Here are some topics to study for the second exam in Introduction to Philosophy, Fall 2017. Students are responsible for knowing everything covered in lectures and readings, but the items on the following list will make up the bulk of the exam.
Material will be added to the list as it is discussed in class.
- Philosophical behaviorism
- The identity theory
- The multiple realizability thesis
- Functionalism
- Objections to functionalism (missing qualia and inverted spectrum)
- Computationalism
- Turing test
- The Chinese Room argument
- Problems for materialism
- Locke’s theory of personal identity
- Objections to Locke from Reid and Butler
- Problem with duplication and brain transplants
- Epicurean hedonism
- Act utilitarianism
- The utilitarian calculus
- Strengths of act utilitarianism
- Weaknesses of act utilitarianism
- Preference utilitarianism
- Ways of measuring preferences
- Rule utilitarianism
- General objections to utilitarianism
- Hume on morality
- Hypothetical vs. categorical imperatives
- Two formulations of the categorical imperative
- Perfect and imperfect duties
- Objections to deontology
- Aristotle’s analysis of the soul
- The ultimate good
- Four options for happiness
- The function argument
- Aristotle’s analysis of virtue
- Four types of moral personality
- Key concepts in virtue theory
- Imprecision
- Importance of experience
- Freedom
- Friendship
- Practical wisdom
- Virtue
- Eudaimonia
- Teleology
- Objections to virtue theory
- Nietzsche
- Meaning of “God is dead”
- Master and slave morality
- Ressentiment
- Will to Power
- Overman
- Argument for cultural relativism
- Consequences of relativism
- Punishment 39. Utilitarian justifications 40. Deontological justifications 41. Virtue justifications
- Euthanasia 39. Doctrine of Double Effect 40. Involuntary, non-voluntary, voluntary 41. Active and passive
- Abortion 40. General attitudes of utilitarians, deontologists, and virtue ethicests