1) What is the difference between the type-identity theory of mind and functionalism? What objections do each of these views face? Can these objections be overcome?
2) Explain Searle’s Chinese Room argument. What position is he trying to undermine? Does he succeed? Be sure to develop and respond to possible replies to Searle.
3) Explain Jackson’s argument for dualism based on Mary the neuroscientist. What precisely is Mary supposed to learn, and how (according to Jackson) does this undermine physicalism? How might a physicalist respond to Jackson?
4) What are the highest goods according to the ethics of (a) Aristotle, (b) Mill, and (c) Kant? Explain the reasons that each gives for choosing that good. Who has the strongest account?
5) Socrates claimed that the unexamined life is not worth living. What is the value in knowing the truth about the world? In the movie The Matrix, Cypher chooses to have his knowledge of the real world erased and to live a life of pleasurable illusion. Was that choice irrational? Was it immoral?
6) Explain Levin’s explanation of how we sometimes have the “ability to do otherwise” even if our actions are completely determined. Is his argument convincing? Does he succeed in showing that we have free will?
7) Plato’s rationalism leads him to discount knowledge of the material world. Descartes thinks his rationalist account can find some indubitable truths about matter, but it seems he was wrong. Berkeley and Hume are idealists, and neither believes we can have knowledge of the material world. Briefly explain how each of these philosophers runs into trouble in finding real knowledge of material reality. Do these troubles give us reason to prefer rationalism or empiricism? Be sure to explain and support your position.
8) Suppose you only had one year to live, and a doctor offered to generate a healthy replica of you that would look like you and would have a complete copy of your mental states while simultaneously destroying your old body. Would it be reasonable to accept this offer? Would you survive the process? Be sure to support your answers.
9) Explain Parfit’s account of personal identity and how it differs from more traditional accounts. Sketch the main arguments he presents in favor of his account, and evaluate those arguments.
10) Explain Chalmers’ argument that the conceivability of zombies implies the falsity of dualism. What sort of dualism does he claim follows from his argument? How might a physicalist respond to the conceivability argument?