PHILOS 101 Introduction to Philosophy

Format: The same formae.g. multiple-choice, short-answers, essays, etc. Again, please remember to bring a Scantron and a Blue Test booklet.

The test will consist of multiple-choice, definitions, short-answers, and essays. You will have entire class period in which to complete the test. Please note that per COC policy the test will be given during our normal class meeting time.

Questions about political philosophy:

What is the difference between a negative right and a positive right? What are some examples of negative and positive rights that exist in contemporary American society?

What are the different forms of government?

What form of government does Hobbes advocate?

What are his three laws of nature?

What is a social contract?

What is the Ring of Gyges story? Who wrote it? What is it supposed to show about politics?

What is the Leviathan?

What are some problems with Hobbes' view?

How does Locke's view of government differ from Hobbes'?

How does Locke view property?

What are Locke's views on revolution?

What is Nozick's point about Wilt Chamberlain?

How would Marx and Engels respond to Locke or Nozick?

What is communism?

What is exploitation?  Why does Marx think workers are exploited by owners?  How does this claim relate to his concept of surplus value?

What are some problems with Marx's views?
 

Questions about existentialism:

Explain what existentialism is with reference to the following: alienation, death, the absurd, existence precedes essence, the other, bad faith.

Who wrote the diary? (This question is more difficult to answer than it might at first seem.)

What is the aesthetic? How does Johannes exemplify this sphere?

What is the ethical? How does the ethical differ from the aesthetic and the religious? What does it mean to “choose oneself in despair”? With which pseudonym is the ethical most closely associated?

What is the religious? With what biblical figure is this sphere most closely associated? Fear and Trembling is attributed to Johannes de Silentio. What is the significance of this name?

In what sense is the religious absurd?

What sphere did Kierkegaard personally believe was the best? Why?

Who are the characters in No Exit? What are their individual backgrounds? Their likes and dislikes? Their motives and interests?

Where is the play set? Why did Sartre set the play in this location?

Why is the play called No Exit? Why do none of the characters leave the room when given the chance? In what sense are they “inseparables”?

Why are there no mirrors or reflective surfaces in the room?

What does the bronze statue on the mantelpiece likely represent?

How do the characters in the play illustrate Sartre’s claim that we are condemned to be free? What does this expression mean?

The material below will cover the remaining points on the exam:

Questions about the general nature of philosophy and Socrates:

What does the word philosophy literally mean? What are the different branches of philosophy? Describe the person of Socrates. How does he differ from Euthyphro? What is learned ignorance? What did the Oracle say about Socrates? What is an apology? How does Socrates respond to Meletus? What were the charges against Socrates?

Questions about epistemology:

Why must knowledge be certain, according to Descartes?

What is the evil genius?

What evidence is there that the senses deceive us?

What is the difference between a matter of fact and a relation of ideas?

What is the problem of induction?

Explain why Descartes thinks he exists.

What is the difference between empiricism and rationalism? What is a tabula rasa? What is an innate idea? an adventitious idea? a composite idea? What does the wax experiment show about knowledge, according to Descartes?

Why does Descartes think God must exist?

What are impressions? How do they differ from ideas?

What is a tabula rasa?

What are relations of idea?

What are matters of fact?

What is the problem of induction?

Questions about metaphysics:

Free Will

What do the following terms mean:  determinism, incompatibilism, compatibilism, indeterminism?

What does Hospers say about the criminal?  Why does Hospers think free will is an illusion?  What does he think would need to exist in order for us to make free choices?

What is the connection between free will and moral responsibility?  Can we be morally responsible if we are not free to choose?

How does Stace's compatibilism attempt to redefine free will?  What criterion does Stace introduce to show that determinism is compatible with free will?  Why does Stace think free will couldn't exist if our choices were not determined?

What is the Chicken Sandwich thought experiment? 

How does James' evaluate compatibilism (soft determinism)?  Does he think it is a convincing theory?  Why or why not?

What is a dilemma?  In what sense is determinism a dilemma for James?

What is the Oxford/Divinity St. thought experiment?  What point about free will is it meant to illustrate?

What are judgments of regret?  How does James connect regret with free will?

Why does James think indeterminism is a better theory than determinism?

What is pragmatism?  How is James' evaluation of free will pragmatic?

Be prepared to discuss criticisms of Hospers', Stace's, and James' arguments.