HUM 1020 Take-Home Midterm
You are to work on this midterm independently and using only the materials for the course. Please answer the questions below thoroughly and thoughtfully, making sure you adhere to the writing guidelines set out for the course.
Download this document and type your responses beneath the questions. When you are finished, upload the document to the assignment dropbox by clicking on the title of the assignment and browsing for the file.
Answer all three questions below. Remember that an implication is an idea or event that follows from other things that are known or believed. To trace the implications is to think through the consequences of certain beliefs, in a mental “chain reaction” (if X is the case, then Y is the case. And if Y is the case, then Z would have to be the case….).
Each answer should be 1-2 typed pages (double-spaced):
- Philosophy is introduced in your text with the idea that it is the love of wisdom, yet Cohen goes on to define philosophy as a thinking activity focused on justifying, clarifying, and analyzing ideas. Is Cohen’s definition consistent with the view that philosophy is about the love and pursuit of wisdom? If so, how (i.e., what is the connection between wisdom and thinking)? If not, then what is the value of philosophy as a subject?
- Rene Decarte’s epistemological project (described carefully in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) establishes not only that self-knowledge is a certain foundation for the theory of knowledge, but that God both exists and is the only assurance one has that reason and the senses are reliable (because of the Evil Genius hypothesis). What are the implications for Decartes’ epistemology if one rejects his proof(s) of God’s existence? In other words, if God does not exist, can Descartes have any confidence in his own thinking, in his perceptions of the world, etc.? Be sure to explore the potential impact of rejecting his proof of God on such areas as science, morality, and truth.
- What is at stake in the debate over determinism and free will? State and explain both positions and then explore the implications of each view for areas of human life such as religion, ethics, and politics. Be specific and concise, and feel free to draw on other topics in the course (e.g., Plato’s philosophy, or A.J. Ayer’s).
