Philosophy

Question 1

The Turing Test

Answer 1

1) If a machine passes the Turing test then it can think
2) No machine can think. A machine that passes the Turing test can only simulate thought
3) If a machine passes the Turing test, then that provides us with good reason to believe that it can think

Question 2

The Conceivability Argument

Answer 2

1) If I can conceive of some state of affairs without contradiction, then that state of affairs is possible
2) I can conceive of myself as existing without my body
Therefore
3) It is possible for me to exist without my body
Hence,
4) I am distinct from my body

Question 3

Arnauld’s Objection to Conceivability

Answer 3

Just because you can conceive of some state of affairs, does not show that the state of affairs is possible
(Use the triangle example)

Question 4

The Computational Theory of Mind

Answer 4

The mind is just a computer, and mental activity is just computational activity

Question 5

The Chinese Room Argument

Answer 5

(argument against the computational theory of mind)
1) Syntax is not sufficient for semantics
2) Minds have semantics
3) Computer programs are entirely defined by their formal syntactical structure
Therefore,
4) A program by itself is never sufficient for having a mind

Question 6

Problems with behaviorism: Pain

Answer 6

Super-spartans

Question 7

Behaviorism

Answer 7

The doctrine that mental states are simply behavioral dispositions
(A behavioral disposition is a tendency to exhibit certain types of behavior under certain circumstances)

Question 8

Skepticism about Other Minds

Answer 8

1) Lies, self-deceptions, misunderstandings
2) Systematic Deception (The Truman Show)
3) Zombies, automata

Question 9

The Dreaming Argument

Answer 9

If you can’t know that you are not dreaming, then you can’t know anything about the external world on the basis of perception

You can’t know that you are not dreaming, therefore you can’t know anything about the external world on the basis of perception

Question 10

Epistemology

Answer 10

The study of human knowledge and human justification

Question 11

Skepticism about the External World

Answer 11

1) Perceptual Error (illusions, hallucinations, etc)
2) The dreaming argument (suggests I can’t know anything about the external world on the basis of perception)
3) The evil demon (calls the very existence of the external world into question)

Question 12

Modes Ponens

Answer 12

If P, then Q
P therefore Q

Question 13

The Ontological Argument

Answer 13

1) I can conceive of a perfect deity
2) A deity that exists is more perfect than a deity that does not exist
Therefore
3) The deity that I am conceiving of exists

Question 14

Objections to Dualsim

Answer 14

1) Dualism is too mysterious
2) Smullyan’s Parable
3) The Continuity of Nature

Question 15

Epiphenomenalism

Answer 15

The doctrine that one’s mind exerts no causal impact upon one’s body

Question 16

Materialism

Answer 16

The doctrine that everything that exists is physical (material)

Question 17

Consciousness

Answer 17

The qualitative aspect of experience (what is is like)

Is widely regarded as the single most difficult and intractable problem in contemporary philosophy

Question 18

Cartesian Dualism

Answer 18

The doctrine that thinking beings possess immaterial souls entirely distinct from their physical bodies

Question 19

Metaphysics

Answer 19

Studies the nature, construction, and structure of reality

Question 20

The Systems reply

Answer 20

The person might not understand Chinese, but the SYSTEM as a WHOLE does

Question 21

The robot reply

Answer 21

Syntactic manipulation does not by itself give rise to semantics
Causal interaction with the world is also needed for semantics
But this is consistent with the computational theory of mind

Question 22

valid argument

Answer 22

An argument where the premise entails the conclusion. If you accept the premises, then you have no choice but to accept the conclusion.

Question 23

invalid argument

Answer 23

Where the premise doesn’t entail the conclusion

Question 24

Epistemic vs practical reasons

Answer 24

Practical: think of Pascal’s Wager, makes practical sense
Epistemic: Believing that it will rain because that’s what the weather forecast said

Question 25

cogito, ergo sum

Answer 25

I think therefore I am

Question 26

god no deceiver

Answer 26

Argument against skepticism about the external world: Descartes says that God is perfect and would not let us be led astray

Question 27

metaphysical possibility

Answer 27

A really existing principle that exists outside of our minds making some activity possible

Question 28

the amnesia argument

Answer 28

1) Suppose I have amnesia

2) I can conceive of a world in which I exist, but Elizabeth Danielson does not exist
Therefore,
3) It is possible for me to exist without Elizabeth Danielson existing
But,
4) It is not possible for Elizabeth Danielson to exist without Elizabeth Danielson existing
Hence, (Be Leibniz’s law),
5) I am not Elizabeth Danielson

Question 29

causal overdetermination

Answer 29

Every physical event has a physical cause. But if the movement also has a mental cause, then the movement would be causally overdetermined

Question 30

occasionalism

Answer 30

Whenever you decide to make some voluntary movement of your body, God takes this as an occassion to move your body

Question 31

pre-established harmony

Answer 31

God created two universes: the mental and the physical. They develop according to their own internal principles. But there exists a pre-established harmony so that there is an appearance of causal interaction between the two.

Question 32

monism

Answer 32

denies the existence of a distinction (like between mind and body)

Question 33

the mary argument

Answer 33

1) Mary knows all the physical facts concerning human color vision before leaving the black and white room
2) But there are some facts about human color vision that Mary does not know before leaving the black and white room
Therefore,
3) There are non-physical facts concerning human color vision

Question 34

blockhead

Answer 34

computer that simulates intelligence by being programed to respond to any number of things like a human