Philosophy 101

Introduction to Philosophy

Spring 2005


Study Guide for Examination #1


In all of the following, you should distinguish between presenting a theory (for instance, Hard Determinism) and presenting an argument (for instance, the Argument from Moral Responsibility against HD). Theories are different from arguments. An argument has a conclusion which follows from (or should follow from) the argument’s premises. Theories, on the other hand, are just sets of claims or theses. Theories do not have premises and conclusions. The author of a theory (often) does not think that any of the theory’s claims follow from one another. When I ask you to present a theory, I wish you merely to state its claims or theses. See below about presenting arguments.


0. Be prepared to Extract, Explain, and Evaluate (EEE) an argument from an unfamiliar text.

   

1. Define or otherwise explain the following terms: argument, premise, conclusion. Define ‘Argument A is valid’ and ‘Argument A is sound’. Present an example of an argument that is valid but which has at least one obviously false premise. Present an argument that is invalid but whose premises are all obviously true. Explain the following terms: modus ponens, multiple modus ponens, modus tollens, hypothetical syllogism, disjunctive syllogism.


2. Present (state) the Free Will Principle (FWP) and Determinism (DET). Give reasons for believing each (for instance, give some examples that tend to support each).


3. Present Incompatibilism (INC). Present the Definition of Incompatibility (“P and Q are incompatible iff . . . .”). State the One-Method-For-Showing-That-Two-Propositions-Are-Incompatible thesis. Present an Argument for Incompatibility that (allegedly) shows that INC is true (that is, that DET and the FWP are incompatible). Explain why someone might reasonably think that this argument shows that DET and FWP are incompatible. (You will need to refer to the One-Method thesis to do this.) Do all of the positions on free will that we considered in class accept INC?


4. Present Hard Determinism. Which of the principles DET, FWP, and INC does the Hard Determinist accept? Which does the Hard Determinist reject?


When I ask you to Present, Explain, and Evaluate (PEE) an argument, I want you do to the following:

(1)       Present the argument (write it down in numbered premise and conclusion form).

(2)        Explain each line of the argument line by line (except for the conclusion): Define any technical terms that appear in the argument. (You may, if you wish, give these definitions before presenting the argument.) Give reasons for the premises.

(3)        Evaluate the argument:

             (a)        Say whether the argument is valid (it should be).

             (b)        If valid, say what form it has.

             (c)        Say whether it is sound. If you say that it is unsound, you should point out which premise is false or controversial, and say why. Even if you say that it is sound, I will almost always ask you to present a criticism of the argument, if one was presented in class. Be sure to say which premise you are criticizing.


5. PEE the following three arguments against Hard Determinism (HD): Choice, Feeling of Freedom, and Drive Resistance. In your evaluations, be sure to say how Ree would evaluate the arguments. PEE the Argument from Moral Responsibility against HD. In your evaluation, discuss how Ree evaluates it and give your own evaluation.


6. Present Extreme Indeterminism (EI). Which of these principles does the Extreme Indeterminist accept?: FWP, DET, INC. Which does the Extreme Indeterminist reject? Describe an instance of an act that is free, according to EI. PEE the Argument Against EI (involving Alice and Betty).


7. Present Moderate Indeterminism (MI). Be sure to define the term ‘volition’. Which of the principles FWP, DET, and INC does MI accept? Reject? Describe an instance of a free act, according to MI. Explain why Alice’s act does not count as free according to MI. (See the previous question.) PEE the Argument against MI (involving Carol and Diane).


8. Present Libertarianism. Be sure to define all technical terms. Which of the principles listed in #7 above does the Libertarian accept? Reject? Describe and diagram an instance of an agent-caused action, as described by the Libertarian. Explain why Alice’s and Carol’s acts do not count as free according to Libertarianism. PEE the Argument from Scientific Explanation against Libertarianism.


9. Present Typical Soft Determinism (TSD). Be sure to define all technical terms. Which principles listed in #7 does the Typical Soft Determinist accept? Reject? Which premises of the Argument for Incompatibility does Typical Soft Determinism reject? Describe an instance of a free act, according to TSD. Explain why Alice’s and Carol’s acts do not count as free according to TSD. PEE the Argument against TSD (involving Eve and Frances).


10. Present Ayerian Soft Determinism. Be sure to define all technical terms. Which principles listed in #7 does the Ayerian Soft Determinist accept? Reject? Which premises of the Argument for Incompatibility does Ayerian Soft Determinism reject? Describe an instance of a free act, as an Ayerian Soft Determinist would describe it. Explain why Eve’s act may not count as free according to Ayerian Soft Determinism.


11. PEE the Great Falsifier Argument against DET. Be sure to explain the term ‘nominal finger wiggling’.


12. Define the following terms: ‘Time-indexed Act Description’, ‘the Biography of S’, ‘the Law of Excluded Middle’. PEE the Generalized Argument from Osmo’s Tale.