Review for Final ExamReview for Final Exam

Exam FormatExam Format

25-35 multiple choice questions25-35 multiple choice questions

Three essay questions from a choice Three essay questions from a choice of fiveof five

Five essay choices from following list Five essay choices from following list of nine general topicsof nine general topics

Essay questionsEssay questions1)1) Skepticism. What can you know?Skepticism. What can you know?

2)2) Applying a system of ethics (i.e. virtue ethics, Kantian ethics Applying a system of ethics (i.e. virtue ethics, Kantian ethics and/or utilitarianism) to a concrete moral dilemma, and and/or utilitarianism) to a concrete moral dilemma, and evaluating the system of ethics.evaluating the system of ethics.

3)3) A discussion of a controversial topic where protectionism A discussion of a controversial topic where protectionism conflicts with rights, e.g. euthansia, recreational drug use.conflicts with rights, e.g. euthansia, recreational drug use.

4)4) Personhood: what gets to count as a person. Evaluation of some Personhood: what gets to count as a person. Evaluation of some controversial cases, e.g. apes.controversial cases, e.g. apes.

5)5) Animal rights: a question of the rights and wrongs of an animal Animal rights: a question of the rights and wrongs of an animal rights issue, e.g. vegetarianism, animal experimentation.rights issue, e.g. vegetarianism, animal experimentation.

Essay questionsEssay questions

6)6) Dualism vs. materialism about the mind. Which Dualism vs. materialism about the mind. Which do you believe is more plausible and why?do you believe is more plausible and why?

7)7) The meaning of life. Can life be meaningful? The meaning of life. Can life be meaningful? Under what circumstances? Evaluation of some Under what circumstances? Evaluation of some particular circumstances.particular circumstances.

8)8) Free Will. Do we have free will? Comparison of Free Will. Do we have free will? Comparison of different theories.different theories.

9)9) Time travel. What are the potential logical Time travel. What are the potential logical problems involved? Do they make time travel problems involved? Do they make time travel impossible?impossible?

SkepticismSkepticism Plato’s cavePlato’s cave Spectrum of realitySpectrum of reality Shadows,reflections/ordinary objects/Forms, Shadows,reflections/ordinary objects/Forms,

RealityReality DescartesDescartes Radical skepticismRadical skepticism Dream argumentDream argument Evil demon hypothesisEvil demon hypothesis I think therefore I amI think therefore I am Thoughts, ideas and perceptions are realThoughts, ideas and perceptions are real Maybe the external world is not realMaybe the external world is not real Brain-in-a-vatBrain-in-a-vat The MatrixThe Matrix A simulated worldA simulated world

Morality and EthicsMorality and Ethics Plato’s Euthyphro argument against “morality Plato’s Euthyphro argument against “morality

comes from God”comes from God” AristotleAristotle Virtue ethicsVirtue ethics EudomoniaEudomonia The virtuesThe virtues KantKant Rule-based ethicsRule-based ethics The categorical imperativeThe categorical imperative The principle of universalizabilityThe principle of universalizability Absolute moral dutiesAbsolute moral duties Independent of consequencesIndependent of consequences Never treat a person as just a means, but always Never treat a person as just a means, but always

as an end as an end

Morality and Ethics (cont.)Morality and Ethics (cont.) MillMill Utilititarian ethicsUtilititarian ethics ConsequentialistConsequentialist Intrinsic goodIntrinsic good Instrumental goodInstrumental good Happiness and the absence of suffering are the Happiness and the absence of suffering are the

only intrinsic goodsonly intrinsic goods ““the greatest good for the greatest number”the greatest good for the greatest number” Act utilitarianismAct utilitarianism Preference utilitarianismPreference utilitarianism Rule utilitarianismRule utilitarianism Trolley caseTrolley case Transplant caseTransplant case

Paternalism vs. Individual Paternalism vs. Individual RightsRights

PaternalismPaternalism Individual rightsIndividual rights The harm principleThe harm principle Free speechFree speech EuthanasiaEuthanasia Smoking in public placesSmoking in public places

PersonhoodPersonhood

PersonhoodPersonhood ““Persons”Persons” Candidates for personhoodCandidates for personhood Moral agents (Kant)Moral agents (Kant) Morally responsible Morally responsible

vs. morally considerablevs. morally considerable Apes as personsApes as persons Reciprocal rightsReciprocal rights

Animal rightsAnimal rights Indirect vs. direct duties to animalsIndirect vs. direct duties to animals VegetarianismVegetarianism vivisectionvivisection Peter SingerPeter Singer Ethics evolving to include animalsEthics evolving to include animals Speciesism Speciesism SentienceSentience Vague line (perhaps between a clam and a Vague line (perhaps between a clam and a

shrimp)shrimp) The argument from borderline casesThe argument from borderline cases Individuals vs. species vs. biosystemsIndividuals vs. species vs. biosystems

Animal rights (cont.)Animal rights (cont.) Tom ReganTom Regan Animal rightsAnimal rights Beings of moral standing should not be Beings of moral standing should not be

treated as mere means, but as an end to treated as mere means, but as an end to themselvesthemselves

Subjects-of-a-lifeSubjects-of-a-life Normal mammals of a year or moreNormal mammals of a year or more Carl CohenCarl Cohen Reciprocality of rightsReciprocality of rights

ConsciousnessConsciousness

PhysicalismPhysicalism DualismDualism Substance dualismSubstance dualism Property dualismProperty dualism Matter vs mindMatter vs mind ChalmersChalmers ZombiesZombies The conceivability argumentThe conceivability argument

Consciousness (cont.)Consciousness (cont.)

The interaction problem of dualismThe interaction problem of dualism Ockham’s razorOckham’s razor IdealismIdealism The easy problems vs. the hard problem of The easy problems vs. the hard problem of

consciousnessconsciousness Nagel – what is it like to be a batNagel – what is it like to be a bat QualiaQualia Objective scientific knowledge vs. subjective Objective scientific knowledge vs. subjective

experience experience

Free WillFree Will Free willFree will DeterminismDeterminism FateFate Determinism by God vs. determinism by physical Determinism by God vs. determinism by physical

lawslaws IncompatiblismIncompatiblism LibertarianismLibertarianism Hard determinismHard determinism CompatibilismCompatibilism The garden of forking pathsThe garden of forking paths IndeterminismIndeterminism Agent causationAgent causation DeliberationDeliberation Moral responsibilityMoral responsibility

The Meaning of LifeThe Meaning of Life Subjective vs. objective theoriesSubjective vs. objective theories Eudomonia (the good life) – AristotleEudomonia (the good life) – Aristotle Positive psychologyPositive psychology The meaning of life is the search for the meaning of The meaning of life is the search for the meaning of

lifelife Otherworldly religionOtherworldly religion UtilitarianismUtilitarianism EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism FamilyFamily Human progressHuman progress The present momentThe present moment ZenZen NihilismNihilism ExistentialismExistentialism

Time TravelTime Travel PresentismPresentism EternalismEternalism Time travel to the future vs. time travel to the pastTime travel to the future vs. time travel to the past Grandfather paradoxGrandfather paradox Butterfly effectButterfly effect Causal loopsCausal loops Coherent time travelCoherent time travel Novato self-consistency principleNovato self-consistency principle Time travel and free willTime travel and free will Travel through parallel universesTravel through parallel universes Constant creation of new alternative universesConstant creation of new alternative universes