There are three basic subdivisions in philosophy: epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. You can take these 3 subdivisions of the philosophy questionnaire to see whether your overall score matches the score for the subdivisions.
Perhaps your views vary within the different categories. For example, do you solve problems by thinking, and look for rational answers when seeking knowledge, but think ethical principles are relative and rely on your feelings instead to guide your life? In other words, are you a rationalist overall, but in ethics more existential or relativist? Or vice-versa? Do you follow spiritual methods of knowing, but don't believe in God or spirits? Or vice-versa?
Below are three smaller versions of the questionnaire for each division of philosophy-- epistemology, metaphysics and ethics, and the scoring and subsidiary circle for each. It is probably easiest to print each set of questions before answering them.
Answer strongly agree, somewhat agree, yes and no/neutral, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree to each question.
Epistemology (theory of knowledge)
This area of philosophy concerns how we know what we know. What is the best way to discover the truth? What methods should be used? How can things be explained? To find out your views about epistemology, answer these questions, and then score your answers below, just like you did for the overall test.
1. The Heart has its reasons, which Reason does not know.
2. The senses cannot be trusted to give us the truth.
3. There is a rational explanation for everything, since events are produced according to physical laws.
5. Reason leads us to discover the general truths and ideas that explain all existing things.
6. If you would know the truth of life, look inward into yourself.
9. Reality is fluid and ever-changing; thus forever beyond the grasp of the rigid, abstract concepts & categories of our thought and language.
13. Spirit or mind creates the world, and all our science can only describe the effects after-the-fact.
14. Faith is unreliable; we’d better trust to what we know
16. All knowledge is based on experience and observation; rational theories alone are only meaningless abstractions.
23. Human consciousness and behavior can be fully explained in terms of the electro-chemistry of the brain and nervous system.
24. As Plato proved, a child has innate knowledge of mathematics; therefore eternal and rational truths exist.
25. Human history is largely explanable in terms of economic and technological conditions.
27. Science will eventually give us most of the answers to what seems uncertain to us today.
29. Mathematics is probably one of the closest things to truth you can find.
30. Seeing is believing; whatever can’t be touched, observed or tested experimentally probably doesn’t exist.
31. By transcending the delusions of your thinking mind, you discover that you are not a separate ego, but are one with a greater being.
Indicate your answers here by circling your score for each question in the appropriate box. Where two scores are listed, circle both.
| strongly agree | somewhat agree | yes&no/neutral | somewhat disagree | strongly disagree |
| 1. 4E 2S | 2E 1S | 2R 1M | 4R 2M | |
| 2. 3R 2S | 2R 1S | 2E 1M | 3E 2M | |
| 3. 3R 3M | 2R 2M | 2E 2S | 3E 3S | |
| 5. 4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 6. 1E 4S | 1E 2S | 1R 2M | 1R 4M | |
| 9. 4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 13. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 14.3R 2M | 2R 1M | 2E 1S | 3E 2S | |
| 16.4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 23. 4M | 2M | 2S | 4S | |
| 24.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 25. 4M | 2M | 2S | 4S | |
| 27.2R 4M | 1R 2M | 1E 2S | 2E 4S | |
| 29.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 30.2E 3M | 1E 2M | 1R 2S | 2R 3S | |
| 31.2E 4S | 1E 2S | 1R 2M | 2R 4M |
Add your circled scores here:
| ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | |
| ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M |
Then add all the E scores across the columns above _______
Then all the S scores ________
Then all the R scores ________
Then all the M scores ________
Write the larger letter scores above the smaller letter scores here:
| E and R | S and M |
| _______ | ________ |
| minus _______ | minus ________ |
| equals _______ | equals ________ |
For example:
| E and R | S and M |
| 30E | 20S |
| minus 20R | minus 10M |
| equals 10E | equals 10S |
The meaning of the scores: what is your theory of knowledge?
