Philosophy Exam #3
Be prepared to answer a "what is an apple" type question for each of these philosophers and Aristotle.
Aristotle: an apple is made from is matter and form Locke: We can't touch the apple, only perceive it what we remember Berkeley: Contra Locke, We can perceive everything of the apple
Why does God's foreknowledge pose a problem for the idea of free will?
Because if God knows what we do before we actually do it, is it really free will?
Briefly explain Hume's criticism of memory theory.
Hume's view on memory theory that when you think of something that happened in your life a second time, it's different from when you first thought about it
On your view, what is the most persuasive criticism of the memory theory?
Hume's view on memory theory that when you think of something that happened in your life a second time, it's different from when you first thought about it
How does the principle of sufficient reason pose a problem for the idea of free will?
If everything has a reason or cause then it's a problem for free will because everything you do HAD to have happened because there was a reason for it.
What is a deductively valid argument?
If the premises are true, then the conclusion must be true
What is Descartes' project of radical doubt?
If you have the same soul but it was put into a different body, are you still you? EX: freaky friday
Be able to give examples of the key concepts of free will and determinism from The Minority Report and other presentation films. (and That's So Raven!)
Minority Report Determinism: Precogs because they were able to predict the future Free Will: knowing if you should or should not arrest someone for something they have not done yet
What is libertarianism?
Opposes all government action except that which protects life and property (we do have free will)
According to George Berkeley, what is the really real? Why is his view so strange?
Perceptible qualities and that he believes in Esse es Percipi, that all the things that there are, are objects of knowledge and are capable of being perceived
According to Locke, what are primary qualities? What are secondary qualities? What is the difference between them? Give examples.
Primary qualities are real properties of an object like weight, figure, motion Secondary qualities are properties our mind makes like color, taste, and smell
(The Set-Up) What is Aristotle's view of substance? What are the four causes?
That is is hylomorphic: matter and form 4 causes -Efficient Cause: The thing that made/ produced the substance. -Material Cause: The stuff out of which the substance is made. -Formal Cause: The shape, pattern, the essence. -Final Cause: "That for the sake of which," what substance is for.
What is Descartes's view of substance? What are attributes? Give examples.
That the mind is a thinking, unextended thing. Some attributes of the mind -Memory -Good at math -Knows the parts of the cell
Briefly explain the Schwanda case and be prepared to discuss a possible resolution.
That wanda's brain was put into your body, I think it creates a whole other person
Briefly explain Hume's bundle theory of the self.
That you are not the same person overtime because you only have a perceptive of yourself
What is the body theory of personal identity?
That you are the same person only if you had the same body over time
What is the soul theory (Cartesian dualism) of personal identity?
That you are the same person only if you had the soul over time.
What is Locke's problem with the soul theory of personal identity? (i.e., the "naked substance" problem)
The memory theory -You are only the same person, not because you have the same soul, but because you are the same person as far as your memory extends
What is the hylomorphic account of personal identity?
This particular case would be: Every person is a compound of matter (human body) and form (human soul/mind). So, you are the compound substance of your body and your mind together. Your body and your soul/mind are inseparable if you are to remain what you are.
According to Locke, what is the problem with substances?
We can't touch the "substance,: we can only perceive it through its attributes/properties
What choice does a deductive valid argument present us with?
We must accept the conclusion or argue that one of the premises are false
What is the memory theory of personal identity?
You are the same person as far as your memory extends
What is the one thing that Descartes knows for sure?
You are your mind/soul and you have a body
What is the "problem of forgetting" for the memory theory?
You don't have the same memory overtime, making you a different person
What is a conditional claim? What is a biconditional claim?
conditional claim: If I am the same person over time, then I have the same body over time biconditional claim: If and only if then
What is "solipsism"?
is the view that all a person can really know is that she, herself exists.
What is compatibilism?
the belief that determinism is true and there is free will (we have free will but we will be held for our actions, soft determinism)
What is determinism?
the philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will (we don't have free will)
Give a brief explanation of a possible solution to the problem of forgetting.
writing things down how you remember them?