The PhilPapers SurveysPreliminary Survey results (Back to contents)
A priori knowledge: yes or no?
| Accept: yes | 88 / 187 (47.1%) |
| Lean toward: yes | 47 / 187 (25.1%) |
| Lean toward: no | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept: no | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Abstract objects: Platonism or nominalism?
| Lean toward: nominalism | 50 / 187 (26.7%) |
| Lean toward: Platonism | 41 / 187 (21.9%) |
| Accept: nominalism | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| Accept: Platonism | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 17 / 187 (9.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept another alternative | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Reject both | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Aesthetic value: objective or subjective?
| Lean toward: objective | 48 / 187 (25.7%) |
| Accept: subjective | 42 / 187 (22.5%) |
| Accept: objective | 28 / 187 (15.0%) |
| Lean toward: subjective | 25 / 187 (13.4%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Accept another alternative | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Accept both | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Skip | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes or no?
| Accept: yes | 71 / 187 (38.0%) |
| Lean toward: yes | 63 / 187 (33.7%) |
| Lean toward: no | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Accept: no | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Epistemic justification: internalism or externalism?
| Lean toward: externalism | 48 / 187 (25.7%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 44 / 187 (23.5%) |
| Accept: externalism | 25 / 187 (13.4%) |
| Accept: internalism | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept both | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 10 / 187 (5.3%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Skip | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject both | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
External world: idealism, skepticism, or non-skeptical realism?
| Accept: non-skeptical realism | 117 / 187 (62.6%) |
| Lean toward: non-skeptical realism | 45 / 187 (24.1%) |
| Lean toward: skepticism | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Lean toward: idealism | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept: skepticism | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Free will: compatibilism, libertarianism, or no free will?
| Accept: compatibilism | 67 / 187 (35.8%) |
| Lean toward: compatibilism | 49 / 187 (26.2%) |
| Lean toward: libertarianism | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Accept: libertarianism | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept: no free will | 12 / 187 (6.4%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Lean toward: no free will | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Other | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept more than one | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
God: theism or atheism?
| Accept: atheism | 130 / 187 (69.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept: theism | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Lean toward: atheism | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Other | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: theism | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Knowledge claims: contextualism, relativism, or invariantism?
| Lean toward: contextualism | 54 / 187 (28.9%) |
| Lean toward: invariantism | 36 / 187 (19.3%) |
| Accept: contextualism | 27 / 187 (14.4%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Accept: invariantism | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 12 / 187 (6.4%) |
| Lean toward: relativism | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept more than one | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept: relativism | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Knowledge: empiricism or rationalism?
| Lean toward: empiricism | 54 / 187 (28.9%) |
| Lean toward: rationalism | 30 / 187 (16.0%) |
| Accept: rationalism | 26 / 187 (13.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Accept: empiricism | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Accept both | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Reject both | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Accept another alternative | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Laws of nature: Humean or non-Humean?
| Lean toward: non-Humean | 48 / 187 (25.7%) |
| Accept: non-Humean | 45 / 187 (24.1%) |
| Lean toward: Humean | 29 / 187 (15.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Accept: Humean | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Skip | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Logic: classical or non-classical?
| Lean toward: classical | 48 / 187 (25.7%) |
| Accept: classical | 42 / 187 (22.5%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 40 / 187 (21.4%) |
| Lean toward: non-classical | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Accept: non-classical | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept both | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Skip | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Mental content: internalism or externalism?
| Lean toward: externalism | 55 / 187 (29.4%) |
| Accept: externalism | 42 / 187 (22.5%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 30 / 187 (16.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept: internalism | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept both | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Meta-ethics: moral realism or moral anti-realism?
| Accept: moral realism | 77 / 187 (41.2%) |
| Accept: moral anti-realism | 32 / 187 (17.1%) |
| Lean toward: moral realism | 30 / 187 (16.0%) |
| Lean toward: moral anti-realism | 20 / 187 (10.7%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Metaphilosophy: naturalism or non-naturalism?
| Accept: naturalism | 49 / 187 (26.2%) |
| Lean toward: naturalism | 37 / 187 (19.8%) |
| Accept: non-naturalism | 30 / 187 (16.0%) |
| Lean toward: non-naturalism | 26 / 187 (13.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Mind: physicalism or non-physicalism?
| Accept: physicalism | 60 / 187 (32.1%) |
| Lean toward: physicalism | 40 / 187 (21.4%) |
| Lean toward: non-physicalism | 31 / 187 (16.6%) |
| Accept: non-physicalism | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Reject both | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Moral judgment: cognitivism or non-cognitivism?
| Accept: cognitivism | 112 / 187 (59.9%) |
| Lean toward: cognitivism | 24 / 187 (12.8%) |
| Accept: non-cognitivism | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Lean toward: non-cognitivism | 12 / 187 (6.4%) |
| Accept another alternative | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept both | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Reject both | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Moral motivation: internalism or externalism?
| Accept: internalism | 49 / 187 (26.2%) |
| Accept: externalism | 46 / 187 (24.6%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 35 / 187 (18.7%) |
| Lean toward: externalism | 26 / 187 (13.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Reject both | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Newcomb's problem: one box or two boxes?