1-13 R = somewhat intellectual; In your approach to knowledge, you rely on reason and distrust feelings and experiences
14-26 R = definitely intellectual
27-41 R = extremely intellectual
1-13 E = somewhat experiential; You rely on your experience more
than reason
14-26 E = definitely experiential
27-41 E = extremely experiential
1-12 S = somewhat spiritualist; You rely on spiritual methods to explain things
13-24 S = definitely spiritualist
25-36 S = extremely spiritualist
1-12 M = somewhat materialist; You rely on physical methods to explain things
13-24 M = definitely materialist
25-36 M = extremely materialist
If you are R and S, you are essentialist: universal ideas and divine archetypes are the source of knowledge
If you are R and M, you are rationalist: Truth is found through knowledge of causal, logical laws
If you are E and S, you are existentialist: experience of the spontaneous flux of inner
being is the best source of knowledge
If you are E and M, you are empiricist: sense experience and experimental results determines truth
The approach to epistemology (theory of knowledge) shown by your score matches these Jungian functions and MBTI temperaments, although your temperament itself may be different:
R/S essentialist = N intuitive
R/M rationalist = T thinking
E/S existentialist = F feeling
E/M empiricist = S sensing
Your epistemology score places you in one of 32 quadrants. A circle can be drawn around them. This is the subsidiary Circle of Epistemology. Here I will only show the quadrants. Imagine a circle around them.
I have used most of the same 2 defining keywords for each quadrant as in the overall circle, and shown philosophers and traditions who I think may occupy them (positions are necessarily approximate). The quadrants in the opposite positions to each other, and same distance
from the center, have opposite and complementary meanings.
| 25-36S
14-27R Asceticism Abstraction Augustine |
25-36S
0-13R Esoterics Revelation Metaphysics Plotinus |
25-36S
0-13E Spiritism Psychism Mysticism Jesus |
25-36S
14-27E Transcendence Solipcism Berkeley Kierkegaard |
||
| 13-24S
27-41R Essence Forms Plato Pythagoras |
13-24S
14-26R Truth Eternal values Principles Classicism Leibniz |
13-24S
0-13R Theology Theosophy Hegel Aquinas Kant |
13-24S
0-13E Aspiration Faith Jung Teilhard de Chardin Buddha |
13-24S
14-26E Awareness Awe Romanticism Schopenhauer James Alan Watts Jos.Campbell |
13-24S
27-41E Existence Becoming Bergson Heidegger Heraclitus |
| 0-12S
27-41R Order Doctrine Parmenides Spinoza |
0-12S
14-26R Purpose Ideals Epictetus Stoicism Aristotle |
0-12S
0-13R Theory Ideas Whitehead |
0-12S
0-13E Reverence NatureWorship Pantheists Neo-pagans Quantum Theory |
0-12S
14-26E Flux Adventure Authenticity |
0-12S
27-41E Nihilism Absurdity Nietzsche Sartre |
| 0-12M
27-41R Formulae Mathematics Descartes |
0-12M
14-26R Calculation Structure Empedocles |
0-12M
0-13R Explanation Manipulation Voltaire Einstein G.E.Moore |
0-12M
0-13E Pragmatism Utilitarianism Mill Bentham Anaxagoras |
0-12M
14-26E Relativism Chance Skeptics |
0-12M
27-41E Chaos Iconoclasm Nominalism Hume |
| 13-24M
27-41R Logic Geometry Euclid |
13-24M
14-26R Natural Law Reliability Mechanics Hawking |
13-24M
0-13R Prediction Engineering Freud Russell Marx Santayana |
13-24M
0-13E Verification Secularism Experiment Dewey Carnap |
13-24M
14-26E Sophism Evidence Epicureans |
13-24M
27-41E Sense- Perception Locke Wittgenstein-- (later years) |
| 25-36M
14-27R Necessity Automism Newtonian-- Physics |
25-36M
0-13R Atomism Determinism Hobbes Democritus |
25-36M
0-13E Positivism Objectivism Darwin Lucretius |
25-36M
14-27E Tangibility Carnality Bacon Skinner |
Metaphysics (Ultimates)
This area of philosophy concerns ultimate reality and the foundation of things. Where did the universe come from, and how did I get here? (cosmology) What is the nature of being? (ontology) What is real, and what is an illusion? (metaphysics) To find out your views about metaphysics, answer these questions, and then score your answers below, just like you did for the overall test.
Answer strongly agree, somewhat agree, yes and no/neutral,
somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree to each question.
3. There is a rational explanation for everything, since events are produced according to physical laws.
4. Your thoughts and beliefs create your reality.
5. Reason leads us to discover the general truths and ideas that explain all existing things.
9. Reality is fluid and ever-changing; thus forever beyond the grasp of the rigid, abstract concepts & categories of our thought and language.
