PHIL 2010 Intro to Philosophy through Film Study Sheet

Test #1

Exam is October 6, 2004.

1. This is a comprehensive midterm. You are responsible for all lectures and readings.

2. Bring a blue book.

3. Approximately 1/3 of the test will be short answer. The rest of your time will be spent answering two essay questions, one from each group below.

General study questions:

1. Why was Socrates put to death?

2. Explain what Glaucon thinks the Ring of Gyges story shows.

3. Why does Descartes undertake his skeptical meditations?

4. Does Descartes think that he can doubt the truths of math? Why? What about his own existence?

5. Antonius Block doubts God's existence. Is his doubt resolved by the end of the Seventh Seal?

6. Are Truman's relationships in the Truman Show genuinely valuable? Why or why not?

7. What is the doctrine of double effect?

8. Clifford says that it is unethical to believe anything without warrant. Do the characters that survive in the Seventh Seal believe without warrant? Are they unethical?

9. Explain 3 of Aquinas's arguments for God's existence.
10. What is the ontological argument of Descartes?

These are your essay questions. You will be given a choice of two from each group, and you will have to write on one from each group.

Group I.

1. Socrates argues that we should not fear death. State and assess his argument.

2. Compare the choice to live in the Matrix with the choice to live as Truman does in The Truman Show. If given either choice, would you accept it? Why or why not? Discuss Nozick or Pryor's views as necessary.

3. Both The Matrix and The Truman Show feature persons trying to "rescue" people from the virtual reality in which they live. Are these acts morally justified? Are they morally required?

Group II.

4. Characters in both The Seventh Seal and Crimes and Misdemeanors confront the problem of evil. Explain the problem of evil. Do you think it shows that an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God cannot exist?

5. Explain Pascal's Wager, and assess the argument with reference to the views of Clifford and/or James.

6. Assess Paley's teleological argument for God's existence.