Philosophy Final Exam Review Questions

Philosophy often seems difficult because it focuses on second-order questions. Which of the following is a second-order question raised in our reading from J. P. Sartre?

Can there be a Meaning of Life if God does not exist?

Immanuel Kant

Categorical Imperative

According to Descartes' *Meditation 2*, how do I know anything about things outside my mind (wax, trees, sky, my own hand)?

By the reason or intellect

The following argument is in standard format: 1. If there are fleas in the house, then the dog has fleas. 2. There are no fleas in the house. Thus, 3. The dog does not have fleas.

The conclusion is "The dog does not have fleas."

Thomas Aquinas' version of the Cosmological Argument begins with the premise, "There is an order of efficient causes." What is the evidence offered for this premise?

The senses

What is theism?

There is a God (God exists).

In a dialectic discussion on the existence of God, what easy-to-make logical mistake do both arguments below exemplify? "God exists, for the Bible says so." "God does not exist, because atheism is true."

They beg the question and presuppose the answer to the point at issue. (Does God exist?)

Jeremy Bentham, who was an important influence of J. S. Mill, thought that

a children's game like push-pin (or any other common activity) is as good as poetry (or any high culture activity), provided the quantity of pleasure is the same.

One objection to mind/body dualism (substance dualism) is

conceivability is not a reliable guide to possibility (just because we can imagine a mind without a brain doesn't mean it is possible)

According to hedonism,

happiness (understood as pleasure and avoiding pain) is the highest good

The premises and the conclusion of an argument are

statements

Phenomenal states are

things like sensations, perceptions, and feelings.

Suppose you are given the Standard Form of an argument in Reductio ad absurdum form. What do you know about this argument?

The argument is valid.

The question whether you know that you exist falls under general ontology.

False

Suppose you are given the Standard Format of an argument in Reductio ad absurdum form. What do you know about this argument?

The argument is valid.

Context: Olympic events must be sports. Suppose the point at issue is whether chess is a sport. Which of the following is the best Stipulative Definition for *Sport*?

A competitive activity governed by a well-defined set of rules and involving some physical skill.

Which of the following is a good Essential Definition (genus and difference) for Taco?

A dish consisting of a folded or rolled tortilla stuffed with a filling.

What is a moral principle?

A key premise in a moral argument.

"Slavery essentially involves treating a person as property, and treating a person as property means using their happiness to promote your own. Thus, slavery is always wrong." Which of the following moral principles does the above argument implicitly assume?

Always treat other persons as ends in themselves and never merely as a means to your own ends.

What position is the contradictory to theism? (Two positions are contradictory when exactly one must be true and exactly one must be false.)

Atheism

Suppose someone sitting in her car shoots a stranger who was walking toward her purposely in a poorly-lit parking lot. The stranger was more than 50 feet away but did reasonably seem threatening in the situation after not responding to her warning "I have a gun. Stop walking toward me or I'll shoot." By the IIAPR Principle discussed in class and given just these facts, which condition for morally permissible killing in self-defense does this most likely not meet?

Avoidance

Ethics studies a subset of the Normative Universe. Which of the following statements concern part of the Normative Universe.

Children should not talk with strangers.

What is the Golden Rule?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

"In the Trolley Problem 2 case ('Fat Man'), pushing the large man on the track to stop the train is to will the evil effect (killing the large man) as a means to the intended end (saving the five persons). Thus, a person pushing the large man onto the track would be acting impermissibly." What moral principle does the above argument use to support its conclusion?

Double-Effect

Logic is part of the larger philosophical study of knowledge called

Epistemology

According to Mind-Brain Identity theory, a mind is both an mental substance and a physical substance.

False

According to theism, God exists if you personally believe God exists.

False

All questions about the world fall into at least one of the three main parts of philosophy.

False

Ethics is the study of how to make other people behave better.

False

Foundationalism is the theory that all our basic beliefs are true.

False

If "God exists" is true and you believe that God exists, then you know that God exists.

False

In the Apology, Socrates says that he and only he is truly wise.

False

In the lectures, morality is defined as "the rules government or society imposes on individuals."

False

When evaluating whether an argument is *sound*, focus on whether you believe the conclusion is *true*.

False

When evaluating whether an argument is sound, focus on whether you believe the conclusion is true.

False

Which of the following, if true, is a *sufficient* condition for passing this course?

Having an B average in the course after all grades have been recorded.

How does Plato's account of knowledge importantly differ from the JTB definition defended in the epistemology section of the course?

For Plato, knowledge is not about objects of the senses (i.e., the horse you can see).

J. S. Mill

Hedonistic Utilitarianism

Philosophy often seems difficult because it focuses on second-order questions. Which of the following is a second-order question raised in our reading on God?

How can I justify a belief that God exists or God does not exist?

Philosophy often seems difficult because it focuses on second-order questions. Which of the following is a second-order question raised in our reading from Descartes?

How do I know that I know? (the problem of the criterion)

What conclusion does the wax argument in Descartes' *Meditation 2* aim to show?

