Intro to Philosophy Final Exam Study Guide

Artificial Intelligence

Which components usually associated with intelligent are essential? Justify your claim.

In what ways do the abilities of computers and machines exceed those of human beings and vice versa?

What is the Turing test? Is it an adequate test for the existence of AI?

What is the consciousness objection to AI? How does Evans respond to it, using the notion of solipsism? How can one argue, like Hunt, against his claim that machines have consciousness?

What is the Lady Lovelace objection and how does Evans respond to it?

Do you think that artificial intelligence is possible? Support your claim with arguments.

The Meaning of Life

What is meant by the phrase ‘the meaning of life’? Give examples of different ways that people conceive the meaning of life.

What is the meaning of life? Is there one definition that should apply to everyone? Defend your answers with arguments.

Tolstoy – At what point in his life was Tolstoy confronted with the issue of the meaning of life, and how does he describe his experience of this crisis?

Did science and education provide him any assistance in answering this question? Why or why not?

What view of religion did Tolstoy turn to in order to define the meaning of life?

Sartre – Explain and illustrate Sartre’s claim that existence precedes essence.

According to Sartre, why are we responsible for what we are?

Explain and illustrate Sartre’s claim that we are condemned to freedom, i.e., that we lack explicit moral principles to guide our actions. How is Sartre’s view a response to relativism?

Lao Tzu – How is Lao Tzu critical of the sort of life recommended by Sartre (action), Tolstoy and Confucius (virtue and religious devotion), as well as hedonism or materialism?

What sort of life does Lao Tzu recommend for us?

What is the relationship between the Tao (the way) and Te (virtue)?

Possible Essay Questions

1. Define Intelligence, justifying the inclusion or exclusion of those traits that distinguish human beings and machines, such as consciousness, desire, and creativity. Then state your view on the possibility of duplicating human intelligence in a machine, justify your view with at least one argument, and defend your argument against a serious criticism.

2. In your view, what is the most central definition of the meaning of life? Does this same definition apply to everyone, whether they agree with it or not? Or are there many definitions of the meaning of life? Justify your views, in part by justifying the exclusion of other significant definitions of the meaning of life or responding to the problem of relativism.