Review for Exam #1

Prof. Stephens Fall 2009

Review Guide for Exam on Plato, Meno
and
Taylor, Metaphysics: Introduction through Chapter 2

Plato, Meno

1. Explain the problem of the One and the Many as it manifests itself metaphysically with the theory of Forms. (e.g. 74d)
2. What are the four possible ways virtue may be acquired that Meno presents to Socrates at the beginning of the Meno? (70a)
3. What is aretē? What kind of definition of aretē does Socrates want?
4. Compare and contrast dialectic and eristic. How are they similar? How are they different? Who practices which? (75c-e and 85b-c)
5. What is elenchus and who practices it?
6. Reconstruct the Argument that Everyone Desires the Apparent Good (77c-78b). Include examples of people who desire bad things believing them to be good.
7. How does Meno describe Socrates’ appearance at 80a-b?
8. Explain precisely what Meno’s Paradox of Inquiry is (80d). What does Socrates call this paradox?
9. What is aporia? What does it mean literally? Who experiences it? (80a-b; 84a) Why does Socrates think it is necessary for gaining knowledge? (84a-b)
10. Explain the Theory of Recollection by specifying each of the five elements (presuppositions) of this theory. (81b-d)
11. Who does Socrates say is the source of the Theory of Recollection? What are they able to do? (81a-b)
12. How does Socrates try to demonstrate recollection at work? (82b-85c) Is this theory plausible?
13. Explain why Socrates thinks we ought to reject Meno's Paradox of Inquiry (the Injunction to Inquire: 86b-c).
14. Reconstruct the Hypothetical Method Argument (87b-89c).
15. What must virtue be knowledge of in order to guarantee it is always used right? (discussed in class)
16. Why is Socrates skeptical about Meno’s conclusion that virtue can be taught? (89d-e)
17. What does Anytus think of the sophists? Who are the sophists and what do they do? (91d, 95c, 96d) Name several of the more prominent sophists. Which sophist made the most money? (91d)
18. Explain in detail (rather than trying to memorize verbatim) the Argument that Virtue is Not Teachable (89d-96c).
19. Explain the difference between right opinion (true belief) and knowledge. Explain the Road to Larissa example and what it shows (97a).
20. What is Socrates’ example of the statues of Daedalus meant to show? (97d-98a) How and why is being able to give an account important? Who does Socrates say is able “to give an account of their practices” in the Meno?
21. What do Socrates and Meno conclude about how virtue is acquired at the end of the dialogue? (99e-100a) How is it that good men are (or become) good/virtuous? In this respect, who are these good people like? (99c-d)
22. What does Socrates say about a statesman at the end of the Meno? (100a)

Taylor, Metaphysics

Introduction
1. Does Taylor think everyone has metaphysical views? (p.1)
2. What does Taylor think everyone has? (p.1)
3. How did William James define metaphysics? (p.1)
4. ~~How did the word "metaphysics" originate?~~ ~~What does "ontology" mean literally?~~
5. What questions does Taylor say most people go through life just taking for granted? (p.1)
6. What does Taylor think first of all claims the attention of all creatures? (p.1)
7. What does Taylor think we are most at home thinking of? (p.1)
8. How does Taylor define metaphysical thinking? (p.1)
9. In what sense does Taylor say that metaphysical problems are basic? Describe several of his examples. (p.1-2)
10. What does Taylor think is the “fruit of metaphysical thought”? (p.2)
11. How is the wise metaphysician like Socrates, according to Taylor? (p.2)
12. What is the relationship between a metaphysical problem and its data? How are data used in metaphysical theorizing? (p.2-3)
13. What did Aristotle say about proof (which Taylor quotes from Aristotle’s Physics)? (p.2)
14. How do metaphysical problems arise, according to Taylor? (p.3)
15. How does Taylor compare the intellects and the wills of people? (p.3)
16. What does Taylor think people generally believe? (p.3)
17. What does Taylor say people first of all seek? (p.3)
18. What does Taylor exhort his reader to do “concerning the final truth of things”? (p.3)
19. What does Taylor think is the first and always the most difficult step in doing metaphysics? (p.3)
20. Where does he say “the rest of the truth” will come from, and where will it not come from? (p.3-4)

Chapter One
21. What things does Taylor think one can do without and why? (p.5)
22. How does Taylor characterize most people? (p.5)
23. What did the ancients declare people to be? In what sense does Taylor think this might be so? (p.5)
24. What does Aristotle say about life and about reason, according to Taylor? (p.5-6)
25. What three things does Taylor say one cannot do without “without deep suffering and the diminishing of one's nature”? (p.6)
26. How does Taylor describe children? Why does he think many persons have difficulty in fathoming metaphysics? (p.6)
27. What does Taylor say metaphysics does not promise? (p.6-7)
28. What does Taylor say metaphysics does not offer? (p.6-7)
29. What does Taylor think metaphysics does offer as a reward? What does he say are not its rewards? (p.7)
30. What does Taylor say is the first reward of metaphysical wisdom? (p.7)
31. What are examples of the “numberless substitutes” for wisdom? (p.7)
32. What does Taylor think serves as “the cheap metaphysics”? (p.7)
33. What does Taylor say offers some sort of satisfaction in the mind of the religious skeptic? (p.7-8)
34. List various kinds of metaphysical questions. (p.8)
35. What does Taylor say anyone who can look at the world with wonder will seek? (p.8)
36. Why does Taylor think metaphysics will be shunned by most people? (p.8)
37. What are the two “poor cousins” of metaphysics, according to Taylor? (p.8)

Chapter Two
38. What does Taylor say law and morality presuppose? (p.9)
39. What does Taylor say many religions presuppose? (p.10)
40. What does Taylor say about it is quite natural to think when someone dies? (p.10)
41. What two things can Taylor hardly doubt? (p.10)
42. Describe Taylor’s account of the three possible relationships between oneself and one’s body.
43. Explain the view Taylor calls Materialism. What does he think are the advantages of this view (possibility #1)? (p.11-12)
44. Explain in detail the problems with Materialism that Taylor presents. (p.12-13)
45. What are Taylor’s criticisms of possibility #2? What kind of concept is occupancy? (p.15)
45. Explain the view Taylor calls Dualism. Briefly describe Plato's brand of Dualism. (p.14)
46. What kind of concept is possession, according to Taylor? What kinds of things it is accurate to say we use? What kinds of things does Taylor say we depend on? (p.15)
47. What are Taylor’s criticisms of possibility #3?
48. What conclusion about the relationship between oneself and one’s body does Taylor reach at the bottom of page 15?
49. Briefly explain the view Taylor calls Idealism. (p.16)
50. Briefly explain the view Taylor calls Epiphenomenalism. (p.16)