I know my mind more clearly and distinctly than anything outside my mind.

One proposed necessary condition for morally justified killing in self-defense is imminence. Logically, what does this mean?

If a killing is not in response to and immediate threat, then it is not morally justified killing in self-defense.

What is the contrapositive of *If you get the job, then you are not a convicted felon*?

If you are a convicted felon, then you will not get the job.

Aristotle holds that virtues are necessary conditions for happiness (human flourishing). In other words,

If you are happy, then you are virtuous.

The famous "I think, I exist," is offered as a self-evidently true statement. What is its importance to the argument of Descartes' *Meditation 2 (if sound)?

It is certain; it is true; it escapes doubts raised by *Meditation 1*; and it is known by reason (intellect) and not by the senses.

The study of philosophy includes Epistemology. What is Epistemology the study of?

Knowledge

The subject of philosophy includes Epistemology. What is Epistemology the study of?

Knowledge

Suppose someone claims that pornography should not be protected by the First Amendment. When asked to clarify, the person define pornography as "any sexually explicit material." Which of the following is a good counterexample testing this definition?

Medical textbooks and sex education textbooks would now count as pornography.

Section 1 of Article Two of the United States Constitution states the eligibility requirements for serving as president of the United States: "No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a resident within the United States. In logic terms, is being at least 35 years old a necessary condition, sufficient condition, both an necessary and sufficient condition, or neither a necessary nor sufficient condition, to be eligible to serve as President?

Necessary

Is submitting all assignments a sufficient condition for earning an A in our philosophy course? In other words, is this statement true: "If you submit all assignments, then you will earn an A in our philosophy course"?

No, it is not a sufficient condition.

Is submitting all graded assignments a *sufficient condition* for earning an A in our philosophy course? In other words, is this statement true: "If you submit all graded assignments, then you will earn an A in our philosophy course"?

No, it is not a sufficient condition.

In the Allegory of the Cave, whom do the prisoners represent?

Non-philosophers

What is the term for the following argument? "God must exist because the very concept of God involves existence."

Ontological

In defending himself at his trial, Socrates assumes several important theses. Which of the following is NOT a Socratic thesis?

Philosophers are more intelligent than ordinary persons.

What is Plato's relationship with Socrates?

Plato wrote an account of Socrates' trial; Plato was a friend and follower of Socrates; Plato served on the jury that convicted Socrates of impiety; Plato's own philosophy begins with defending Socrates thesis about ethics

Suppose Abe and Bob get in a verbal altercation at a theater over Bob's using a cell phone during the movie. After an exchange of increasingly angry words, Bob tosses a container of popcorn at Abe and threatens to punch him. (Bob is younger and far more physically fit than Abe.) Abe, feeling extremely threatened, responds by stabbing Bob with a pocketknife, killing him. By the IIAPR Principle discussed in class and given just these facts, which condition for morally permissible killing in self-defense does this most likely not meet?

Proportionality

The case of Private Ross McGinnis is offered as support for the claim that

Psychological egoism is false; genuine altruism is possible; people can act so that the benefits they receive are less than the value of their action for others; and jumping on grenades is unhealthy.

What is the principle of the non-identity of discernibles?

Small differences between A and B show that A and B are not identical.

The art of presenting statements for investigation and criticism by means of question and answer with the aim of discovering truth, especially moral truths, is called dialectic or

Socratic Merthod

Background: On 2 July 2019, Nike ordered a recall of is July Fourth-themed Air Max 1 sneakers over concerns about it Betsy Ross flag logo. Critics such as Colin Kaepernick claimed the flag us offensive because it glorifies slavery and racism. What premise makes the following into a valid argument? 1. If a symbol is associated with slavery, then it is racist. 2. ?

The Betsy Ross flag is associated with slavery.

According to Plato, what is the answer to the problem of universals: What one thing makes all horses horses?

The Form of the Horse

Background: On 2 July 2019, Nike ordered a recall of is July Fourth-themed Air Max 1 sneakers over concerns about it Betsy Ross flag logo. Critics such as Colin Kaepernick claimed the flag us offensive because it glorifies slavery and racism. Which of the following is a good counterexample against the definition and key premise, "If a symbol is associated with slavery, then it is racist"?

The KKK burned crosses but most people don't regard the cross as a racist symbol.

In the Allegory of the Cave, what represents the 'source of reality,' the Form of the Good?

The Sun

Given the definition of murder from the lecture, which of the following are ground for claiming a killing is not a murder?

The killer did not directly intend the action leading to the killing; the killer had a morally sufficient excuse; the killing was not the killing of a person; and the killing was indirect or accidental.

One proposed necessary condition for morally justified killing in self-defense is reasonableness. What does this mean?

The killing must meet the conditions of innocence, imminence, avoidance, and proportionality in the view of both the person acting and a reasonable person (subjectively and objectively)

Consider the following definition: "A murder is the killing of a person." What is the best criticism of this definition?

