Format:
All exam questions are written response questions. There are three different kinds of questions on the exam.
Type 1 questions: These are questions that require knowledge of essential concepts that are contained directly in the reading and/or lecture that require little or no interpretation. These questions require a short answer (about 1-2 sentences).
Type 2 questions: These are questions that require understanding of more subtle or detailed topics in the readings and lectures. These questions require some interpretation and/or explanation of more complex ideas than type 1 questions. These questions require 4-6 sentences to answer properly.
Type 3 questions: These questions test the depth of your understanding of not only the central concepts and reasoning in the unit, but of the purpose of learning those concepts and patterns of reasoning. They require the student to be able to describe how one or more of the authors of the course readings would react to an idea or situation that they did not explicitly write about. These questions require a short essay (about 12-15 sentences) to answer properly.
All questions are graded according to the following concerns:
- Answers should contain a complete answer to the question.
- Answers should avoid saying what is false or inaccurate.
- Answers should be organized clearly and properly reveal the student’s understanding of the material.
Study Guide:
The exam will contain some, but not all of the questions below. The exam will only contain items that are listed below.
- What is the “paradox of identity”?
- When I talk about ‘identical twins’, am I talking about personal identity? Why or why not?
- Briefly define ‘Substance Dualism’.
- Describe the most significant problem with substance dualism.
- Which two principles compete with one another when establishing the identity of the Ship of Theseus?
- What is a mental state, according to functionalism?
- Describe the scenario in the Ship of Theseus case that motivates the claim that objects go where their parts go.
- Describe the scenario in the Ship of Theseus case that motivates the claim that objects survive gradual change.
- Explain why two different objects cannot logically be identical with one another, citing at least one example from any reading in this unit.
- What is the Closest Continuer theory of personal identity?
- What theory of identity is Mr. Hay applying in the Case of Old Bentley Number One?
- What theory of identity is Ms. Bernato-Walker applying in the Case of Old Bentley Number One?
- Describe and defend one argument for the judge in the case of Old Bentley Number One to rule in favor of or opposed to the car’s being Old Number One.
- What is Gretchen Weirob’s theory of personal identity?
- What is the problem with Sam Miller’s position that personal identity is identity of an immaterial soul?
- What is one problem with Sam Miller’s position that personal identity is identity of psychological properties?
- What is the problem with the claim that “Where Hamlet goes, there goes Dennett”?
- What is the problem with the claim that “Where Yorick goes, there goes Dennett”?
- What is the problem with the claim that “Dennett is wherever he thinks he is”?
- What theory of personal identity allows Dennett to be Hubert/Fortinbras?
- What is Hanley’s argument against the “Matter Matters” view?
- If Hanley’s “Mind Matters” view is correct, could a person survive androidization? Why or why not?
- What is the difference between information transport and matter transport, according to Hanley?
- Explain the view that personal identity means the identity of psychological properties using at least two examples from readings in this unit. Present two criticisms of this view. Be thorough.
- Explain the closest continuer theory of personal identity, using at least two examples from readings in this unit. Present two criticisms of this view. Be thorough.