Reference no: EM131668104

Please answer the follow questions. Short answer (a few sentence for each questions)

Oral exam 1 metaphysics

1. a. Describe the difference between loose and strict identity. b. Explain how Chisholm uses the distinction to contrast the identity/persistence conditions of objects (like ships) and people. c. Are you convinced by Chisholm that the persistence of people is different than ships? Justify your view.
2. a. Suppose you see a tree with no leaves. Is the tree identical to the wood? Give an argument in favor of the Identity Thesis (i.e., tree=wood). b. Give an argument against the Identity Thesis. c. Which view is stronger? That is, is the tree identical to the wood, or not?
3. a. What is the principle of the Identity of Indiscernibles? b. Give an argument against the law. c. Should the principle be rejected? Why or why not?
4. a. What are the A series and the B series? b. Explain MacTaggart's vicious circle argument against the reality of time.
5. a. Explain what B-Theorists think about the past, present, and future. b. Uttered today 'Obama was elected president' is true and 'Obama will be elected president' is false. Explain the token-reflexive theory of tense and show how it can capture the truth-value difference.
6. a. Explain A-Theory b. What is one objection to A-Theory? c. Do A-Theorists have a good way to respond? Explain and justify your answer.

1. a. Explain the Growing-Block/Growing-Universe Theory b. Explain the argument that almost all tokens of the thought 'I am about to walk outside' are false. c. Is this a good reason to reject Growing-Block/Growing-Universe Theory? Justify.
2. a. Explain the Grandfather Paradox b. Explain Lewis's response to the puzzle (relying on two senses of 'can') c. Is Lewis's response successful in diffusing the paradox? Justify.
3. a. Explain the difference between Presentism and Eternalism b. Give one reason to support each view. c. Which view is superior given your considerations? Justify.