ROYAL ABSOLUTISM
B. CONTAINED EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT
C. CHALLENGED TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY AND DISSEMINATED SECULAR KNOWLEDGE
D. ENDORSED FOREIGN INVASION
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: THE ENCYCLOPEDIC PROJECT SPREAD IDEAS THAT QUESTIONED CHURCH AND STATE
POWER, LEADING TO MULTIPLE BANS AND CONFISCATIONS.
Handbook
QUESTION 37. IN “LE NEVEU DE RAMEAU,” THE DIALOGUE STRUCTURE SERVES TO:
A. PRESENT A LINEAR NARRATIVE OF HISTORICAL EVENTS
B. DEMONSTRATE THE VIRTUES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH MORAL PREACHING
C. HIGHLIGHT CONTRADICTIONS AND PARADOXES WITHIN MORAL PHILOSOPHY
D. OFFER A SCIENTIFIC TREATISE ON MUSIC THEORY
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: THE BACK‑AND‑FORTH CONVERSATION REVEALS INCONSISTENCIES IN MORAL
REASONING, EMBODYING DIDEROT’S SKEPTICAL METHOD.
QUESTION 38. THE “CLANDESTINE PRESS” IN PRE‑REVOLUTIONARY FRANCE WAS PRIMARILY USED
TO:
A. PUBLISH ROYAL DECREES
B. DISSEMINATE ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS THAT WERE BANNED OR CENSORED
C. PRINT RELIGIOUS PAMPHLETS FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
D. TRANSLATE FOREIGN POETRY FOR ARISTOCRATIC ENTERTAINMENT
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: UNDERGROUND PRINTERS PRODUCED PROHIBITED WORKS, ALLOWING SUBVERSIVE
IDEAS TO CIRCULATE DESPITE OFFICIAL SUPPRESSION.
QUESTION 39. WHICH WORK IS AN EARLY EXAMPLE OF THE “CONTE PHILOSOPHIQUE” THAT
COMBINES A FANTASTICAL JOURNEY WITH MORAL REFLECTION?
A. CANDIDE
B. MICROMÉGAS
C. L’EMILE
D. DISCOURS SUR L’ORIGINE DE L’INÉGALITÉ
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: “MICROMÉGAS” FEATURES A GIANT ALIEN’S VOYAGE TO EARTH, USING THE NARRATIVE
TO CRITIQUE HUMAN PRETENSIONS AND PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES.
Handbook
QUESTION 40. THE “GENERAL WILL” DIFFERS FROM THE “WILL OF ALL” BECAUSE:
A. IT REPRESENTS THE SUM OF INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES
B. IT REFLECTS THE COMMON INTEREST THAT MAY OVERRIDE INDIVIDUAL DESIRES
C. IT IS DICTATED BY THE MONARCH
D. IT IS BASED ON ECONOMIC MAJORITY RULE
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU DISTINGUISHES THE COLLECTIVE, MORAL DIRECTION OF THE COMMUNITY
(GENERAL WILL) FROM THE AGGREGATION OF PRIVATE INTERESTS (WILL OF ALL).
QUESTION 41. WHICH ENLIGHTENMENT FIGURE FAMOUSLY DECLARED “I DISAPPROVE OF WHAT
YOU SAY, BUT I WILL DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT,” SUMMARIZING A PRINCIPLE OF TOLERANCE?
A. VOLTAIRE (OFTEN MISATTRIBUTED)
B. DIDEROT
C. MONTESQUIEU
D. LA METTRIE
ANSWER: A
EXPLANATION: THOUGH THE EXACT WORDING IS BY A LATER WRITER, IT CAPTURES VOLTAIRE’S
ADVOCACY FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
QUESTION 42. THE “ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES” DIFFERED FROM THE “ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE” IN
THAT IT:
A. FOCUSED ON LANGUAGE REGULATION
B. PROMOTED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
C. WAS EXCLUSIVELY FOR NOBLEMEN
D. PRODUCED LITERARY CRITICISM
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES WAS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING NATURAL PHILOSOPHY,
WHEREAS THE ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE DEALT WITH LINGUISTIC MATTERS.
