University of Ontario Institute of Technology

COMM 1050U

uNIT 2 : WHOSE KNOWLEDGE? WHOSE POWER?

Q1: According to Brian Martin, to be considered an expert, one must first be able to do this:

1. Cook a pizza
2. Pretend to know everything about a particular domain of knowledge

a      Learn how to submit to those in authority

a      Be smarter than everyone else b All of the above

Q2: According to Brian Martin, it is important to recognize that expertise is like charisma in this sense:

a      It is bestowed or given by others, not something someone inherently possesses

1. It is a sign of above average intelligence
2. It is something that some people have and some do not c        Non of these answers

d     Answers 1&2

Q3: According to Heather Douglas, through a variety of measures, the Canadian government is trying to do this.

a      Control people through technocracy

a      Muzzle government scientists

a      Breed cuter puppies b      All of these answers

c      None of these answers

Q4: According to Leon Wieseltier, this is the real agenda or goal of those 'scientizers' who advocate for consilience between the humanities and sciences. (got wrong on quiz/test)

1. To fight against religious dogmatism

2. To see if 10,000 monkeys on 10,000 typewriters could actually eventually re-create War and Peace

a      To 'invade' the liberal arts (be reducing all questions to scientific terms).

a      To climb Mount Kilimanjaro b        Non of these answers

Q5: According to Brian Martin, this is one of the key problems with experts:

a      Experts always yammer loudly about things they know little about. b        Expertise is complicit in advancing the cause of slavery

c      Experts never know what they are talking about

a      Experts are oriented to serve powerful people and groups rather than to non-experts

a      None of these answers

Q6: As we saw in our readings, Leon Wieseltier believes that no humanist in their right mind wants this:

a      Consilience

1. War
2. Religious fundamentalism c        Peace

d     Non of these answers

Q7: According to Steven Pinker, the moral view of any scientifically literate person requires this:

a      A mathematically-sound conception of the universe

a      A radical break from religious conceptions of meaning and value

1. A worldwide in which science and religion remain 'non-overlapping 'Magisteria' (i.e.: good fences make good neighbours)
2. All of these answers
3. None of these answers

Q8: According to Steven Pinker, science contains an explicit commitment to the following two ideals:

a      1-Kittens; 2-Puppies b      1-Truth; 2-Verity

c      1-Epistomology; 2-Ontology

a      1-The world is intelligible; 2-The acquisition of knowledge is hard

a      None of these answers.

Q9: According to Steven Pinker, science is currently under attack from these two fractions/groups:

a      Religious Fundamentalists and the (academic) Humanities

1. Crackpots and Video games
2. University Deans and Popular Writers c        Clowns and Terrorists

d     Liberals and Atheists

Q10: As we saw in class, Plato used this (symbolic) picture with words to describe the ascent of the philosopher from ignorance into the light of truth.

1. Reason rather than emotion