Study Guide for Exam 2

1. Print out, Study, and Master each of the Handouts.

2. Be able to answer these questions:

• What is an ontological scheme?
• Under what circumstances is an ontological scheme exhaustive?
• Under what circumstances is an ontological scheme exclusive?
• What is the principle that we have been calling Ockham's Razor?

3. Be able to write down the Primitive Ontological Scheme. Also be able to give examples of items in each category of the Primitive Ontological Scheme.

4. Be able to write down the Revised Ontological Scheme. Understand the differences between the Revised Ontological Scheme and the Primitive one.

5. Be able to write down the three principles constituting Typical Materialism (TM). Be able to provide definitions for each of the technical terms employed in TM: physical object, mind, physical property, mental property. Be able to state the two motivating factors for TM that we discussed in class.

6. Be able to write down the five principles constituting Cartesian Dualism (CD). Be able to provide definitions for each of the technical terms employed in CD: purely physical substance, purely mental substance, mixed substance, x has property F essentially. Be able to state the four motivating factors (or: alleged theoretical advantages) for CD that we discussed in class.

7. Be able to PEE the following arguments (Recall that in order to PEE any argument, you must define all technical terms in the argument, provide rationales for the premises, and then be able to evaluate the argument from perhaps various perspectives. See the Step-by-Step Instructions on How to PEE handout for assistance.):

Argument from Mindful Sentences

Be able to provide some examples of mindful sentences. As always, be able to provide rationales for each of the premises. Do you have rationales for premises (1) and (2) ready to go? Understand the Typical Materialist's evaluation of the argument. Which premise does the Typical Materialist reject as false? Why? Be able to utilize the paraphrasing strategy; that is, be able to provide the Typical Materialist's preferred (less metaphysically loaded) interpretation of a few of the mindful sentences, sentences that don't contain the word 'mind'.

Argument from Consciousness

As always, be able to provide rationales for each of the premises. Understand the Typical Materialist's evaluation of the argument. Which premise does the Typical Materialist reject as false? Why? (Feel free to look at the Hume handout for guidance here.)

First Platonic Argument from Death

As always, be able to provide rationales for each of the premises. Understand the Typical Materialist's evaluation of the argument. Which premise does the Typical Materialist reject as false? Why? Be able to explain what it means for an argument to beg the question against a position. Be able to explain why even someone who believes the argument to be sound must admit that premise (1) begs the question against the Typical Materialist.

Second Platonic Argument from Death

Know what a lemma is. Be able to define the phrase 'x is identical to y' in the sense utilized in the argument. Be able to state the Principle about Identity. Be able to provide rationales for premises (1) and (2) based on passages near the end of the Phaedo. Be able to utilize the definition of 'x is identical to y', the Principle about Identity, and the property of departing when Socrates dies in the construction of a robust, clear rationale for premise (4). Finally, be able to evaluate the argument from the perspective of the Typical Materialist.

Descartes' Argument from Doubt

Be able to state the Principle about Identity. Be able to provide rationales for premises (1) and (2) based on passages in Meditations I and II. Be able to utilize the definition of 'x is identical to y', the Principle about Identity, and the property of being supposed by Descartes to be nonexistent in the construction of a robust, clear rationale for premise (4). Finally, try to evaluate the argument from the perspective of the Typical Materialist (though as you should know by now, evaluating this argument appears to be tricky business).

The Problem of Other Minds

Read page 77 of Ryle's "Descartes' Myth". Be able to provide rationales for premises (1) and (2). Be able to provide a Cartesian Dualist's evaluation of the argument. Which premise would a Cartesian Dualist reject? Why? Is the Cartesian Dualist's objection to the argument a good one? Explain.

The Argument from Causal Interaction

Read pages 84-87 of Armstrong's "Difficulties for any Dualist Theory". Be able to provide robust rationales for premises (1), (2), and (3). Try to provide a Cartesian Dualist's evaluation of the argument.

Readings for which you are responsible on Exam 2:

• Ultimate Questions: 135-141, 142-144, plus the bottom of page 152, 148-150
• Plato's Phaedo (49-62)
• Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy: Meditations 1, 2, and 6.
• Ryle's "Descartes' Myth" (71-79)
• Armstrong's "Difficulties for Any Dualist Theory" (80-87)