10. Ultimately, the universe is made of solid and indivisible particles.
11. The universe is unfolding according to a divine plan and order.
13. Spirit or mind creates the world, and all our science can only describe the effects after-the-fact.
15. Psychic abilities exist, proving mind over matter.
20. Our personal souls will survive death, and perhaps be back on earth for another go-round.
22. I am not a number, I am a free man! (or woman)
24. As Plato proved, a child has innate knowledge of mathematics; therefore eternal and rational truths exist.
28. There are universal symbols and archetypes that keep appearing in our experience.
29. Mathematics is probably one of the closest things to truth you can find.
31. By transcending the delusions of your thinking mind, you discover that you are not a separate ego, but are one with a greater being.
32. This is the best of all possible worlds; seen from God's viewpoint, all evil fits into a greater good.
33. God does not exist.
Indicate your answers here by circling your score for each question in the appropriate box. Where two scores are listed, circle both.
| strongly agree | somewhat agree | yes&no/neutral | somewhat disagree | strongly disagree |
| 3. 3R 3M | 2R 2M | 2E 2S | 3E 3S | |
| 4. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 5. 4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 9. 4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 10. 4M | 2M | 2S | 4S | |
| 11.3R 3S | 2R 2S | 2E 2M | 3E 3M | |
| 13. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 15. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 20. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 22.3E 2S | 2E 1S | 2R 1M | 3R 2M | |
| 24.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 28.3R 2S | 2R 1S | 2E 1M | 3E 2M | |
| 29.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 31.2E 4S | 1E 2S | 1R 2M | 2R 4M | |
| 32. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 33. 4M | 2M | 2S | 4S |
Add your circled scores here:
| ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | |
| ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M |
Then add all the E scores across the columns above _______
Then all the S scores ________
Then all the R scores ________
Then all the M scores ________
Write the larger letter scores above the smaller letter scores here:
| E and R | S and M |
| _______ | ________ |
| minus _______ | minus ________ |
| equals _______ | equals ________ |
For example:
| E and R | S and M |
| 20E | 20S |
| minus 10R | minus 10M |
| equals 10E | equals 10S |
The meaning of the scores: what are your metaphysics?
1-9 R = somewhat intellectual; general, rational truths are real; fluid, changing experiences are mere momentary reflections of them
10-18 R = definitely intellectual
19-27 R = extremely intellectual
1-9 E = somewhat experiential; the changing flow of being is real; abstract, intellectual categories are mere reflections of them
10-18 E = definitely experiential
19-27 E = extremely experiential
1-14 S = somewhat spiritualist; Spiritual realities are
prior to and explain material ones
15-28 S = definitely spiritualist
29-42 S = extremely spiritualist
1-14 M = somewhat materialist; Material realities are prior to
and explain spiritual ones
15-28 M = definitely materialist
29-42 M = extremely materialist
If you are R and S, you are essentialist: universal ideas and archetypes
are primary reality
If you are R and M, you are rationalist: the universe operates according
to causal, logical laws
If you are E and S, you are existentialist: spontaneous flux of inner
being is the primary reality
If you are E and M, you are empiricist: the concrete, tangible and sensible is the most real
The approach to reality shown by your score matches these Jungian functions and MBTI temperaments, although your temperament itself may be different:
R/S essentialist = N intuitive
R/M rationalist = T thinking
E/S existentialist = F feeling
E/M empiricist = S sensing
Your score places you in one of 32 quadrants. A circle can be drawn around them. This is the subsidiary Circle of Metaphysics. Here I will only show the quadrants. Imagine a circle around them.
I have used most of the same 2 defining keywords for each quadrant as in the overall circle, and shown philosophers and traditions who I think may occupy them (positions are necessarily approximate). The quadrants in the opposite positions to each other, and same distance
from the center, have opposite and complementary meanings.
