Am I stupid?

Question

If my knowledge of philosophy is darn thin, does that mean I am ignorant. I took a short online quiz about philosophy http://www.tuitionplaza.com/tutoring/question.asp?GID=23&FID=0&dbqp=25175 but got it all wrong. So am I stupid? If you know philosophy, does that mean you are smart?

Answer 1

You are not stupid. It doesn't mean when you failed you are stupid. It only shows you haven't reviewed well on that particular subject and in this case ,,,, philosophy.

Try and try, am sure you do better next time. Stick to philosophy, you will learn great things from intelligent people here.

Thanks for asking. Have a great day!

Answer 2

Being philosophical are different things, for instance i got most of those questions wrong in that quiz, but that does not make me any less of a philosopher because i can still think about life without having to know about what other people think, i only got them wrong because i never researched other philosophy before. Understanding philosophy simply shows understanding, if you don't understand a philosophical analogy or statement then that does not mean you are stupid, for some people it is less obvious.

Answer 3

Philosophy means "love of knowledge"

Just because you cant recite facts about Plato doesn't mean you wouldn't be good at philosophy. That quiz is about the history of some famous philosophers, not about philosophy.

If you apply your knowledge well you are wise. It doesn't matter if you are a professor or a plumber. Philosophers are dreamers, they think about thinking and try to become more aware. Thats all it is.

Answer 4

I clicked on your link. Nope, you are not stupid. Those questions do not all involve philosophy. How many hexagrams are described in the I Ching? That is a factual question having nothing to do with metaphysics or epistemology. It's like saying "how many cows are in the barn?"
" Before the development of modern science, the objective study of nature and the physical universe is known as..." The answer is "natural philosophy," but is that answer philosophical? Nope. It is factual, like asking if 1+1=2 or if it = 3, or 4.

Answer 5

I do not think your knowledge of philosophy can be measured by a test. This is a subject in which our understandings are based on our experiences as well as our education. If you have an inquiring mind which seeks the truth you will find it to be an inspiring journey. Each day of our lives and experiences enlighten us to deeper truths and fuller meanings. Even on my best day filled with my most fulfilling meditation, I am just a neophyte who does not know what I do not know.

Answer 6

1. Depends on the type of question. E.g., if comparatively trivial, testing historical acquaintance of what was Kant's mother's nickname for Immanuel ["Manelchen," "little Manny"], then one's low test results reflect a lack of retaining of such rather unphilosophic but possibly telling details (as Kant stated he would never forget his mother's influence).

2. If one "knows philosophy," one may be insightful, but not necessarily "smart" or "intelligent." And/or, if one "knows philosophy," one may be very smart, but not particularly insightful--"educated idiot," "headucation," etc. See "Dancing with the Void," Sunyata, "Climb the HIghest Mountain," Mark Prophet, "Expecting Adam," Martha Beck, "Watch Your Dreams," Ann Ree Colton, "University of Destruction," David Wheaton.

3. "Intelligence," or "in-telling," is a multivariate factor. One may have considerable "emotional intelligence," and not be too Kantian or Schopenhauerian or Nietzschean, etc., to note examples of some rather more unusual and major characters in the history of philosophy.

Dr. Carol Dweck's "Mindset" has some good insight on how to promote one's "learning curve" in the face of some of one's own psychological mindsets.

cordially,

j.

Answer 7

No, stupid is different from ignorant. I am smart, but there are lots of things I do not know.

One can be philosophical and have good insight and thought processes while still being ignorant of recognized famous philosophers or schools of philosophical thought.

Answer 8

Everyone has their specialties and weaknesses its not unusual, especially since its something you don't need to use regularly in life. It's also something isn't a main part of high school so its not something you are expected to know well unless you study it.

Since the internet is full of information (and porn) you can always read up on it if you are interested.

Answer 9

Ah what the heck does some quiz prove.

Answer 10

No you are not. Most of the questions asked on this forum are not philosophical.