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PHIL1301 Midterm Coverage

I.

Short-answer questions: Of the 8 questions given, you are only going to answer 4 of
them. However be sure to answer the first question (letter a), and after which you
can choose 3 more from the remaining questions.

a) A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft. Read pages 521-527.


Give at least two important points from Mary Wollstonecrafts work and explain. Do you
agree with these points? Do you think that the social issues that she raised are still
relevant up to this moment? For what reasons?
b) Analyzing Descartes Radical Doubt. Descartes contends that before one has
believed in something, he or she must have validated first its authenticity through
doubt. Identify a belief or value that you called into question. Was there a particular
event or experience that stimulated this process of doubt and examination? What
was the outcome of your reflective questioning?
c) Analyzing Bishop Berkeleys Subjective Idealism and Empiricism. Explain Berkeleys
contention: Esse est percipi. What is your reaction to his claim? Are you comfortable
believing in his philosophy? If you are, for what logical reasons? If you are not, how
would you refute his ideas? Be logical, as much as possible, in presenting your
arguments.
d) Analyzing Humes Case for Skepticism. Do you agree with Hume that appealing to Gods
existence in order to support the belief that there is an external world (as espoused by
Locke and Berkeley) amounts to philosophical hypocrisy? Why or why not? Moreover,
Hume also believes that all metaphysical beliefs (that is, any belief not based on direct
sense experience) should be committed to the flames because it cannot be empirically
justified. This includes all beliefs about God, human freedom, universal moral laws, etc.
Do you agree with Hume? If not, explain how would you rebut his arguments?
e) Functionalism & Behaviorism. Functionalists believe that operations of the mind are just
brain activities that can possibly be determined and measured. On the other hand,
behaviorists claim that human beings can be measured experimentally. Are there any
human characteristics that contradict this claim? What human qualities, do you think,
that cant be measured? Explain. Behaviorists also argue that techniques and
engineering practices can be used to shape behavior so that people will function
harmoniously for everyones benefit. What possible questions would you raise about
such a proposal? Explain.
f) Your own epistemology. Where do you think does our knowledge of things come from?
Do you believe more in the ideas of the rationalists (Plato, Descartes) or the empiricists
(Aristotle, Locke, Berkeley, etc.)? Or possibly Kants transcendental idealism (a
synthesis of both epistemologies)? For what compelling reasons? Give some specific
examples or illustrations to support your contention.

g) Kants transcendental idealism. Kant believes that the following transcendental ideas
are necessary to explain our experience of the universe: self, the cosmos (the
universe) and God. Considering each of these ideas, analyze each of them as to
whether or not you agree that the idea is required to explain the way we experience the
world. For what compelling reasons?
h) On the mortality and immortality of the soul. Explain Platos immortality of the soul by
contrasting it with Aristotles. Which metaphysical idea, do you think, is more
convincing? For what reasons?
II. Guide questions for multiple choice:
1) Know the meanings of the following:
a) Idealism
b) Materialism
c) Functionalism
d) Eliminativism
e) Impressions and ideas
f) Hard behaviorism
g) Soft behaviorism
h) Direct realism

e) Simple impression and complex impressions


f) Simple idea and complex ideas
g) Aristotles matter and form
h) Aristotles four causes
i) Atheism
j) Agnosticism
k) Representationalism
l) Transcendental idealism

2) Contrast Humes relations of ideas/a priori/rationalist proposition from matters of fact/a


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posteriori/empiricist proposition.
What does the categories of understanding mean in Immanuel Kants epistemology?
Reasons why Descartes is considered as the father of modern philosophy.
Descartess dualism: res cogitans & res extensa: their meanings and characteristics.
Contrast direct realism from representationalism.
Contrast the principle of identity from the principle of causality
Things that Rene Descartes doubted. His reasons why he doubted them.
Descartes rationalist argument for Gods existence.
What is it that which Descartes is sure of in the end? Why?
Contrast the rationalists innate theory of knowledge from the empiricists tabula rasa
theory of knowledge.
Contrast John Lockes primary from secondary qualities.
Explain Descartes Cogito ergo sum.
Explain Berkeleys Esse est percipi.
Contrast Aristotles concept of substance from Lockes.
Berkeleys major concerns.
Differences between Aristotles and Platos concepts of reality and of epistemology.
Differences between Lockes and Berkeleys metaphysics.
Aristotles 3 types of souls and their characteristics.
Aristotles hierarchy of beings/things.
Familiarize Aristotles Categories of beings (Substance & Accidents).

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