| 29-42S
10-19R Asceticism Abstraction Augustine |
29-42S
0-9R Esoterics Revelation Metaphysics Plotinus |
29-42S
0-9E Spiritism Psychism Mysticism Jesus |
29-42S
10-19E Transcendence Solipcism Berkeley Kierkegaard |
||
| 15-28S
19-27R Essence Forms Plato Pythagoras |
15-28S
10-18R Truth Eternal values Principles Classicism Leibniz |
15-28S
0-9R Theology Theosophy Hegel Aquinas Jung Kant |
15-28S
0-9E Aspiration Faith Teilhard de Chardin |
15-28S
10-18E Awareness Awe Romanticism Schopenhauer Buddha James Alan Watts Jos.Campbell |
15-28S
19-27E Existence Becoming Bergson Heidegger Heraclitus |
| 0-14S
19-27R Order Doctrine Parmenides Spinoza |
0-14S
10-18R Purpose Ideals Epictetus Stoicism Aristotle |
0-14S
0-9R Theory Ideas Whitehead |
0-14S
0-9E Reverence Indefinite Pantheists Neo-pagans Quantum Theory |
0-14S
10-18E Flux Uncertainty Authenticity |
0-14S
19-27E Nihilism Absurdity Nietzsche Sartre |
| 0-14M
19-27R Formulae Mathematics Descartes |
0-14M
10-18R Calculation Structure Empedocles |
0-14M
0-9R Explanability Manipulation Voltaire Einstein G.E.Moore |
0-14M
0-9E Pragmatism Utilitarianism Mill Bentham Anaxagoras |
0-14M
10-18E Relativism Chance Skeptics |
0-14M
19-27E Chaos Nominalism Hume |
| 15-28M
19-27R Logic Geometry Euclid |
15-28M
10-18R Natural Law Reliability Mechanics Hawking |
15-28M
0-9R Predictability Causality Freud Russell Marx Santayana |
15-28M
0-9E Verifiability Secularism Dewey Carnap Locke |
15-28M
10-18E Sophism Evidence Appearances |
15-28M
19-27E Sense- Perception Wittgenstein-- (later years) |
| 29-42M
10-19R Necessity Automism Newtonian-- Physics |
29-42M
0-9R Atomism Determinism Hobbes Democritus |
29-42M
0-9E Positivism Objectivism Darwin Lucretius Epicureans |
29-42M
10-19E Tangibility Carnality Bacon Skinner |
Ethics and Values This area of philosophy concerns right and wrong, good and bad. How should I guide my life? Are there standards of right and wrong? What kinds of experiences are worthwhile? What is the purpose and meaning of life? To find out your views about ethics, answer these questions, and then score your answers below, just like you did for the overall test.
1. The Heart has its reasons, which Reason does not know.
4. Your thoughts and beliefs create your reality.
6. If you would know the truth of life, look inward into yourself.
7. Since we're all different, and times change, there can't be universal standards of right and wrong.
8. Do not seek your treasure in the things of this world, but only in the eternal things.
12. A human has no fixed character, but only a history; you must choose your character and meaning of life.
17. Act on moral principles as best you know them, rather than yielding to the temptations and passions of the moment.
18. With understanding and clear, logical thinking, you can solve almost any problem and increase your control of events.
19. You can't wait until you have the answers; you're not fully alive unless you are taking a risk.
21. The soul can only be free by overcoming the body.
22. I am not a number, I am a free man! (or woman)
25. Human history is largely explanable in terms of economic and technological conditions.
26. The best way to live is to follow the delightful energies of the body. Reason is only the outer bounds of energy.
32. This is the best of all possible worlds; seen from God's viewpoint, all evil fits into a greater good.
Indicate your answers here by circling your score for each question in the appropriate box. Where two scores are listed, circle both.
| strongly agree | somewhat agree | yes&no/neutral | somewhat disagree | strongly disagree |
| 1. 4E 2S | 2E 1S | 2R 1M | 4R 2M | |
| 4. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M | |
| 6. 1E 4S | 1E 2S | 1R 2M | 1R 4M | |
| 7. 4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 8. 2R 4S | 1R 2S | 1E 2M | 2E 4M | |
| 12.4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 17.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 18.4R | 2R | 2E | 4E | |
| 19.4E | 2E | 2R | 4R | |
| 21.2R 4S | 1R 2S | 1E 2M | 2E 4M | |
| 22.3E 2S | 2E 1S | 2R 1M | 3R 2M | |
| 25. 4M | 2M | 2S | 4S | |
| 26.4E 2M | 2E 1M | 2R 1S | 4R 2S | |
| 32. 4S | 2S | 2M | 4M |
Add your circled scores here:
| ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | ___E ___S | |
| ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M | ___R ___M |
Then add all the E scores across the columns above _______
Then all the S scores ________
Then all the R scores ________
Then all the M scores ________
Write the larger letter scores above the smaller letter scores here:
| E and R | S and M |
| _______ | ________ |
| minus _______ | minus ________ |
| equals _______ | equals ________ |
For example:
| E and R | S and M |
| 30E | 20S |
| minus 20R | minus 10M | equals 10E | equals 10S |
The meaning of the scores: what is your ethical philosophy?
