FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
INSTRUCTIONS: The assignment should be between 8-9 pages double-spaced with an ordinary font
and ordinary margins. You should give non-technical characterizations of any technical terms that you
use and be sure to follow the instructions closely. Your answers to the questions should be written as
short essays but the essays do not need to include an introduction or a conclusion.
You are expected to work on the exam by yourself although sharing non-specific resources – page
numbers, class notes, or general thoughts1 about the theories we have discussed in class – is
acceptable. You can use any of the sources that we have used in class or that I have posted on the
website but if you use an outside source you must clear it with me first. The assignment is due on
September 16th to your TA and on turnitin.
I hope everyone has fun! Please email me or your TA if you have any questions.
1. PERSONAL IDENTITY: Take the following example adapted from the discussion on the first day:
Anthony Dunn looked up at the looming robot above him. He was going to survive! He was going to
escape this frail body and live for a thousand years! The government doctor adjusted something behind
his head in preparation for the operation.
“Let's get on with it, doc!” Dunn commanded in his nasal whine, ready to move on to the next stage.
The doctor frowned at Dunn and then pressed a hypospray against his arm. Dunn's body grew still and
the doctor got to work. He quickly removed Dunn's brain and dropped it into a vat of liquid in the
robot's stomach. A few tense moments passed and then the robot spoke with Anthony Dunn's distinctive
voice:
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“Did it work Doc? Have I finally escaped that frail body?!”
What would the psychological continuity theory, the body theory, and the soul theory, say about this
example? Did Dunn survive the brain-transfer operation? Explain why the theories would say this: that
is, explain the theories and then apply each of them to the example.
2. DUALISM: Explain what property dualism is and explain what it means to say that mental
properties are “epiphenomenal” (contrast epiphenomenalism with parallelism and interactionism). Why
might someone think that epiphenomenal dualism is preferable to interactionist dualism? Briefly give
an argument that it is preferable.
3. BEHAVIORISM: Give Ryle's Identification Argument against dualism and explain why it seems to
support philosophical behaviorism. If you were a dualist, how might you resist the argument? Does the
Identification Argument seem plausible to you? Explain why or why not.
4. FUNCTIONALISM: What is functionalism? Explain how functionalism is different from
philosophical behaviorism (if it is useful to you, think about the difference between input-output
functionalism and behaviorism). How might functionalism avoid the super-stoic argument against
behaviorism?
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1 The idea here is that everyone will write the exam by themselves but it is alright to discuss general class material.
5. FUNCTIONALISM: The China-India-US-EU Brain is supposed to be a counterexample2 to
functionalism. Explain the example (you don't have to go into too much detail) and say why it is
supposed to be a counterexample. How might someone respond on behalf of the functionalist? Is it
significant that every single individual who makes up the China-India-US-EU brain is just
“mindlessly” following instructions?
6. CTM: What is the CTM (Computational Theory of Mind)? How does it explain rational thinking? In
particular, how would it explain the following episode of rational thinking:
Andrew believes that [if today is Tuesday, then the Philosophy Department is open today] and
he believes that [today is Tuesday]. On the basis of these two beliefs, Andrew infers that the
Philosophy Department is open today.
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