Phil. 181 Final exam Prof. Dowden

seal of the university

California State University, Sacramento
Department of Philosophy
Final Exam, Phil. 181, Metaphysics
Prof. Dowden, fall semester 2002

A centipede was happy quite,
Until a frog in fun
Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?"
This raised her mind to such a pitch,
She lay distracted in the ditch
Considering how to run.
1. "Once we realize that something cannot come from nothing and that nothing causes itself, then we will see that God's creation of the universe is the most probable explanation of its existence." Discuss. Be sure to mention the view of Sober and the view of Swinburne that was presented in his response to Parfit.

2. Discuss and clarify the concept of pain. Include the views at least of Dennett and Wittgenstein. Place the concept under 'stress' as Swartz does.

3. Discuss the position of Bender on the metaphysical issue of free will.

4. "The reason why the chalkboard in the back of our classroom in Sequoia Hall is similar to the chalkboard on the side of our classroom is that there are green tropes in each chalkboard." Discuss this and alternative reasons.

5. Heraclitus raised a problem about stepping into the same river twice, and Hobbes mentioned a problem with rebuilding the ship of Theseus. How have these problems been solved?



	California State University, Sacramento Department of Philosophy Final Exam, Phil. 181, Metaphysics Prof. Dowden, fall semester 2002

	A centipede was happy quite, Until a frog in fun Said, "Pray, which leg comes after which?" This raised her mind to such a pitch, She lay distracted in the ditch Considering how to run. 1. "Once we realize that something cannot come from nothing and that nothing causes itself, then we will see that God's creation of the universe is the most probable explanation of its existence." Discuss. Be sure to mention the view of Sober and the view of Swinburne that was presented in his response to Parfit. 2. Discuss and clarify the concept of pain. Include the views at least of Dennett and Wittgenstein. Place the concept under 'stress' as Swartz does. 3. Discuss the position of Bender on the metaphysical issue of free will. 4. "The reason why the chalkboard in the back of our classroom in Sequoia Hall is similar to the chalkboard on the side of our classroom is that there are green tropes in each chalkboard." Discuss this and alternative reasons. 5. Heraclitus raised a problem about stepping into the same river twice, and Hobbes mentioned a problem with rebuilding the ship of Theseus. How have these problems been solved?