1-12 R = somewhat intellectual; You rely on rational moral principles, and distrust feelings
and experiences as unreliable guides
13-24 R = definitely intellectual
25-36R = extremely intellectual
1-12 E = somewhat experiential; You rely on your feelings and experience to guide you, and distrust rational principles as relative or constricting
13-24 E = definitely experiential
25-36 E = extremely experiential
1-10 S = somewhat spiritualist; Spiritual pursuits are more worthwhile than material ones
11-20 S = definitely spiritualist
21-30 S = extremely spiritualist
1-10 M = somewhat materialist; Material pursuits are more worthwhile than spiritual ones
11-20 M = definitely materialist
21-30 M = extremely materialist
If you are R and S, you are essentialist: eternal, divine principles are the highest values
If you are R and M, you are rationalist: you live according to reliable and logical, predictable methods
If you are E and S, you are existentialist: you follow your feelings and insist on freedom
If you are E and M, you are empiricist: you seek the delights and securities of the world and the flesh
The approach to thinking shown by your score matches these Jungian functions and MBTI temperaments, although your temperament itself may be different:
R/S essentialist = N intuitive
R/M rationalist = T thinking
E/S existentialist = F feeling
E/M empiricist = S sensing
Your score places you in one of 32 quadrants. A circle can be drawn around them. This is the subsidiary Circle of Ethics. Here I will only show the quadrants. Imagine a circle around them.
I have used most of the same 2 defining keywords for each quadrant as in the overall circle, and shown philosophers and traditions who I think may occupy them (positions are necessarily approximate). The quadrants in the opposite positions to each other, and same distance
from the center, have opposite and complementary meanings.
| 21-30S
13-25R Asceticism Abstraction Augustine |
21-30S
0-12R Esoterics Revelation Metaphysics Plotinus Jesus |
21-30S
0-12E Spiritism Psychism Mysticism |
21-30S
13-25E Transcendence Solipcism Berkeley |
||
| 11-20S
25-36R Essence Forms Plato Kant Pythagoras |
11-20S
13-24R Truth Eternal values Principles Classicism Leibniz Epictetus Stoicism |
11-20S
0-12R Theology Theosophy Hegel Aquinas Buddha |
11-20S
0-12E Aspiration Faith Inner guidance Jung Teilhard de Chardin Kierkegaard |
11-20S
13-24E Awareness Awe Romanticism Schopenhauer James Jos.Campbell |
11-20S
25-36E Existence Becoming Bergson Heidegger Heraclitus Alan Watts |
| 0-10S
25-36R Order Doctrine Parmenides Spinoza |
0-10S
13-24R Purpose Ideals Aristotle |
0-10S
0-12R Theory Ideas Whitehead |
0-10S
0-12E Reverence NatureWorship Pantheists Neo-pagans Quantum Theory |
0-10S
13-24E Flux Adventure Authenticity |
0-10S
25-36E Nihilism Absurdity Nietzsche Sartre |
| 0-10M
25-36R Formulae Mathematics Descartes |
0-10M
13-24R Calculation Structure Empedocles |
0-10M
0-12R Planning Manipulation Voltaire Einstein G.E.Moore |
0-10M
0-12E Pragmatism Utilitarianism Mill Bentham Anaxagoras Epicurus |
0-10M
13-24E Relativism Chance Skeptics |
0-10M
25-36E Chaos Iconoclasm Nominalism Hume |
| 11-20M
25-36R Logic Geometry Euclid |
11-20M
13-24R Natural Law Reliability Mechanics Hawking |
11-20M
0-12R Prediction Engineering Freud Russell Marx Santayana |
11-20M
0-12E Verification Secularism Experiment Dewey Carnap |
11-20M
13-24E Sophism Evidence Locke Epicureans |
11-20M
25-36E Sense- Perceptibility Wittgenstein-- (later years) |
| 21-30M
13-25R Necessity Automism Newtonian-- Physics |
21-30M
0-12R Atomism Determinism Hobbes Democritus |
21-30M
0-12E Positivism Objectivism Darwin Lucretius |
21-30M
13-25E Tangibility Carnality Bacon Skinner |