1. Summarize Hume's argument on the status of liberty and necessity. What does he conclude about the nature of causation in both the physical and psychological realms? Kant objects to Hume's conclusions about liberty and necessity. Summarize Kant's epistemological alternative to Hume's argument.
2. Describe Descartes' dualistic philosophy of mind and body, and the psychological theory of ideas that he developes from it. How are both related to mechanism? Hobbes rejected Descartes' dualism. Summarize Hobbes' alternative theory of mind and describe how his mechanical approach differs from Descartes'. What are the problems associated with Hobbes' approach?
3. Describe Locke's/Galileo's distinction between the primary and the secondary qualities of sensation. Summarize the objections for empiricists raised by Berkeley and Hume and discuss why such points are not a problem for a rationalist like Kant?
1. Read the question carefully and spent a minute or two thinking before you start to write;
2. Underline key words before you begin to identify central issues in the question,
A. and sketch an outline to guide and organize your answer. Relate specific details in your answer to these issues: don't just list facts;
B. Decide which are the relevant details and which can be omitted or shortened;
e.g. Descartes' three classes of matter - this is not important
his distinction between actions and passions - this is critical
C. Include lots of relevant details and omit irrelevant ones;
3. Omit empty introductory sentences, e.g. "There was a great deal of controversy concerning the brain localization theories". They take up time and add little to your answer;
4. Always draw conclusions in your answer that relate the details that you have covered back to the central issues.
5. Make sure your sentences make sense- (read them over after you're finished);
6. If asked for your own views, always give the reasons behind those views.
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