Final Exam Study Guide – Introduction to Philosophy

Also use the study guide for the essay exam

Artificial Intelligence

In what ways do the abilities of computers and machines excel those of human beings? In what ways do the abilities of human beings excel those of computers and machines?

What is the Turing test? Do you think that it is an adequate test?

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

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

What is the unpredictability objection? How does Hunt illustrate it with the example of the program POLITICS?

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.