Philosophy of Love (Fall 2009) - Final Exam

Philosophy of Love - Final Exam (F09)

Answer four (4) questions. All key terms, theories, and named objections must be explained. You have 1,800 words.

Please do not answer any option that is closely related to the topic of your final paper.

Answer one question from 1-2. (Reasons)

1. Explain the Problem of Requests for Justification for the no-reasons view of love. (Explain the no-reasons view of love. How does it differ from the reasons view? What kinds of reasons are we talking about. Then present the problem as convincingly as you can.)

2. Explain the Problem of Projection (aka. the Fallacy of the Knight of the Mirrors) for the reasons view of love. (Explain the reasons view. What kinds of reasons are we talking about. You might want to use Keller's position as an example. Then present the problem as convincingly as you can.)

Answer one question from 4-5. (Trading Up)

4. Explain Keller's response to the Problem of Trading Up. (Briefly explain the reasons view of love. Present the Problem of Trading Up. Then explain Keller's response.)

5. Explain Solomon's response to the Problem of Trading Up. (Briefly explain the reasons view of love. Present the Problem of Trading Up. Then explain Solomon's response.)

Answer one question from 6-7. (Persons or Properties)

6. Explain the Problem of Property Change for Kraut's theory of love de re. (Explain love de re. How does it differ from love de dicto? What is the notion of love de re meant to account for. You'll have to discuss the causal and descriptive theories of reference. Then present the problem.)

7. Explain Grau's answer to the Pascal's worry that we can't make sense of what it is to love a person. According to Grau, what is it that we love when we love a person? How does this differ from loving their properties? (Explain why one might think that we love people and not properties. What is it to love properties? Explain the distinction that we trying to track? Then explain Pascal's worry. Finally, present Grau's reply. You'll have to explain the type/token distinction.)

Answer one question from 7-8. (Potions)

8. Would Schopenhauer think that there is any important difference between love formed through a potion and love formed through normal processes? Why or why not?

9. What about Solomon?

Note: In order to evaluate a theory, you must first explain the theory. When explaining a counter-example to a definition, you need to specify whether the example shows that a proposed condition is not necessary, not sufficient, or neither. If you are evaluating an argument, you need to build up the argument and then show where it might go wrong. To build up an argument, you must do more than merely offer a formalization. You must explain the argument. Typically, showing where an argument goes wrong will require arguing that one of the premises is false. Be sure to consider obvious, compelling replies to your objections. If you think an argument is good, then you will need to defend it against the strongest objections that you can think of.

Note: Keep quotations to an absolute minimum. For the most part, I'm interested in positions and arguments not a particular person's formulation. Only use quotations to provide evidence of what someone thinks. Since I don't want interpretive papers, you won't need to do much of this. Most importantly, never use quotes to speak for you. All quotes must be glossed.

Due Date

12/18/2009 (Friday)

Length

The exam should be in total no more than 1,800 words. This is approximately 6 pages double-spaced with Arial 12 point font.

Format

The paper must be typed. It should be double spaced. It should have one inch margins. You should use a 12 point font. I prefer Arial, since it is easy to read. Please follow the general paper and exam instructions under the "course documents / writing" section on Blackboard.

Procedure

I do not need a hard copy. You must submit the paper through Safe Assign via Blackboard by 11:59 pm on the due date. Safe Assign is a plagiarism detection tool. It will compare your paper against others available online, in journals, submitted in this class, Temple, and from all other universities that use the software.

Note: Plagiarism will result in a failing grade in the class, not just on this assignment.

Grading:

Your paper should be clearly written, well-structured, and free of grammatical and spelling errors. It is practically impossible to get higher than a C if you start writing the night before the paper is due. The grading scale is as follows:

A = excellent

B = good

C = meets minimal expectations

D = bad

F = awful