Final Exam, Phil. 181 Fall 2005, Prof. Dowden   McTaggart place your answers in a bluebook   Infinity 1. Discuss the following reasoning. Because I can show that the notion of completed infinities leads to three unsolvable problems, there are no completed infinities. (1) It gives us Zeno's paradoxes. The trouble with Zeno's reasoning is that he assumes there are completed infinities of actions when in fact there are only potential infinities. Aristotle proved this. (2) We can think about infinity, but if an infinity of x's were some completed set of x's, then we'd need to have an actually infinite number of thoughts in our mind, but that's absurd because we are finite beings with only a finite amount of thoughts at any time. Just try thinking of seven things at once. (3) Finally, the term "infinity" means unbounded, that is, not complete, so a completed infinity would be a completed thing that is not completed, which is a contradiction in terms.   Space and Time 2. What is the present? Is it the fountain where the river of time gushes out of nothingness? Do you accept presentism, the metaphysical theory that only the present exists? Why do your opponents disagree with you?   Identity and Mind 3. Answer one, but only one, of the following two questions: 3a. Despite your changing over time by having new thoughts and new molecules, isn't there something that stays the same and makes you be you? What is it? What reasoning would your opponent give for answering differently? 3b. What is the Turing Test? Is it a good test, or can you recommend a better test?   Freedom 4. Discuss the following reasoning: Freedom is action that is not conditioned. Spinoza was correct when he said, "Men are mistaken in thinking themselves free; their opinion is made up of consciousness of their own actions, and ignorance of the causes by which they are conditioned."   God 5. Discuss the a priori arguments for and against God's existence.   PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS Updated: Dec. 27, 2005