L A N C A S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y

2000 EXAMINATIONS

PART I PHILOSOPHY (3 hours)

100: Introduction to Philosophy

Answer THREE questions: TWO from section A and ONE from Section B.

SECTION A

1. Explain what is meant by "determinism". Set out what you see as the strongest considerations for believing in it, and explain what you see as any weaknesses in them.

2. Do you think that one day we might legitimately hold computers responsible for 'their' actions? Present and evaluate arguments for and against.

3. Evaluate, by reference to one of the arguments for the existence of God, the claim that reasoned proof is unable to solve the problem of the existence of God.

4. "Be reasonable!" Can this ever be bad advice?

5. Why does Gilbert Ryle refer to Descartes' view of the mind as "the ghost in the machine"? What are Ryle's criticisms of Cartesian dualism?

6. Critically discuss the following claim:

"Materialism doesn't give a sufficient explanation of qualia and the 'subjective' character of experience."

7. With reference to one or more of:

i) the ship of Theseus ii) an amoeba iii) the human pre-embryo

Give an account of the philosophical problems posed by the occurrence of "fission" i.e. one object dividing into two. Explain how we resolve those problems.

Please turn over