INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY 1000

FINAL EXAM: FALL 2003

December 12, 1.30 pm -3.30 pm (in Eaton 150).

1 Write your TA's name on the front of the blue booklet.

2 Write answers to TWO questions, ONE from section 1 and ONE from section 2.

3 This is a TWO HOUR exam.

4 Each essay should be around 4 pages or 1000 - 1200 words long.

 

SECTION 1: EPISTEMOLOGY

Choose ONE of the following topics and write an essay on it


1. Clearly state the regress argument for skepticism, and critically discuss and evaluate one or two objections to the argument.

2. Clearly state Descartes's method of doubt and the foundation for knowledge he arrives at in the cogito. State and critically discuss one or two objections to Descartes's argument.

3. Clearly state one important argument of Berkeley's for Idealism. State and critically discuss one or two objections to the argument.

4. Clearly state an argument against the possibility of justifying induction, and critically discuss one or two objections to this argument.

5. Clearly state Popper's falsifiability principle and critically evaluate it as a solution to the problems of the rationality of induction and of the rationality of science.

SECTION 2: MORALITY

Choose ONE of the following topics and write an essay on it


1. What, if anything, of significance for morality follows from the fact that different societies and groups endorse different moral rules or standards?

2. What is Psychological Egoism? What implications would the truth of Psychological Egoism have for morality? Clearly state one or two arguments for or against Psychological Egoism, and critically evaluate those arguments.

3. What is Ethical Egoism? Clearly state one or two arguments for or against Ethical Egoism, and critically evaluate those arguments.

4.  Clearly state a version of Utilitarianism. Illustrate the theory with one or two examples. Clearly state one or two apparent counterexamples to the theory and critically evaluate them.

5. Clearly state and motivate a version of the categorical imperative. Show how it can be used to determine what is the morally right thing to do. Clearly state an objection to the categorical imperative and critically evaluate it