Introduction to Philosophy Questions
It should be between 1000-1500 words.
Please select one question from the list below, and make sure to clearly state the question you are answering at the start of your essay.
Questions:
- What is the ‘Mary’ problem against physicalism, and how effective is it?
- What are philosophical zombies, and what problem are they meant to pose for physicalism? How plausible is the zombie argument?
- What is the argument from illusion, and how is it used to motivate indirect realism over direct realism? Is it effective?
- What is the problem of fiction, and how do you think one should respond to it?
- Can the B-series capture everything there is about the nature of time? If not, what does it leave out?
- What are abstract objects? Are there any?
- What is the most persuasive mereological account of the relationship between parts and wholes? Defend your answer.
- What is an indispensability argument? What problems do such arguments face?
- How should we demarcate genuine science from pseudo-science?
- Critically evaluate the merits of scientific realism by focusing on what you take to be either the strongest argument in its defense or the strongest argument against it.
- Why is there something rather than nothing?
- What is the problem of evil, and how compelling is it as an argument for God’s non-existence?
- Is it ever rational to have faith in God?
- Does immortality have any essential role to play in an account of the meaning of life?
- Is death necessary for one’s life to be meaningful?
- If all that exists is the natural world, then can life ever be meaningful?