Reference no: EM13862156

Chapter 4:  Be able to define the following:  free will (commonsense view), determinism, the principle of sufficient reason, incompatibilism, hard determinism, indeterminism, libertarianism, and compatibilism. Be able to give the two objections to hard determinism.  Be able to give the main objection to indeterminism.  Be able to give the main objection to compatibilism.  Be able to give the two objections to libertarianism.

Taylor:  Know the two inconsistent beliefs that many of us think are both true.  Know which belief Taylor thinks we cannot abandon and why.

Stace:  Be able to recognize Stace's definition of free will.  Be able to give the two reasons why the punishment of a man is justified according to Stace.

Chisholm:  Be able to explain the difference between event causation and agent causation.  Know where the idea of causation comes from according to Chisholm.

Chapter 5:  Be able to define the following: illusion theory, body theory, soul theory, memory theory, qualitative identity, numerical identity, direct memory, and indirect memory.  Be able to recognize the principle of the indiscernibility of identicals.  Be able to give the main objection to the illusion theory.  Be able to give the two objections to the body theory.  Be able to give the main objection to the soul theory.  Be able to give the two objections to the memory theory.

Perry:  Be able to recognize Perry's two objections to the soul theory.

Dennett: Know the three alternatives where Dennett might be located in his thought experiment.  Know which of the alternatives Dennett believes he is located and why.

Chapter 6:  Be able to define the following, substance dualism, physicalism, logical behaviorism, identity theory, functionalism, semantics, and syntax.  Be able to give the two objections to substance dualism.  Be able to give the two objections to logical behaviorism.  Be able to give the main objection to the identity theory.  Be able to give the two objections to functionalism.  Know the main objection to physicalism.

Foster:  Be able to recognize the definitions of interactionism and epiphenomenalism.  Be able to recognize the names of the three objections to dualism discussed by Foster.

Armstrong:  Be able to give Armstrong's definition of "mental state."  Be able to give Armstrong's response to the objection that his account of mental state fails to explain consciousness.

Lewis:  Know the type of pain that the identity theory can explain and the type of pain that functionalism can explain.  Be able to recognize the definition of a non-rigid concept.

Lecture Notes:  Be able to recognize valid/invalid arguments.  Be able to recognize necessary and sufficient conditions.  Be able to define and recognize the following fallacies:  straw man, begging the question, line-drawing fallacy, domino argument, and equivocation.

Essay Question:

 Please answer the following essay question.  You will be graded on clarity, accuracy, and your ability to critically evaluate the material.  Your essay must be typed, double-spaced, and free of spelling errors.  Your essay should be no longer than two to three pages.  You will only need the textbook and class notes to answer the question.  Students should avoid using any other outside sources.  Any additional sources that contribute to your paper must be cited via footnotes or other references.  You may not use direct quotes.  You are being graded on your understanding of the material, so explain the view of the author in your own words.  *Any student caught plagiarizing will fail the course-see the syllabus.*   Students may email me or visit me during office hours to discuss strategies for completing the essay.  Essays are due before the exam.  Essays must be handed to me in class.  No emailed copies will be accepted. No late papers will be accepted.

 Defend ONE of the following theories:  hard determinism, compatibilism, libertarianism, illusion theory, body theory, soul theory, or memory theory.

Part I: Begin by telling me which theory you plan to defend.  Next explain the problem that the theory attempts to solve.  Use an example to help explain the problem.  Then explain the theory in full detail.  Use another example to show how the theory solves the philosophical problem you discussed earlier.  Finally, give advantages that this theory has over its competitors.

Part II:  Give one possible objection to the theory discussed in Part I.  Be sure to explain the objection in full detail.  Try to use one of the objections discussed in class or come up with a strong objection of your own.  Do not give a straw man objection.  You will be graded on the strength and accuracy of your objection.  Be sure to give an example to help make the objection clear.

Part III:  Defend the theory you presented in Part I against the objection you presented in Part II.  You need to explain either why the objection in Part II is false or why the truth of the objection is not problematic for the theory.  Be sure to explain why the objection fails in full detail.  Be sure to give an example to help make your position clear.