Midterm Study Guide – Introduction to Philosophy

In the Euthyphro, for what crime is Euthyphro prosecuting his father, and what is questionable about his father’s guilt?

What are the first four definitions of piety offered in the Euthyphro? What do they teach us about formulating definitions? What are Socrates’ criticisms of the first three definitions?

Explain the difference between teleology and mechanism using examples such as human behavior, biology, evolution, and the big bang theory. Explain how they are both types of causality, and what the consequences of mechanism are.

According to the underground man, what are the different ways that human beings would react if science became able to precisely predict our behavior? What is our most advantageous advantage? Why does the underground man describe human beings as being ungrateful?

State the comological argument, the teleological argument, and the problem of evil in premise-conclusion form. What is the difference between a priori and a posteriori arguments, and why are all three of the previous arguments examples of the latter? What are the different ways that the universe could be dependent on something outside of itself? According to Russell, what are the proper limits to scientific investigation? Be prepared to state and defend your own views on this matter.

What is an argument from analogy, and how is the teleological argument an example of this? How do we distinguish good and bad analogical arguments? What are Philo’s two main criticisms of the teleological argument?

What is the apparent contradiction identified in the problem of evil? Explain how the free will defense is supposed to resolve this contradiction. What is the difference between moral and natural evil, and what argument does Lewis use to support his claim that God is not responsible for natural evil?