Philosophy 103
Midterm Exam Study Guide

I.  Identifying terms and distinctions: 

You should be able to explain the following in a few sentences:

Logic:  argument, valid argument; modus ponens (include example); modus tollens (include example)

"Euthyphro":  Euthyphro's attempted definitions of piety (at least 3); "divine command"
                           theory of morality
 
Republic:  Glaucon's three categories of value; Socrates' definition of justice in the city and in
                    the individual

Nicomachean Ethics:  the two criteria that Aristotle claims anything must meet in order to be the
            "best good"; his definition of happiness (eudaimonia); his account of the human telos;
              his account of what a virtue is; his account of virtue as a mean; his distinction
              between continence and temperance and incontinence and intemperance; his three
              types of friendship.

Encheiridion:  Epictetus' distinction between what is and is not up to us; his view of
          the attitude we ought to take toward death--either our own or family members'

Leviathan:  Hobbes' definition of appetite, aversion, power, felicity; his First and
             Second Laws of Nature

II.  Short Essay

You should be able to develop short essays of a few paragraphs on the following topics.
(The more carefully you can develop your answers the better.)

    1.  Explain the "divine command" theory of morality.  What is the most important objection against
        this theory?  How might a defender respond to this objection?
  
    2.  What criteria, according to Aristotle, must something meet in order to qualify as the "best good?"
            What does he think actually meets these criteria?  How does he defend this view?

    3.  According to Aristotle, what is eudaimonia?  What is it not?  How does he defend this view
            (especially relying on the telos for human beings)? 
  
    4.  Aristotle claims that virtue is a mean.  How does he explain and defend this claim?
            Use an example to illustrate this view.

    5.  Explain Aristotle's conception of continence and incontinence, and their relation to
             temperance and intemperance.  How does he characterize each of these states?
             How are they similar to, how different from each other?  What does Aristotle
             think are the best and worst of these states, and why?

    6.  Explain the main features of Epictetus' account of how we ought to live.  What is
             the most important objection against this account?  How might Epictetus respond?

    7.  Explain the most important features of Hobbes' view of human nature and the "state of nature."
            What is the most important objection against Hobbes' account?  How might Hobbes respond?


ausible?