INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Short Essays for Test 1

Please prepare the following short essay questions prior to taking the online portion of the test. You can

then either, paste them into the test, attach them to the test.

You do not have to created a separate file for each question. But please name your file in the format -

Lastname_test1

Adequate answers to these questions should not be less than a long paragraph.

1. What is the mind/body problem? How did Descartes explain the connection between the mental and

the physical? What is Ryle’s criticism of Descartes’ view?

2. How does behaviorism explain the relation between the mental and the physical? What are the

problems with the behaviorist theory?

3. What is determinism? What is hard determinism? Why is hard determinism a challenge for our

understanding of moral responsibility?

4. Some philosophers believe that determinism and moral responsibility are compatible. Please explain.