The PhilPapers SurveysPreliminary Survey results (Back to contents)
A priori knowledge: yes or no?
| Accept: yes | 21 / 61 (34.4%) |
| Lean toward: no | 12 / 61 (19.7%) |
| Lean toward: yes | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept: no | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Abstract objects: Platonism or nominalism?
| Lean toward: nominalism | 16 / 61 (26.2%) |
| Lean toward: Platonism | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Accept: nominalism | 9 / 61 (14.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Reject both | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Accept: Platonism | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Aesthetic value: objective or subjective?
| Accept: subjective | 18 / 61 (29.5%) |
| Lean toward: objective | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Lean toward: subjective | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Accept: objective | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes or no?
| Lean toward: yes | 16 / 61 (26.2%) |
| Accept: yes | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Lean toward: no | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Accept: no | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Epistemic justification: internalism or externalism?
| Lean toward: externalism | 16 / 61 (26.2%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept both | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Accept: externalism | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: internalism | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
External world: idealism, skepticism, or non-skeptical realism?
| Accept: non-skeptical realism | 37 / 61 (60.7%) |
| Lean toward: non-skeptical realism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Lean toward: skepticism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: skepticism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: idealism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject all | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: idealism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Free will: compatibilism, libertarianism, or no free will?
| Accept: compatibilism | 23 / 61 (37.7%) |
| Lean toward: compatibilism | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Accept: no free will | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: no free will | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept: libertarianism | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Lean toward: libertarianism | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
God: theism or atheism?
| Accept: atheism | 40 / 61 (65.6%) |
| Lean toward: atheism | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Reject both | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: theism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: theism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Knowledge claims: contextualism, relativism, or invariantism?
| Lean toward: contextualism | 17 / 61 (27.9%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept: contextualism | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Lean toward: invariantism | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: invariantism | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Skip | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Lean toward: relativism | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: relativism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Knowledge: empiricism or rationalism?
| Lean toward: empiricism | 20 / 61 (32.8%) |
| Accept: empiricism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Lean toward: rationalism | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept both | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: rationalism | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Skip | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Laws of nature: Humean or non-Humean?
| Accept: non-Humean | 23 / 61 (37.7%) |
| Lean toward: Humean | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Lean toward: non-Humean | 9 / 61 (14.8%) |
| Accept: Humean | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Other | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Logic: classical or non-classical?
| Accept: classical | 21 / 61 (34.4%) |
| Lean toward: classical | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Accept: non-classical | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept both | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Lean toward: non-classical | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Mental content: internalism or externalism?
| Lean toward: externalism | 17 / 61 (27.9%) |
| Accept: externalism | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: internalism | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept both | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Other | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Meta-ethics: moral realism or moral anti-realism?
| Lean toward: moral anti-realism | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Accept: moral realism | 12 / 61 (19.7%) |
| Lean toward: moral realism | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Accept: moral anti-realism | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Metaphilosophy: naturalism or non-naturalism?
| Accept: naturalism | 26 / 61 (42.6%) |
| Lean toward: naturalism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Accept: non-naturalism | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: non-naturalism | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Mind: physicalism or non-physicalism?
| Accept: physicalism | 33 / 61 (54.1%) |
| Lean toward: physicalism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Accept: non-physicalism | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: non-physicalism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Moral judgment: cognitivism or non-cognitivism?
| Lean toward: non-cognitivism | 15 / 61 (24.6%) |
| Lean toward: cognitivism | 15 / 61 (24.6%) |
| Accept: cognitivism | 13 / 61 (21.3%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept: non-cognitivism | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Moral motivation: internalism or externalism?
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 18 / 61 (29.5%) |
| Lean toward: internalism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Lean toward: externalism | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Skip | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept: externalism | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept: internalism | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Newcomb's problem: one box or two boxes?
| Agnostic/undecided | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Accept: two boxes | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Lean toward: one box | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Lean toward: two boxes | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Accept: one box | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Reject both | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Normative ethics: deontology, consequentialism, or virtue ethics?
| Lean toward: consequentialism | 15 / 61 (24.6%) |
| Accept: consequentialism | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Lean toward: deontology | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Lean toward: virtue ethics | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept: deontology | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept: virtue ethics | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject all | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept more than one | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Perceptual experience: disjunctivism, qualia theory, representationalism, or sense-datum theory?
| Lean toward: representationalism | 15 / 61 (24.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 9 / 61 (14.8%) |
| Accept: representationalism | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Lean toward: qualia theory | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept another alternative | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Reject one or two, undecided between others | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept: disjunctivism | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: qualia theory | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: sense-datum theory | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: sense-datum theory | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Personal identity: biological view, psychological view, or further-fact view?
| Accept: psychological view | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Lean toward: psychological view | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: biological view | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept: biological view | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept another alternative | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: further-fact view | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Reject all | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Lean toward: further-fact view | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept more than one | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Politics: communitarianism, egalitarianism, or libertarianism?
| Lean toward: egalitarianism | 12 / 61 (19.7%) |
| Lean toward: libertarianism | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Lean toward: communitarianism | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Accept: egalitarianism | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Skip | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept more than one | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject all | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Proper names: Fregean or Millian?
| Lean toward: Fregean | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Lean toward: Millian | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept: Fregean | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept: Millian | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Science: scientific realism or scientific anti-realism?
| Accept: scientific realism | 32 / 61 (52.5%) |
| Lean toward: scientific realism | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Lean toward: scientific anti-realism | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept another alternative | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept: scientific anti-realism | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Teletransporter (new matter): survival or death?
| Lean toward: survival | 12 / 61 (19.7%) |
| Accept: survival | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept: death | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Lean toward: death | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Skip | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Time: A-theory or B-theory?
| Accept: B-theory | 25 / 61 (41.0%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: B-theory | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: A-theory | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept another alternative | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept: A-theory | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept an intermediate view | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Trolley problem (five straight ahead, one on side track, turn requires switching, what ought one do?): switch or don't switch?
| Accept: switch | 24 / 61 (39.3%) |
| Lean toward: switch | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Skip | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Reject both | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Truth: correspondence, deflationary, or epistemic?
| Accept: correspondence | 19 / 61 (31.1%) |
| Lean toward: deflationary | 14 / 61 (23.0%) |
| Lean toward: correspondence | 11 / 61 (18.0%) |
| Accept: deflationary | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| Accept: epistemic | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Reject one, undecided between others | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Lean toward: epistemic | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
Zombies: inconceivable, conceivable but not metaphysically possible, or metaphysically possible?
| Lean toward: conceivable but not metaphysically possible | 10 / 61 (16.4%) |
| Accept: inconceivable | 9 / 61 (14.8%) |
| The question is too unclear to answer | 8 / 61 (13.1%) |
| Accept: conceivable but not metaphysically possible | 7 / 61 (11.5%) |
| Agnostic/undecided | 6 / 61 (9.8%) |
| Insufficiently familiar with the issue | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: inconceivable | 5 / 61 (8.2%) |
| Lean toward: metaphysically possible | 4 / 61 (6.6%) |
| There is no fact of the matter | 3 / 61 (4.9%) |
| Accept: metaphysically possible | 2 / 61 (3.3%) |
| Accept another alternative | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
| Other | 1 / 61 (1.6%) |
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