Study Questions for Test 2
Introduction to Philosophy
Instructor: Dr. M. Guarini

Your second test will consist of an extended essay answer to one of the questions below.  You will not know which question until the day of the test.

(1)  In Meditation One, Descartes argues that if he is to establish anything "firm and lasting in the sciences," sensory experience is not where he should begin to lay the foundation for that project.  How does Descartes arrive at this view?  (The focus should be on Meditation One.) What are his arguments?  In other words, what reasons does he give to doubt sensory experience?  Do you agree with his reasons?  Write a paper in which you answer all the preceding questions; be sure to defend your position.

 (2) In the Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes considers the question of how we know what a piece of wax really is.  According to the argument in Meditation Two, how do we come to know what a piece of wax really is?  What is the argument he gives for the answer to the preceding question?  What assumptions are at work in that argument?  What does he say the wax is?  Do you agree with his reasoning or not?  Defend your position.  If you disagree, give reasons why.  If you agree, be sure to reply to one or two objections considered in class.

(3)  What does Descartes think mind is?  What does Descartes think body is?  How does he argue for his position on the nature of mind and body?  With respect to mind and body, be sure to explain both the argument in Meditation Two and the argument in Meditation Six.  If you disagree with his position, explain why.  If you agree with his position, then defend it against one or two objections considered in class.

(4) The principle "Whatever we clearly and distinctly conceive is wholly true" is central to Descartes' Meditations. Explain how he attempts to prove the principle. Explain the role that the principle plays in his overall philosophy by summarizing the key points of each meditation and pointing out (i) where the principle enters and (ii) the work it goes on to do.  In the process of doing the preceding, you should explain the questions he is attempting to answer or the problems he is attempting to solve with this principle. How plausible is his use of this principle?  Defend your position.