Philosophy 101 - Midterm Study Guide
Short Answer:
1. Briefly explain the trial of Socrates. What are the main ideas presented by Socrates? Do you agree or disagree with these ideas?
2. What is Descartes' argument from doubt? What is he trying to prove? Is he successful? Why or why not?
3. Discuss the differences between rationalism and empiricism. Which theory of knowledge makes a better case and why?
4. Explain a Gettier style thought experiment. What is Gettier trying to show?
5. Imagine that hard determinism is true. How should our legal and penal systems be changed? How should religious institutions be altered?
6. Explain the argument in favor of hard determinism. What are the objections to each premise? Are those objections successful?
7. Describe the main theories of the self? Which theory is more successful and why?
Short Short Answer:
1. What is epistemology?
2. What is metaphysics?
3. What is a thought experiment? Give a brief example.
4. According to Kant, what is enlightenment?
5. What is the Socratic method?
6. How is “knowledge” traditionally defined?
7. Give one example of a universal belief falsifier.
8. What is magical thinking?
9. What is the placebo effect?
10. What is the difference between a priori and a posteriori knowledge?
11. What is the logical problem with global skepticism?
12. What is rationalism?
13. What is empiricism?
14. What is the verification principle?
15. What is the “old” problem of induction?
16. What is an analytic proposition? Give one example.
17. What is hard determinism?
18. What is compatibilism?
19. How would Schopenhauer view romantic love?
20. Explain the difference between hard determinism and predeterminism.
21. What is Sartre’s radical existential freedom?
22. What is the problem of personal identity?
23. What is the difference between second and third wave feminism?
Format: 4 short answer questions (10 pts each) and 12 short short answer questions (5 pts each). Total points: 100.