Choose and answer two exam question from section 5 of the questions list for the exam.
Please (you must!) include the question text in your discussion post!
Each question must be answered in 500 words
Section 5:
1. What are three Theories of Truth? Give examples of each. Could they work together? Explain.
2. How does Descartes try to close the gap between appearance and reality? Is he successful? Why or why not?
3. What is the Cartesian circle? Is there a way out? What is it?
4. What are Parmenides’s arguments for the impossibility of change? Zeno’s? Do you find them convincing?
5. What is Descartes Dream Argument? Evil Genius Argument? What are they meant to do (convince us of)? Do you find them convincing?
6. The ultimate virtual reality machine would present a world so real that we couldn’t tell that it was fake. Can you know that you’re plugged into this machine right now? If not, what difference does it make?
7. Descartes assumes that we can be certain about our mental states. Is that true? Could you be mistaken about your mental states? Could you be mistaken that you are in pain? If so, what does this mean for the Cartesian project?
8. Can the epistemic principles that Descartes uses to prove the existence of the external world also be used to prove the existence of other minds? Why or why not?
9. Science and Faith Thought Probe in 7.1 (5th edition, pg 560-Other editions should have the same thought probe should be in other editions)
10. Constructing Reality Thought Probe in 7.1 (5th edition, pg 564-“”)
11. Can we be certain that the way the world appears corresponds to the way it really is? Why or why not?
12. Does knowledge require certainty? Why or why not? Does it matter? Why or why not?
