Possible Exam Questions for General Philosophy Final

 

Note: The format and rules for the final exam will be the same as for the midterm exam.  The exam will be in our regular classroom at 2:45 on Tuesday, December 18.

 

1.      How does Blackburn think we can see the conception of the self as a separate ‘something’ that could survive the death of the body as arising from ‘delusions of imagination’?

2.      In your own words, explain and evaluate the ontological argument for God's existence.

3.      What is the ‘argument from design’?  Is it any good?

4.      State the cosmological argument in plain English and explain why Blackburn thinks it fails.

5.      What is the ‘problem of evil’?  How far does this problem go towards showing that belief in God is unreasonable?

6.      What is wrong, according to Blackburn, with the ‘free will defense’ to the problem of evil?

7.      Why does Hume think it is never reasonable to believe testimony that a miracle has occurred?

8.      D.Z. Phillips offers us an interpretation of the Christian doctrine of immortality that does not depend on Cartesian Dualism.  What is ‘eternal life’ as he understands it?

9.      What reasons can be given for and against the idea that religious beliefs can be justified by faith and do not need to be supported by proof or evidence?

10.  Why does Aristotle think that ‘some are born to rule and others to be ruled’? 

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? 

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)? 

16.  How and why does Locke think that the power of governments must be limited?

17.  According to Tawney, those who say that liberty and equality are incompatible are wrong. Liberty requires (some kinds of) equality.  This is connected to his observation that power can be economic as well as political, and that either sort of power can be abused.  Explain.

18.   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.

19.  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? 

20.  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?

21.  How does Rawls argue that justice requires a ‘welfare state’(a ‘social safety net’ or guaranteed minimum income)?

22.  We read several writers (Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau) who claimed that women were and should be different from men, and that those differences justified different and unequal social roles for women. Explain and critically discuss one or more of their arguments.

23.  Nancy Fraser argues that genuine equality for women requires changes in the ‘welfare state.’  Explain and critically discuss.

24.  Bhikhu Parekh argues that the ideal of equality requires us to recognize and honor cultural differences as well as the ways that people are the same.  Explain.

 

I may also ask you to explain what you think about one of these ideas, arguments or theories.