Introduction to Philosophy

Exam - format and rubrics

The exam is three hours long. You are required to answer three questions all of which carry equal weight in terms of marks.

The exam paper is divided into two sections:

Part A relates to the first four sections of the course. There will be 8 questions in Part A altogether (2 on each section of the course).

Part B relates to the fifth section of the course (on which you have not been asked to do any coursework or tests). Part B consists of 4 questions.

You have to answer two questions from section A and one question from section B.

From the Handbook (more there).

Examples of exam questions

Do you think you can combine a scientific approach to the world with a belief in human freedom?

In discovering the cause of something are we doing more than discovering a pattern among events?

Evaluate the attempt to deduce the existence of God using the teleological argument.

Can the non-existence of God be deduced from the existence of evil and suffering?

Outline the grounds on which a philosopher might be sceptical about the existence of the material world. What do you consider to be the most effective form of reply?

Outline the grounds on which a philosopher might be sceptical abou the rationality of induction. What do you consider to be the most effective form of reply?

Critically discuss the claim that mental states are physical states of the brain.

How would a utilitarian decide whether a particular action (e.g. telling a lie) is right or wrong? What, in your opinion, are the main strengths and weaknesses of their approach?

Critically discuss the claim that there is no objective truth in ethics, because what is right and wrong is a matter of opinion, and this varies from culture to culture.

Be aware that different tutors are responsible for different blocks each year and this can introduce different emphases.

Where to get past papers

See here.

Advice on exams

Answer 3 questions, even if the third answer is very poor.

People's handwriting varies in size. A person with average-sized writing / layout might write around 4 sides on each question.

The cancelling-out effect.

Leave time for read-through.

Know your own way of working: don't work through the night beforehand unless you are really confident of what it will do to you.

Quotations aren't necessary.

How to revise

Suggestion: be active. Repeated reading of notes is not efficient and no fun at all...

Ways of being active:

1. Having a go with past exam papers

Get old exam papers and try writing an answer without books or notes.
Review your answer and look up the stuff you needed but didn't have.

To fill gaps/clarify:

Use your lecture notes, my materials on the webpages (which includes a detailed list of topics linked to the relevant passages in the presentations), dictionaries/encyclopaedias, articles you are familiar with. Minimise new reading.

2. Edit your notes so as to produce an elegant well-organised presentation of the topics you have decided to focus on.

In doing so, maximise architectonic

Vary this to spider form if that is your cast of mind.

The object is to order the material in a way that enhances grasp and lends itself to the memory.

3. Use topic heads on webpage.

Work through the ones you are wanting to prepare. Look up the heading, write notes from memory, look up text using links.
(Does it work?)

FINIS

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