PHIL 2015 philosophy

- Define and briefly explain the significance of the following concepts/distinctions. Each answer should have a one or two sentences explaining what the philosopher means by this concept, and three or four sentences explaining why the concept is significant for that philosopher.

- When discussing the significance of a concept or distinction, you should focus on why it is significant for Plato’s or Aristotle’s argument or project. We are looking for a brief discussion of how this concept or distinction fits into Plato’s or Aristotle’s overall system. We are not looking for a discussion of why you personally find the concept significant or interesting


QUESTION#1:
Define and briefly explain the significance of one of the following concepts/distinctions. Your answer should have a one or two sentences explaining what the philosopher means by this concept, and three or four sentences explaining why the concept is significant for this philosopher. The concept you discuss in your answer must be different than the one you discuss in question 2 or 3.
?Care of the soul (Plato Apology)
?Forms (Plato Phaedo; Republic VI 504e-511e)
?Matter and form (Aristotle Physics; Metaphysics)
?Intelligence (aka  prudence or practical wisdom) (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics)
PART B:

Answer the following questions. Your answers should not be written in essay format. Answer one question on Plato and one on Aristotle. (2 questions, 10 marks each)
• Note 1: Make sure you answer one question on Plato and the other on Aristotle. If you answer two questions on Plato or two on Aristotle, you will receive a 0 on one of those answers. There will be choice for both the Plato and the Aristotle questions, though not all of the questions on this list will appear on the exam.
 • Note 2: Make sure you answer each of the sub-questions
• Note 3: Each question has both a factual component and an evaluative component. The two components are weighted equally, so make sure you put as much effort into the evaluative part as you put into the factual part.
 • Note 4: The factual component of the questions asks you to outline or summarize a position/arguments. You must do so in your own words. Answers that are taken straight from outside sources will receive 0. Answers that are taken straight from outside sources without being cited will receive 0 and may be investigated for plagiarism.
 • Note 5: When you evaluate a position/arguments, you must do more than summarize Plato’s or Aristotle’s argument. If you disagree with the philosopher’s position, you could raise an objection to it. If you agree with the position, you could raise an objection, and then show how Plato or Aristotle would have responded to it.


QUESTION#2:
Answer one of the following questions. Your answer should not be written in essay format.
?In the Euthyphro Socrates asks: "Is the pious [1] loved by the gods because it is pious? Or [2] is it pious because it is loved [by the gods]?" Explain the difference between 1 and 2. Indicate which alternative Euthyphro adopts and briefly outline Socrates’ refutation. Do you think that Socrates refutation works? Explain your answer. (Euthyphro 9c-11b)
?Briefly summarize Simmias’ argument for why the soul is not immortal, and outline Socrates’ three responses to this argument. Do you think that any of these responses succeed in refuting Simmias’ argument? Explain your answer. (Phaedo 85c-86d; 91c-94e)



QUESTION#2:
Answer one of the following questions. Your answer should not be written in essay form.
?How is the distinction between potentiality and actuality supposed to show that substance is primary even though it is composed of form and matter? Do you think that this solution works? Explain why or why not. (Metaphysics IX)
?State Aristotle’s definition of a virtue of character and briefly (one or two sentences for each) explain what each component of this definition means or entails. Aristotle thinks that a virtue of character is a mean between a vice of excess and a vice of deficiency. Do you agree? Explain why or why not. (Nicomachean Ethics II)