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Study
Guide for the Fourth Quiz (PHL 230 001) The
quiz will be given at the beginning of class on November 18, at 9:30. You will
have between 15-20 minutes to complete the quiz. In general, all quizzes will be
composed of a series of short answer questions from which you must choose 5 to
answer. This
quiz will cover Aristotle’s ethical work, the early Christian thinkers,
Augustine, and Boethius. There will also be an extra credit question on
Aristotle. What
you should know: 1. How does Aristotle come to conclude that there must be a “highest” good (1094a5-15)? You should know the basic structure of his argument here –be able to write it out in 3 or 4 sentences. 2. What are the basic characteristics of “happiness” for Aristotle? Here you should know what the basic formal characteristics are –rather than any specific content. 3. What is the formal definition of virtue for Aristotle? Again, be able to sketch this out in a few quick sentences. 4. You should be able to give some examples of “virtues” and explain, generally, in what these virtues consist (e.g. courage, temperance, etc.) 5. Why does Aristotle identify “contemplation” with the good life in Book X? 6. What is Tertullian’s response to philosophy? (Again, know some specific charges or claims that he makes –don’t just say: “he doesn’t like it.”) 7. What are some of the basic claims or positions that Origen feels he must argue against in the short work we have read by him? 8. What are some of the specific ways in which he adopts concepts or positions from philosophy in his analysis? 9. Same for Philo: what are the claims or positions that he feels he must address in “philosophizing” (or Hellenizing) Genesis? What are some of the specific ways in which he adopts concepts or positions from philosophy in his work? 10. What is the basic question that Pseudo-Dionysius is dealing with in his work? How does he define or place “evil” in the order of things? And, in a few short sentences, why? 11. How does Augustine define evil in The City of God? 12. You should also be able to explain, in a few short sentences, why there cannot be an efficient cause of an evil will according to Augustine. 13. What does the evil will ultimately arise out of, according to Augustine in the City of God? (One sentence here.) 14. Why did God give humanity free will, according to Augustine? Why is it a question whether or not God gave free will to humanity? 15. How does Augustine propose to show through reason that God exists? (Be able to sketch the structure of the argument in a few sentences.) 16. What are the levels of “epistemic faculties” that Augustine sketches out in On the Free Choice of the Will? How are they related? 17. In what “class” of goods does free will fall and why? 18. What is the ultimate source of movement of the will away from God (into sin)? 19. Why must all rational beings have free will according to Philosophy (in Boethius)? 20. How does Boethius articulate the problem of free will in his Consolation? 21. What is the basic solution to this problem? What is the distinction between simple and conditional necessity? |