Exam #1 Study Questions

Arguments and Logic:

What is the difference between an inductive and a deductive argument? What's a syllogism? What does it mean for an argument to be valid? What does it mean for an argument to be sound? Explain (and know how to recognize) the following argument flaws: having counterexamples, begging the question, yielding a reductio, and equivocating.

Introduction to Descartes' Meditations and Meditation 1:

What did the Natural Philosophy of Aristotle involve (with respect to its approach to knowledge)? How did it differ from the approach to knowledge given by the rise in the Judeo/Christian/Muslim religions? What is Mechanism? What is the difference between Aristotelian Natural Philosophy and the Mechanistic approach to scientific explanation? Explain the tension between the Church and Mechanism that Descartes wished to resolve. What does one believe if one is a foundationalist about knowledge? What exactly is Descartes' overall project in the Meditations? Explain how Descartes' Method of Doubt is supposed to work in general. What is the General Sensory Doubt, and what knowledge-claims survive it? What is the dream doubt, and what knowledge-claims survive it? Explain the role of the malicious demon (evil genius). What does it get us to doubt? Describe Pollock's story, "A Brain in a Vat." Which of Descartes' doubts does it illustrate? (If there are features of more than one doubt, be sure and note that fact.)

Meditation 2 and Beyond:

Explain Descartes' argument(s) for the Cogito, i.e., how does the possibility that the malicious demon exists lead me to the conclusion that I must exist? Explain the "What's so special about thinking?" objection to Descartes' Cogito, and show how Descartes can respond. How does the phrase "It is raining" cast doubt on the Cogito? What does it mean to say that X is the essence of Y? What is the essence of the "I," according to Descartes? What are some synonyms Descartes offers for "soul"? What is the essence of the wax? How do we know this? Which do we know better: our minds or our bodies (according to Descartes)? Why? What is the difference between dualism and materialism? What are some possible objections to dualism? How does Descartes ultimately attempt to resolve the dream doubt? Is he successful?