Intro to Philosophy-CTV
Midterm Review
Lessons 9&10

 

Important Names and terms:

Aquinas, Anselm, Ontological Argument, Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument, William Paley, Pantheism, Monotheism, the Design Argument, Atheism, Agnosticism, Immanuel Kant, Bergson, Aristotle, McTaggart, JJC Smart, Principle of Universal Explanation, Theism, Einstein's Relativity Theory, Flow Theory of Time

 

Essay Topics: You may select one of the following topics for the short essay which will be written during class. As previously announced, you may bring with you to class a 1/2 page of notes, 100 words maximum. your notes are only to apply to the essay and cannot be used for the other sections of the exam. Your notes will be stapled to your exam and turned-in. Be certain to carefully read the topic and answer all parts of the question. Your essay will be graded on how well your answer reflects an understanding of the reading and your ability to carefully present your views and criticisms.

 

Topic #1- Free Will and Determinism

Explain 3 of the philosophic views presented concerning the Free Will issue. Choosing one of these positions, explain the argument and resoning used to defend the view. Explain the consequences of this view for the issue of individual human responsibility. Evaluate the view any possible criticisms of it.

Topic #2- Does God Exist ?

Can God's existence be proven by reason ? Name each of the most important arguments for God's existence. Carefully explain two of the arguments used in the text to demonstrate God's existence by reason. Discuss the strength's and weaknesses of these arguments.

Topic #3- Metaphysics

Explain three of these metaphysical views- Materialism, Pragmatism, Idealism, anti-Realism. Choose any two and compare the two , explaining strengths and weaknesses.

Topic #4- The Nature of the Self

Carefully explain and compare two of the major views presented on the nature of the self. Use each theory to develop criteria which might be used in a hypothetical example of whether or not a person committed and is responsible for a crime.