First Quiz



On the Day of the Quiz, three of the following will be chosen. Briefly identify amd/or define the person or term, indicating its significance for the history of philosophy. No notes will be permitted in class during the quiz.


First Examination



Identifications: On the day of the exam, three of the following will be chosen. Briefly identify the person or term, indicating its significance for the history of philosophy. No notes will be permitted in class.

On the day of the exam, one of the following questions will be selected to be answered in class. Prepare your answers ahead of time. Points will be given for accuracy, completeness, and logic & reasoning. Extra points for insight. No notes or books will be permitted in class during the exam.

  1. According to the Apology, Socrates argued at his trial that the stated charges against him were not the real charges. What were the stated charges? How did he defend himself against these charges? What did he claim were the real charges? How did he defend himself against these charges?

  2. How does the theme that knowledge is recollection arise in the MENO? How does it arise in the PHAEDO? How does Socrates attempt to make the idea plausible? Supposing knowledge is recognition & recollection, what new problems are raised by this doctrine?

  3. By what line of reasoning does the search for a definition of justice in the REPUBLIC lead to an outline of the proper system of educating philosophers?



Second Quiz (Aristotle)



Identifications: On the day of the quiz, three of the following will be chosen. Briefly identify the person or term, indicating her/his/its significance for the history of philosophy. No notes will be permitted in class. Allow about ten minutes for each short answer.


FINAL EXAMINATION



PART I: Identifications: On the day of the examination, three of the following will be chosen. Briefly identify the person or term, indicating her/his/its significance for the history of philosophy. No notes will be permitted in class. (20 minutes)

PART II: Three of the following questions will be selected on the day of the examination. Prepare answers for all questions. No books or notes will be allowed in class during the examination. Be specific. Support your claims with reasons and arguments. (75 minutes)
  1. How did Aristotle explain change and becoming? How did he apply his account to the analysis of biological change (generation, growth and decay)? How did he apply his account to the analysis of moral development (character)?

  2. Identify some important non-Greek elements in Christian thought. What makes them non-Greek? Discuss the philosophical siginificance of each element you cite.

  3. What basic differences between the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle are captured by emphasizing Plato's interest in mathematics and Aristotle's interest in biology? Discuss the philosophical significance and historical influence of these differences.

  4. What fundamental point of difference distinguishes Augustine's view of ethical decisions from Socrates' view? Which view seems to you stronger? Why?

  5. Assume (at least for the purposes of this question) that Parmenides argued in the following way:
    For each of the statements in the table below, indicate whether it follows from the argument above or not (i.e., whether the statement is true if the argument above is sound):
    StatementFollows Does not follow
    1. A false thought is impossible...
    2. A negative thought is impossible. ..
    3. Change is impossible. ..
    4. Past and future are impossible. ..
    5. Past-tensed and future tensed thoughts are impossible...
    6. Differentiation (of one thing from another) is impossible. ..
    Pick one the the six statements in the table and briefly explain why it does or does not follow from the argument above.


PART III: Which philosopher or school of philosophy that we have studied do you find most congenial to your own views and outlook? Articulate those views. State why you find the selected philosophy congenial. Identify two or three serious problems (criticisms) that your chosen philosophy must face and address. (25 minutes)


Revised December 9, 1996

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