PHIL 3400: Mind, Language, and Reality Ron Mallon
This optional take-home final takes the place of the in-class exam and final paper. If you wish to write the final paper and take the in-class exam in lieu of this work, please give me notice by Friday, December 3rd, 2004.
General Instructions:
(1) The length of the exam is up to you. I expect the exam can be completed in 12-15 pages, typed and double-spaced, but there is no strict length requirement.
(2) This is an open book, take home exam. This means that:
(a) Full citation of source materials (including page numbers) is encouraged.
(b) Outside sources may be used, again with full citation.
(c) Questions and answers may be discussed with classmates. However, if answers are too similar, the work will be graded down on failure of originality. At the limit, papers with identical discussions or arguments may be failed for plagiarism.
(d) You may also discuss questions with me, during my office hours or by appointment.
(3) Papers are DUE Wednesday, December 15 by NOON in my hands or in the Department of Philosophy on the 3rd floor of OSH. They may be turned in early.
Some Specific Instructions:
Answers will be graded on:
(a) Quality of exegesis of original materials: Have you correctly and lucidly explained the position of the author under discussion? Have you cited clearly and used quotations well? Have you explained the quotations you have used?
(b) Quality of argument: Where called for, how good is your assessment of the argument? Have you considered obvious objections to your assessment?
(c) Quality of presentation: Is your writing and discussion clear?
Questions for Take Home Final. Answer all questions. Questions may be combined into one discussion, if you wish.
I. Griffiths
1. Distinguish between the social concept model and the social role model of constructionism about the emotions. Explain each.
2. Explain Griffiths Distinction between overt and covert social roles. Griffiths says "being like a wild pig" is a covert role in that it "knowledge of the nature of the category by those who use the concept would disrupt the process by which the category is constructed." Do you think Griffiths is correct about "being like a wild pig"?
3. Explain how Griffiths thinks the social role model of constructionism can solve what he calls the problem of sincerity.
II. Pettit
4. Pettit distinguishes between agents and intentional agents. Explain his distinction.
5. What, according to Pettit, are intentional states?
6. Pettit writes that "generally we are interpretable as developed versions of the simple inferrer" (18). Explain what Pettit means by this. If you think he is wrong, briefly explain why.
7. Explain the condition of "non-definability."
8. Explain the condition of "supervenience."
9. Pettit argues that the supervenience of the mental on the physical is not sufficient to ensure the causal relevance of the mental. Explain why he thinks this.
10. Pettit suggests that his own 'program' solution can ensure the causal relevance of the mental. Explain this solution. If you'd like, assess its success.
11. Pettit distinguishes between intentional agents and thinking intentional agents. Explain this distinction.
12. Pettit suggests that it is in an agent's interest that its desires and beliefs be rational (55-56). He then says that "for all that has been said so far, intentional agents may not act intentionally to promote fulfillment of the conditions" (56). Explain what he means by this.
13. Recalling the work of Lewis Carroll, Pettit suggests that "checks that thinking deploys cannot be checked themselves" (58). Explain what he means.
14. Pettit suggests that thinking requires intentional ascent. Is he correct?
15. Pettit suggests that thinking requires rule-following. Explain and assess his argument.