The exam will be on Friday, October 22. About ten of the following questions will be presented to you as multiple choice questions. You will be asked to answer several other questions with brief essays (a half of a page each). You will be able to consult any of the course texts, but not your notes. Your answers to the essay questions, though, should be in your own words, using only brief quotations from the texts, if any.
1 How does Socrates argue that death is probably a blessing? Is he right?
2 Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living for a man.” Simon Blackburn gives three reasons why philosophical reflection (examination) is worthwhile. What are those reasons? How good are they?
3 Why does Socrates reject Euthyphro’s definition of ‘piety’ as ‘what is loved by all the gods’? What broader significance does his point have?
4 What is Socrates’ main argument for thinking that it would be wrong for him to escape from prison? Is it a good argument?
5 What reasons does Descartes give (in Meditation One) for doubting his former beliefs? Which of these reasons leads him to doubt even his knowledge of simple arithmetic? Do you think the reasons Descartes gives are, as he says, “valid and considered reasons” that really do show that none of our ordinary beliefs is certain?
6 On what basis does Descartes claim that he can be absolutely sure that he exists?
7 What does Descartes think that he essentially is?
8 What rule does Descartes find (in Meditation Three) to guide his search for truth? What do you think of this rule?
9 Why does Descartes claim that all of our knowledge depends on our knowledge of God and on our knowing that God is not a deceiver?
10 In your own words, explain and evaluate the causal argument for God's existence that Descartes gives in Meditation Three (Blackburn calls it ‘the trademark argument’.).
11 What reasons do Burke and Hayek give for thinking that the inheritance of unequal wealth is a good thing?
12 In what sense are people naturally equal, according to Hobbes? Do you agree?
13 Why does Hobbes think that the state of nature would be a ‘war of all against all’?
14 What rights does Locke think we have in ‘the state of nature’? Which of these do we give up and which do we retain when we enter ‘civil society’ and agree to establish government?
15 How does Locke justify the institution of private property (and a very unequal distribution of property)? How good is his justification?
16 How and why does Locke think that the power of governments must be limited?
17 Tawney says that the kind of equality of opportunity that is present in a capitalist society is insufficient. Explain and discuss critically at least one of his reasons for thinking so.
18 Hayek says that the only kind of equality that is compatible with liberty is ‘equality before the law.’ He specifically rejects equality of opportunity, saying it would undermine liberty. How so? What do you think?
19 Why does Rawls think that we should imagine that people are choosing principles of justice behind a ‘veil of ignorance’? Do you think he is right to argue that a decision made ‘behind the veil’ is more fair than one made with full knowledge?
20 How does Nozick use his Wilt Chamberlain example to argue for his entitlement theory of justice? What do you think of his view?