Study Questions for First Exam



HU2700: Study Questions for First Exam

I. Define, Explain, Describe, Identify  

|analysis |continuity of the |holiness |neutral monism |

|(of an argument) |body |hypothetical |no-self view |

|antecedent |Crito |statement |parallelism |

|Apology |deductive |idealism |personal identity pineal |

|argument |Descartes, Rene |identity theory inductive |gland |

|autonomy |determinism |interactionism |Plato |

|behaviorism Berkeley, George |dualism |libertarianism |pre-Socratics |

|body |eliminative |Locke, John |premise |

|Buddhism |materialism |logic |reductionism |

|bundle of |disjunctive |materialism |Republic |

|perceptions categorical |statement |memory |self |

|statement |epistemology |metaphysics |Socrates |

|cave, parable of the |ethics |mind |sound argument |

|compatibilism conclusion |Euthyphro |mind-body problem |Turing test |

|consciousness consequent |evaluation (of an |monism |"unexamined life" |

| |argument) functionalism | |valid |

II. Discussion

1. What is the main point of Plato's "Myth of the Cave"? What is represented by the cave, the prisoners, the chains that restrict their movements, the fire, and the sun? What is Plato saying about true knowledge and the conditions under which most people live their lives?

2. According to John Searle, "The scientist will ask, ‘What is the cause of cancer?' The philosopher will ask, ‘What's a cause? What is it for something to be a cause?'" What is Searle saying about the differences between scientific and philosophical questions?

3. In Plato's dialogue Euthyphro, Euthyphro first responds to Socrates's question ‘What is holiness?' by giving examples of holy acts. Socrates replies that Euthyphro has not really answered the question that Socrates is asking. Why does Socrates regard Euthyphro's response to his question as inadequate? What sort of answer is Socrates looking for?

4. In The Apology, Socrates says "the unexamined life is not worth living." Explain how this statement arose in the context of his trial before the Athenian court. What was Socrates being accused of? In what way was his statement intended to be a defense of his actions?

5. What are the differences between deductive and inductive arguments? Give an example of each. Explain why each example represents its type.

6. Can a valid argument be unsound? If so, give an example. Can a sound argument be invalid? If so, give an example.

7. Can a valid argument have a false premise? If so, give an example. Can an invalid argument have a true conclusion? If so, give an example.

8. Can an argument with a false conclusion be sound? If so, give an example. Can an argument with a true conclusion be unsound? If so, give an example.

9. What is materialism? State one of the main arguments for materialism? State one of the main arguments against materialism? What is idealism? What is Berkeley’s argument for idealism? How does Berkeley account for the continued existence of “ordinary objects” when we (human beings) are not perceiving them?

10. Compare and contrast determinism, libertarianism, and compatibilism. What arguments do determinists, libertarians, and compatibilists give in support of their respective positions? What are the main arguments against the three views?

11. What is the mind-body problem? What is dualism? What is Descartes's view about interaction between minds and bodies? State one of the arguments against that view?

12. What is the identity theory of the mind? What are the main arguments for and against that theory?

13. What is the Turing test? What is it a test for? What is Searle's argument against the Turing test?

14. What is the problem of personal identity? What are the main views about the self? What are the main arguments for and against each of those views?

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