Too broad: Some killings of persons are not murders.

Consider the following essential definition: "A ball is a round object used for playing a game." What is the best criticism of this definition?

Too narrow: Some balls, like a football, would not count as balls because they are not round.

Consider the following essential definition: "A ball is a round object used for playing a game." What is the best criticism of this definition?

Too narrow: Some balls, like a football, would not count as balls because they are not round.

One formulation of Kant's Categorical Imperative is

Treat others as ends in themselves and never merely as means to your own ends.

A physical substance (matter) is essentially something occupying space in time or something ultimately explainable in terms of the four fundamental physical forces.

True

According to Plato, a person who has the virtue of wisdom will be happy (if you know and understand the Forms, the you will live well).

True

According to Plato, justice is an intrinsic goods.

True

According to Substance Dualism, a mind is not ultimately a physical substance.

True

An essential definition usually gives both a necessary and a sufficient condition for what the thing is. Example: The essential definition "A human being is a rational animal" means "If something is a human being, then it is both rational and an animal" and "If something is both rational and an animal, then it is a human being."

True

What is an example of a metaphysical question, a topic that falls under the part of philosophy called Metaphysics?

What is real?

An objection to the Teleological Argument questions how the apparent design of the universe supports the existence of a good and perfect God (the problem of God's attributes).

True

Cogito ergo sum means "I think, therefore I exist."

True

Consciousness includes "how things seem to you."

True

If Deontology is a true moral theory, then Virtue theory must be false.

True

If Functionalism is true, then the mind is not a mental substance.

True

If Naturalism is true, then Theism is false.

True

If Substance Dualism is true, the "Every physical event has a physical cause" must be false.

True

If knowledge is justified true belief, then a false belief is not knowledge.

True

In an argument, the statement for which reasons are offered is the *conclusion*.

True

In an argument, the statement for which reasons are offered is the conclusion.

True

Radical Skepticism is the theory that knowledge is impossible.

True

Some moral principles are false.

True

The Normative Universe is our course term for the nonphysical world as studied by ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy (and sometimes by sciences such as psychology and sociology).

True

The Theory of Forms is Plato's answer to the problem of reality and appearance.

True

The fallacy of equivocation involves using a term in more than one meaning within an argument.

True

The notes explained doing philosophy as an activity specially concerned with second-order questions.

True

Thomas Aquinas' Fifth Way, because it refers to a Final Cause for the universe, is an example of a teleological argument for the existence of God.

True

When evaluating an argument, focus on the premises and the logical form.

True

In the Allegory of the Cave, how is education defined?

Turning the soul toward the Forms and the Form of the Good

In the theater of the mind, the puzzle is

What is the true nature of the projector?

What second-order metaphysical question needs be answered in order to connect murder to the moral permissibility of elective abortion?

What is a person?

In a famous paradox from the Apology, Socrates says that wisdom consists in knowing you are not wise. Which of the following best paraphrases Socrates' statement, according to the notes?

Wisdom is second-order knowledge prompting both intellectual humility and intellectual inquiry, especially about living well or Happiness.

Suppose a film critic reasons as follows: "Since *Inception* has an ending open to several plausible but inconsistent interpretations, it is not a good film." In standard format, the argument looks like thus: 1. If a film has an ending open to several plausible but inconsistent interpretations, then it is not a good film. 2. *Inception* has and ending open to several plausible but inconsistent interpretations. Thus, 3. *Inception* is not a good film. From the standpoint of logic, what kind of statement is "*Inception* is not a good film"?

conclusion

The Principle of Equal Treatment implies that

ethical egoism is just a form of prejudicial discrimination

The normative universe is populated by

every sort of duty, right, obligation and permissibility, moral and otherwise

Utilitarianism is an agent-neutral moral theory, which means that

everyone has the same duties and aims, no matter what their personal interests or interpersonal relationships.

One objection to utilitarianism is that

it isn't practical, since we can't predict all the outcomes of our actions; it is too invasive, since it means every minor action has moral weight; there are no supererogatory actions, since there is no good action that is greater than what duty requires

If Sue Barry is right that she did not know what stereoptic (3D) vision really was like until she learned to focus both eyes on the same point in space, then

knowing all the objective facts about the brain and visual processing does not include knowing what stereoptic vision is like.

According to the mind-brain identity theory,

mental events are identical with neural events.

Mill argued that in addition to maximizing the quantity of pleasures, utilitarians should also be concerned with

promoting higher *quality* pleasures

Metaphysics is

the theory of reality: the area of philosophy including questions about being, existence, causality, space and time.

According to Kant, the principle of action "act selfishly" violates the Categorical Imperative because

you couldn't consistently will it universally--you expect others ought to help you in time of need and others acting according to this principle ought not help, which is inconsistent

According to the argument of the radical skeptic,

you know nothing about a world outside of your mind.

The Evil Demon Hypothesis from *Meditation 1* (as well as the *Matrix* and *Inception* thought experiments) aims to show that

you know nothing about a world outside of your mind.