Handbook
QUESTION 46. THE PHRASE “THE AGE OF REASON” IS MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH WHICH
ENLIGHTENMENT BELIEF?
A. THAT TRADITION SHOULD DOMINATE ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE
B. THAT RATIONAL INQUIRY CAN IMPROVE MORAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
C. THAT EMOTION IS SUPERIOR TO INTELLECT
D. THAT DIVINE REVELATION IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE ENLIGHTENMENT CELEBRATED HUMAN REASON AS THE TOOL FOR PROGRESS AND
REFORM.
QUESTION 47. IN “CANDIDE,” THE RECURRING PHRASE “TOUT EST BIEN” SATIRICALLY MIRRORS
WHICH PHILOSOPHICAL STANCE?
A. SKEPTICISM
B. OPTIMISM (LEIBNIZIAN)
C. EMPIRICISM
D. UTILITARIANISM
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: VOLTAIRE MOCKS THE BELIEF THAT “ALL IS FOR THE BEST” DESPITE EVIDENT SUFFERING,
HIGHLIGHTING THE ABSURDITY OF UNCHECKED OPTIMISM.
QUESTION 48. MONTESQUIEU’S ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH CONSTITUTIONALISM WAS INTENDED TO:
A. PRAISE ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
B. DEMONSTRATE THE SUPERIORITY OF FRENCH LAW
C. PROVIDE A MODEL FOR SEPARATING POWERS IN FRANCE
D. ADVOCATE FOR THE ABOLITION OF LAW ALTOGETHER
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: BY STUDYING ENGLAND’S SYSTEM, MONTESQUIEU ILLUSTRATED HOW CHECKS AND
BALANCES COULD LIMIT TYRANNY.
Handbook
QUESTION 49. THE “SALON” OF MLLE DE LESPINASSE WAS NOTABLE FOR:
A. EXCLUSIVELY HOSTING MALE PHILOSOPHERS
B. EMPHASIZING LITERARY CRITICISM OVER SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION
C. FOSTERING A MIXED-GENDER INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDED DIDEROT AND ROUSSEAU
D. SERVING AS A ROYAL COURT VENUE
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: LESPINASSE’S SALON WELCOMED BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, ENCOURAGING LIVELY
DEBATE AMONG LEADING ENLIGHTENMENT THINKERS.
QUESTION 50. THE “ENCYCLOPÉDIE” EMPLOYED A COLLABORATIVE AUTHORSHIP MODEL BECAUSE:
A. IT WAS CHEAPER THAN HIRING A SINGLE WRITER
B. MULTIPLE CONTRIBUTORS COULD BRING DIVERSE EXPERTISE, EMBODYING THE SPIRIT OF COLLECTIVE
KNOWLEDGE
C. THE KING DEMANDED MANY SIGNATURES FOR LEGITIMACY
D. IT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE PROJECT’S SUCCESS RELIED ON MANY SPECIALISTS CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES,
REFLECTING THE ENLIGHTENMENT’S EMPHASIS ON SHARED INTELLECTUAL EFFORT.
QUESTION 51. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST CHARACTERIZES LA METTRIE’S VIEW OF THE
MIND-BODY RELATIONSHIP?
A. DUALISM – MIND AND BODY ARE SEPARATE SUBSTANCES
B. MATERIALISM – MENTAL PROCESSES ARE PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN
C. IDEALISM – REALITY IS FUNDAMENTALLY MENTAL
D. THEISM – MIND IS A DIVINE SPARK IN THE BODY
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: LA METTRIE ARGUED THAT THOUGHT ARISES FROM PHYSICAL MECHANISMS, TREATING
THE HUMAN AS A COMPLEX MACHINE.
