HU2700: Study Questions for First Exam
I. Define, Explain, Describe, Identify
analysis
(of an argument)
antecedent
Apology
argument
autonomy
behaviorism
Berkeley, George
body
Buddhism
bundle of
perceptions
categorical statement
cave, parable of the
compatibilism
conclusion
consciousness
consequent
continuity of the
body
Crito
deductive
Descartes, Rene
determinism
dualism
eliminative
materialism
disjunctive
statement
epistemology
ethics
Euthyphro
evaluation (of an
argument)
functionalism
holiness
hypothetical
statement
idealism
identity theory
inductive
interactionism
libertarianism
Locke, John
logic
materialism
memory
metaphysics
mind
mind-body problem
monism
neutral monism
no-self view
parallelism
personal identity
pineal gland
Plato
pre-Socratics
premise
reductionism
Republic
self
Socrates
sound argument
Turing test
"unexamined life"
valid
II. Discussion
1.
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6.
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?
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?
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?
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?
What are the differences between deductive and inductive arguments? Give an
example of each. Explain why each example represents its type.
Can a valid argument be unsound? If so, give an example. Can a sound argument be
invalid? If so, give an example.
7.
8.
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11.
12.
13.
14.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
What is the identity theory of the mind? What are the main arguments for and
against that theory?
What is the Turing test? What is it a test for? What is Searle's argument against the
Turing test?
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?