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 10:00am on Wednesday, May 12.
1.
In
your own words, explain and evaluate the ontological argument for God's
existence.
2.
What
is the ‘argument from design’? Is it any
good?
3.
State
the cosmological argument in plain English and explain why
4.
What
is the ‘problem of evil’? How far does
this problem go towards showing that belief in God is unreasonable?
5.
What
is wrong, according to
6.
Why
does Hume think it is never reasonable to believe testimony that a miracle has
occurred?
7.
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?
8.
Why
does Aristotle think that ‘some are born to rule and others to be ruled’?
9.
What
reasons do Burke and Hayek give for thinking that the inheritance of unequal
wealth is a good thing?
10.
In
what sense are people naturally equal, according to Hobbes?
11.
Why
does Hobbes think that the state of nature would be a ‘war of all against all’?
12.
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?
13.
How
does Locke justify the institution of private property (and a very unequal
distribution of property)?
14.
How
and why does Locke think that the power of governments must be limited?
15.
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?
16.
How
does Rawls argue that justice requires a ‘welfare state’(a
‘social safety net’ or guaranteed minimum income)?
17.
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?
18.
According
to Tawney, those who say that liberty and equality are incompatible are wrong.
19.
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.
20.
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.
21.
Nancy
Fraser argues that genuine equality for women requires changes in the ‘welfare
state.’ Explain and critically discuss.
22.
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.