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PHILOSOPHY 201: INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY
FINAL EXAMINATION
DR. ROSS REED
SPRING 2018
Directions: Relax, breathe deeply, and take your time. Please answer both of the
following questions. Each answer should be a minimum of 750 words and should
utilize to the highest degree possible the assigned readings for the course, and From
Plato to Derrida. Citations should not exceed 25% of your total word count. For
maximum credit, each essay should include at least eight (8) citations to different
pages of the assigned readings and/or From Plato to Derrida. Put differently, your
exam should be a total (minimum) of 1500 words (750 per essay), with a total of
sixteen (16) citations from the assigned readings and/or From Plato to Derrida (8
per essay). Both essays combined total 350 points.
DUE in the DROP BOX on or before Wednesday, May 9th at midnight.
1. Based upon your thinking and reading in this course, what are some of the
benefits of philosophy? Put differently, what are some of the benefits of
thinking reflectively? State some of these, and how they can be beneficial.
How could philosophy be beneficial in the study of other subjects?
2. Remember that philosophy is a discipline that investigates all areas of life,
so nothing, per se, is beyond its scope. Name three philosophical problems
that you think are important, and explain why you think they are important.
(Some examples: Love, death (mortality), natural and moral evil, the existence of
God, religious fanaticism/fundamentalism, global warming, education, health care,
abortion, euthanasia, gun control, capital punishment, armed conflict/war, human
rights, food and water insecurity, overpopulation, racism/sexism, environmental
concerns, freedom and democracy, technological overreach, cybersurveillance,
addiction, terrorism.)
EXTRA CREDIT (ALL ANSWERS RECEIVE 10 POINTS):
Write your own philosophical poem, hip-hop rhyme, country song, or short essay.
Don’t hold back.
Thank you for your participation in this course.