Prompt: First Paper

PHIL 201: Problems of Philosophy

Professor: Ulf Hlobil

Instructions:
Do one of the following two options in roughly 1300 words (including footnotes and
references).
In order to hand in your paper, you must submit it via Moodle (as a doc, docx, or pdf file)
by 23:55 oclock on Wednesday, March 1nd. You can do so under the week 26 February 4
March on the Moodle page of the course. Please mentioned the topic you are choosing in the
name of your file. Moreover, mention your student ID number in the file.
Please use a standard citation style and apply it consistently. Reread the guidelines on how
to write a good philosophy paper before starting to work on the paper.

Option 1: Mind
In the text that we have read, Carruthers discusses an argument that is, in effect, the argument
that Frank Jackson presents in What Mary Didnt Know. He claims that the argument is
invalid (Carruthers, Introducing Persons: Theories and Arguments in the Philosophy of
Mind, Routledge: 1986, p. 144). Compare and evaluate Jacksons and Carrutherss opposing
views regarding this argument by doing the following:

(a) State and explain Jacksons Knowledge Argument for dualism. (roughly 300 words)
(b) Explain why Carruthers thinks that the argument is invalid. (roughly 400 words)
(c) Do you think that Jacksons argument is sound? Justify your answer by giving reasons for
your view. Consider a potential objection to your view. (roughly 600 words)

Option 2: Knowledge
Hume writes that all our experimental conclusions proceed upon the supposition, that the
future will be conformable to the past. To endeavour, therefore, the proof of this last
supposition by probable arguments, or arguments regarding existence, must be evidently
going in a circle, and taking that for granted, which is the very point in question (Hume, An
Enquiry Concerning Hume Understanding, Sec. IV, 19). Goodman thinks that this problem
can be solved. Compare and evaluate Humes and Goodmans views by doing the following:

(a) Explain the problem Hume is discussing in the passage just quoted. (roughly 300 words)
(b) Explain what Goodman thinks the solution to this problem is. (roughly 400 words)
(c) Does Goodmans solution to Humes problem work? If so, why? If not, why not? Justify
your response by giving reasons. Consider a potential objection to your view. (roughly
600 words)