Philosophy 100

Introduction to Philosophy

 

 

 
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Test #3 Potential Topics    
Agnosticism
Analogical reasoning
a posteriori proofs
a priori proofs
The approximation argument
The argument from design
Argument from morals
Argument from natural law
The argument for the remedying of injustice
Atheism
The cosmological/first-cause argument
Doxastic voluntarism/involuntarism

 		 Epistemic rationality
The Euthyphro dilemma
Evolution
Expected value
Faith
Final causes
Infinite Passionate Commitment
Instrumental rationality
Lack of explanatory power/failures of explanation
Monotheism
Nontheism
Omnibenevolent
 

Omnipotent
Omniscient
The ontological argument
 The paradox of omnipotence
The passion argument
Polytheism
The postponement argument
The principle of indifference
The principle of sufficient reason
The problem of evil
sophism
the suspension of the ethical
 

Test #3 Potential Short Answer Questions
You should be able to answer each of these questions with a few concise and clear sentences.  The short answer questions on the test will come from this list.
 

1.) Briefly explain epistemic and instrumental rationality.
2.) What is the point of Pascal's wager as he conceives it?
3.) Define polytheism and give at least one contemporary example of polytheism.
4.) Why does Russell reject the cosmological argument?
5.) Why might a theist find evolution troubling?
6.) Why might a contemporary biologist object to Cleanthes' account of the sexes or the eye?
7.) Why might someone think that the existence of God precludes evil and suffering?
8.)  Briefly explain why Kierkegaard thinks that reason undermines religion.