Handbook
QUESTION 55. WHICH ENLIGHTENMENT WRITER’S WORK DIRECTLY CHALLENGED THE IDEA THAT
“ALL IS FOR THE BEST” BY DEPICTING A SERIES OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS?
A. DIDEROT’S “JACQUES LE FATALISTE”
B. VOLTAIRE’S “CANDIDE”
C. ROUSSEAU’S “DISCOURS SUR L’ORIGINE DE L’INÉGALITÉ”
D. MONTESQUIEU’S “LETTRES PERSANES”
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: “CANDIDE” FOLLOWS THE PROTAGONIST THROUGH WARS, EARTHQUAKES, AND
SHIPWRECKS, EXPOSING THE FALLACY OF BLIND OPTIMISM.
QUESTION 56. THE “GENERAL WILL” CONCEPT WAS INTENDED TO JUSTIFY:
A. THE RULE OF A SINGLE MONARCH WITHOUT COUNSEL
B. THE LEGITIMACY OF DEMOCRATIC DECISIONS THAT REFLECT COMMON INTEREST, EVEN IF THEY
CONFLICT WITH INDIVIDUAL DESIRES
C. THE AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OVER STATE MATTERS
D. THE PERPETUAL WAR AGAINST FOREIGN POWERS
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU ARGUED THAT THE GENERAL WILL REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE GOOD,
PROVIDING A BASIS FOR POLITICAL AUTHORITY THAT TRANSCENDS PERSONAL PREFERENCES.
QUESTION 57. WHICH PHILOSOPHER’S WRITINGS MOST HEAVILY INFLUENCED THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION’S EMPHASIS ON “LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY”?
A. VOLTAIRE
B. MONTESQUIEU
C. ROUSSEAU
D. DIDEROT
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: ROUSSEAU’S IDEAS ON POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY AND NATURAL EQUALITY SHAPED
REVOLUTIONARY SLOGANS AND IDEALS.
Handbook
QUESTION 58. THE “ENCYCLOPÉDIE” IS CONSIDERED A REVOLUTIONARY TOOL BECAUSE IT:
A. REINFORCED THE AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
B. CENTRALIZED ALL KNOWLEDGE UNDER ROYAL PATRONAGE
C. DISSEMINATED SECULAR, CRITICAL, AND SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE TO A BROAD AUDIENCE
D. FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON ARISTOCRATIC PASTIMES
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: BY COMPILING AND PUBLISHING A WIDE RANGE OF SECULAR KNOWLEDGE, THE
ENCYCLOPÉDIE CHALLENGED TRADITIONAL POWER STRUCTURES.
QUESTION 59. IN “LETTRES PERSANES,” THE PERSIAN NARRATOR’S CRITIQUE OF FRENCH FASHION
SERVES TO:
A. PRAISE FRENCH SARTORIAL ELEGANCE
B. HIGHLIGHT THE SUPERFICIALITY AND AFFECTATION OF FRENCH SOCIETY
C. PROMOTE PERSIAN CULTURAL SUPERIORITY
D. DISCUSS THE ECONOMICS OF TEXTILE TRADE
ANSWER: B
EXPLANATION: THE OUTSIDER’S OBSERVATIONS EXPOSE THE VANITY AND EMPTINESS OF FRENCH
CUSTOMS, SATIRIZING SOCIAL PRETENSIONS.
QUESTION 60. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES THE “RADICAL” STRAND OF
ENLIGHTENMENT THOUGHT?
A. ADVOCACY FOR ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM
B. EMPHASIS ON GRADUAL REFORM WITHIN EXISTING INSTITUTIONS
C. CALL FOR A COMPLETE RESTRUCTURING OF SOCIETY BASED ON NATURAL RIGHTS AND POPULAR
SOVEREIGNTY
D. DEFENSE OF TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE
ANSWER: C
EXPLANATION: THE RADICAL ENLIGHTENMENT, EXEMPLIFIED BY ROUSSEAU, DEMANDED PROFOUND
SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION RATHER THAN MODEST REFORMS.
