The exam will be on Wednesday, October 22. You will be asked to answer about 6 of the following questions rather briefly (a half a page). You will be able to consult any of the course texts, but not your notes. Your answers, 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’?
4 What is Socrates’ main argument for thinking that it would be wrong for him to escape from prison?
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? What do you think of his view?
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 does Descartes give for thinking that the mind is distinct from the body? (Explain briefly.)
12 Why does Blackburn think that Cartesian dualism leads to the possibility that other people are Zombies or Mutants? What does he think is the significance of these ‘outlandish possibilities’? (Does he think we should take them seriously, and worry about whether our friends are really Zombies, for example?)
13 Briefly, what is logical behaviorism? Explain at least one problem with this view.
14 Briefly, what is psycho-physical (or mind-brain) identity theory? Explain at least one problem with this view.
15 The so-called ‘hard determinist’ says that, because every event is the product of preceding causes, we should stop thinking of ourselves as free (and as responsible for our actions). How, according to Blackburn, can a ‘compatibilist’ accept the determinist premise; yet avoid the conclusion that free choice is an illusion?
16 In your own words, explain and evaluate the ontological argument for God's existence.
17 What is the ‘argument from design’? Is it any good?
18 In Hume’s Dialogues, Demea puts forward a version of the ‘cosmological argument’. State the argument in plain English and explain why Blackburn thinks it fails.
19 What is the ‘problem of evil’? How far does this problem go towards showing that belief in God is irrational?
20 What is wrong, according to Blackburn, with the ‘free will defense’ to the problem of evil?
21 Why does Hume think it is never reasonable to believe testimony that a miracle has occurred?
I may also ask you to explain what you think about one of these ideas, arguments or theories.