Final Exam Study Questions
34-356-01
Mind Design and Android Epistemology
Dr. M. Guarini

There are two sets of questions below.  On your final exam, you will be required to answer one question from each set. The instructor will select one question from the first set; there will be no options with respect to that set of questions. With the second set of questions, you will be given two questions, and you will be required to answer one. You will have three hours to write two essay answers.

Lecture-based Questions

(1) Present in detail the arguments of Fodor and Pylyshyn against connectionism. Evaluate their arguments. Your evaluation needs to show sensitivity to the considerations raised in class discussions.

(2) What is Goldman's I-code?  More generally, what is Goldman's view of the vehicular structure of mental concepts?  Are there problems with his position on mental concepts?  Are there ways of improving on Goldman's view of mental concepts?  Discuss these questions in some detail. Your discussion needs to show sensitivity to the considerations raised in class discussions.

(3) In his Origins of Analytic Philosophy, Michael Dummett makes the following claim: "What distinguishes analytical philosophy, in its diverse manifestations, from other schools is the belief, first, that a philosophical account of thought can be attained through a philosophical account of language, and secondly, that a comprehensive account can only be so attained."  Discuss and evaluate the idea that a philosophical account of thought can only be attained by starting with a philosophical account of language, and that a comprehesive account can only be attained in that manner. (Do not focus on what can properly be called analytic philosophy.)  In the process of writing this essay, be sure to make reference to Paul Churchland's work and to one of Goldman or Fodor/Pylyshyn.

Independent Study Questions

(1) Explain what Pollock and Cruz take naturalized epistemology to be in general.  Second, explain the particular type of naturalized epistemology that Pollock and Cruz endorse.  Third, evaluate their position.  You may agree or disagree with their views, but be sure to defend your position. You may use other materials discussed in the course (but you are not required to do so).  To write this essay you will have to focus on section 4 of "Epistemology and Rationality" (which is chapter six of Contemporary Theories of Knowledge).

(2) In sections 7.1 to 7.3 of "Epistemology and Rationality" Pollock and Cruz outline Oscar I, Oscar II, and Oscar III.  Describe each of the Oscarites and what makes them different from one another.  Pollock and Cruz claim, "...we have not described [Oscar III] as having any way of sensing the operation of those cognitive processes whereby he forms generalizations on the basis of his perceptual inputs and pain stimuli" (p. 184).  What reasons do Pollock and Cruz give for adding this next level of sensing or awareness?  Assuming we add this next level of awareness, is there anything else we would have to add to make Oscar capable of mindreading (both himself and others)?  For example, would we have to add still another level of sensing or awareness?  If so, why?  If not, why not?  What might a simulationist say?  Explain.  What might a theory-theorist say?  Explain.

(3) According to Clark (chapter nine of Mindware), what is the parity principle?  Why does he think Otto's mind extends beyond his body? Present at least one objection, discussed by Clark, to the extended mind hypothesis. Do you think it is useful to speak of the mind as something that can extend beyond the body? Do you think it is problematic? Explain.

 

What is the point of these questions?

Obviously, they are meant to prepare you for the final exam. By having the possible exam questions in advance, you can take your time, reflect, and prepare answers so that you have the opportunity to go into the exam knowing what will be expected of you.  The questions themselves are designed to encourage you to synthesise or integrate material presented over different lectures and different readings. This is very demanding and rewarding work. It is also time consuming. These questions are placed online many weeks before the final exam so that you can take the time needed to prepare answers to them, and to start preparing answers as we work through the relevant material. Among other things, the study questions provide an incentive to keep coming to class, to keep up with the reading, and to remain coninuously engaged with the course content. If, at any time, you are wondering what sort of topics you should or should not get into when answering one of the questions, ask the instructor.  He is happy to help out. In fact, if you have any questions at all about the study questions, please ask the instructor.  That's kind of why he posted them so far in advance of the final exam (i.e. to help you, and to help him to help you).