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 50 / 187 (26.7%) |
| Accept: two boxes | 34 / 187 (18.2%) |
| Lean toward: two boxes | 24 / 187 (12.8%) |
| Accept: one box | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Lean toward: one box | 17 / 187 (9.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Skip | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Normative ethics: deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics?
| Lean toward: virtue ethics | 27 / 187 (14.4%) |
| Accept: consequentialism | 25 / 187 (13.4%) |
| Lean toward: consequentialism | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| Lean toward: deontology | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept more than one | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept: deontology | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Reject all | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept: virtue ethics | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
Perceptual experience: disjunctivism, qualia theory, representationalism, or sense-datum theory?
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 43 / 187 (23.0%) |
| Lean toward: representationalism | 31 / 187 (16.6%) |
| Lean toward: disjunctivism | 24 / 187 (12.8%) |
| Accept: representationalism | 16 / 187 (8.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Lean toward: qualia theory | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| Accept: disjunctivism | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Accept: qualia theory | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Reject one or two, undecided between others | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Skip | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept more than one | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Lean toward: sense-datum theory | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Other | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept: sense-datum theory | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Reject all | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Personal identity: biological view, psychological view, or further-fact view?
| Lean toward: psychological view | 55 / 187 (29.4%) |
| Accept: psychological view | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Lean toward: biological view | 17 / 187 (9.1%) |
| Lean toward: further-fact view | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept more than one | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept: further-fact view | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Accept: biological view | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Reject all | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Accept another alternative | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
Politics: communitarianism, egalitarianism, or libertarianism?
| Lean toward: egalitarianism | 36 / 187 (19.3%) |
| Accept: egalitarianism | 31 / 187 (16.6%) |
| Lean toward: communitarianism | 19 / 187 (10.2%) |
| Lean toward: libertarianism | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Accept another alternative | 12 / 187 (6.4%) |
| Accept more than one | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 10 / 187 (5.3%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Reject all | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Accept: libertarianism | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept: communitarianism | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Proper names: Fregean or Millian?
| Lean toward: Fregean | 39 / 187 (20.9%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 39 / 187 (20.9%) |
| Lean toward: Millian | 35 / 187 (18.7%) |
| Accept: Millian | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Accept: Fregean | 17 / 187 (9.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 17 / 187 (9.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Skip | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Reject both | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept both | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Science: scientific realism or scientific anti-realism?
| Accept: scientific realism | 73 / 187 (39.0%) |
| Lean toward: scientific realism | 63 / 187 (33.7%) |
| Lean toward: scientific anti-realism | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept: scientific anti-realism | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Skip | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject both | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Teletransporter (new matter): survival or death?
| Lean toward: survival | 45 / 187 (24.1%) |
| Accept: death | 30 / 187 (16.0%) |
| Accept: survival | 29 / 187 (15.5%) |
| Lean toward: death | 28 / 187 (15.0%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 21 / 187 (11.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 12 / 187 (6.4%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 10 / 187 (5.3%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Skip | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Time: A-theory or B-theory?
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 86 / 187 (46.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 23 / 187 (12.3%) |
| Lean toward: B-theory | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Accept: B-theory | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Lean toward: A-theory | 14 / 187 (7.5%) |
| Skip | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Accept: A-theory | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| Accept both | 5 / 187 (2.7%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Trolley problem (five straight ahead, one on side track, turn requires switching, what ought one do?): switch or don't switch?
| Accept: switch | 107 / 187 (57.2%) |
| Lean toward: switch | 40 / 187 (21.4%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| Lean toward: don't switch | 8 / 187 (4.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept: don't switch | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Other | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Truth: correspondence, deflationary, or epistemic?
| Lean toward: correspondence | 53 / 187 (28.3%) |
| Lean toward: deflationary | 43 / 187 (23.0%) |
| Accept: correspondence | 34 / 187 (18.2%) |
| Accept: deflationary | 15 / 187 (8.0%) |
| Lean toward: epistemic | 11 / 187 (5.9%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 10 / 187 (5.3%) |
| Accept more than one | 6 / 187 (3.2%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 4 / 187 (2.1%) |
| Accept: epistemic | 3 / 187 (1.6%) |
| Reject all | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
Zombies: inconceivable, conceivable but not metaphysically possible, or metaphysically possible?
| Lean toward: conceivable but not metaphysically possible | 33 / 187 (17.6%) |
| Accept: metaphysically possible | 27 / 187 (14.4%) |
| Accept: conceivable but not metaphysically possible | 26 / 187 (13.9%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 24 / 187 (12.8%) |
| Lean toward: metaphysically possible | 23 / 187 (12.3%) |
| Lean toward: inconceivable | 18 / 187 (9.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 13 / 187 (7.0%) |
| Accept: inconceivable | 9 / 187 (4.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 7 / 187 (3.7%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 187 (1.1%) |
| Other | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Reject all | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
| Skip | 1 / 187 (0.5%) |
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