Final Exam

1. Be sure to place your entire FINAL on your website and when you are finished send a link of your test to your teacher directly at neuralsurfer@yahoo.com (don't send it to any other email address, except that).

2. Make sure that it is YOUR OWN work and that if you use other authors please be sure to quote and/or cite the material appropriately. Plagiarism will not be tolerated and you will receive an "F" automatically for the examination.

3. The test is DUE 6/6/2010.

3a. Each answer should be at least two paragraphs long, if not much longer.

3b. What grade do you deserve and why?

I believe I deserve an A on my final exam because I worked extremely hard to complete it with great quality.

4. What is your real name?

My real name is Joshua Isami Kawate.

5. What is your "user" name?

My "user" name for the philosophy group is josh.kawate.

5a. What was your midterm grade? Or, if you revised it, your revised midterm grade? Provide a LINK to your midterm.

I recieved a B on my midterm grade. The link for my midterm is http://joshkawate.blogspot.com/2010/04/midterm-exam.html

6. What is your email address that you use for this class?

The email address that I use for this class is josh.kawate@rocketmail.com.

7. Name and address for your website.

The name of my philosophy website is The Posteriori Argument. It's address is joshkawate.blogspot.com.

8. Have you done all the reading for the entire class?

Yes, I have done all of the reading for the first three weeks.

9. Have you watched each of the films that were required?

Yes, I have watched each of the films that were required.

11. Why does Steven Pinker believe that evolution is important in understanding human behavior? Be specific in your answer.

Steven Pinker believes that evolution is important in understanding human behavior because he believes that our behavior evolved genetically in accordance to our reactions to the natural world. For example, our fear of darkness evolved from our ancestor's fear or being preyed upon at night. Although there are several variances of human behavior, the idea is that there is a "universal grammar", which allows humans to adapt to the environment. These originally are innate ideas which were formed from the evolution of our species.

12. In addition, why is the theory of evolution helpful in doing philosophy?

The theory of evolution is helpful in doing philosophy because it is the basis from human behavior and why we humans are what we are today. If we were to understand this, then it'll be a tremendous help in philosophy's search for the truth. Evolution vastly improves our potential to discover the truth within ourselves.

13. Explain why Francis Crick does NOT believe in a soul.

Francis Crick does not believe in a soul because there is no scientific basis to its existence. The actions of a soul can believe explained differently through scientific means. For example consciousness is just the workings of many nerves and neurons interacting with one another. He suggests that humans have created the concept of the soul because we are trying to convince ourselves that we are more important in the scheme of the universe than we actually are.

14. What are some of the major issues behind a neuro-ethical argument for vegetarianism? What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses?

The issues behind a neuro-ethical argument for vegetarianism are that all organism are somewhat similar to human beings. They can feel pain, they can react to their environment, and etc. Thus, eating another organism for our benefit is somewhat akin to eating a human being for satisfaction. However, some of the weaknesses of the argument entail the fact that many of these animals came into existence with the sole purpose of being eaten. Without our consumption, these animal would have not come into being. Also, animals, in their natural state, eat other animals for survival. Thus, we can conclude that it is natural to consume meat and not barbaric.

15. How do John Searle's views differ from Ken Wilber's? Who do you find more persuasive and why?

John Searle differs from Ken Wilber in their views of consciousness. Unlike Wilber, Searle believed in multiple levels of consciousness and connection between the neurons and the brain. Searle stated that neurons are the link between the brain and consciousness. In my opinion he was less persuasive than Wilber because Searle's claims, in my opinion, are a little more fanatical than Wilber's.

16. What is the theme behind the little movie, a GLORIOUS PIECE OF MEAT? How would a religious person argue against it?

The theme behind a Glorious Piece of Meat is that we believe our consciousness is in complete command of everything within our mind and our body while this is not truly the case. What the movie says we really are is the three mounds of mass in our skulls, and everything else is just attachments to the brain. A religious person can argue against this by asking who in return, is responsible for the creation of the brain. How can such a complex tool be created by mere chance, leading to the likely conclusion that there is a creator of the universe.

17. Why is Sam Harris so critical of religion? Give his strongest arguments and where do you think his argument fails? Or, if it doesn't fail, where does it succeed?

Sam Harris is critical of religion because religion is the basis of many conflicts in the world today. Many believe that their god is the true one and has spewed countless of battles and wars over the centuries. This religious fundamentalism is extremely dangerous and blots out the educated classes and peoples of the world. His argument succeeds because there is much religious intolerance, even in the world today. One can look at the Middle East for such an example of the religious intolerance that shows that Sam Harris is correct in his analysis and beliefs.

18. Explain the essence of Nietzsche's genealogy of morals. You can outline your answer here.

In his youth, Nietzsche asked himself the origins of good and evil. He came to the conclusion that this was from God, but he quickly found how did we determine what is good and what is bad. He would later state that morals were not what God wanted from humanity and that they were a sacred idol that was worshiped by humans. He believed that this needed to be fixed through self enlightenment,
to be changed through self-education.

19. Why does Gandhi believe in ahimsa?

Gandhi believes in ahimsa, or literally no violence, because he believed that violence created more problems than it solved. We can see the effectiveness in Gandhi's belief's from his successful protests in India to Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggle for freedom in America, where the nonviolent protests and practices led to their eventual goals, whereas violence would have more than likely led in the opposite directions regarding their struggles for freedom and equality with what they wanted.

20. What is Nietzche's notion of the myth of eternal recurrence? Be sure to use the film as your guide.

Nietzche's notion of the myth of eternal recurrence is that the Christian way of thinking is both a curse and a blessing, depending on the person's perspectives. Either the way of thinking can burden or enlighten. What he wants you to ask is would you do it again if you had the chance, or would you forsake it for bliss and happiness.

21. What is the ironic theme in the movie Flame On? Hint: what is the movie REALLY trying to say?

The theme of the movie Flame On is that the truth constantly changes with the times and that morality should not be absolute. People's belief's change over time and become liberalized as time goes on. For example, homosexuality was considered a major sin many years ago. Many people were killed for being homosexual back then. However, today, it is somewhat socially acceptable to be a homosexual and commit homosexual acts.

22. Why does Daniel Dennett favor calling himself a "bright"?

Daniel Dennet favors calling himself a bright because he believes that people who do not believe in God are smarter than the rest of the people that do. He also states that atheism has  negative connotation to it and that more people would be attracted to the atheistic lifestyle if people changed the word around to bright. However, interestingly, it appears that Dennet is not infact an atheist when he is more of an agnostic character because he states that he cannot prove or disprove that God exists but he also state that God has more than one meaning.

23. Outline Bertrand Russell's a FREE MAN'S WORSHIP.

In a Free Man's Worship, Bertrand Russell depicts his beliefs. Here he states that shortly after man spread throughout the world, he created God, an allmighty figure that helped man deal with the unknown of the world. The reason man created a benevolent figure to fill the void because we humans have a natural tendency to fear the unknown, however, this restricts us and binds us in ways that we could have no foreseen. For example, morality because one of the biggest restrictions that man has ever created and imposed on himself. The notions of heaven and hell restrict our actions in the world and cause us to fear death, when infact, we should not fear it, because Russell says that there is no eternal hell from which we should fear.

24. What is the overall theme of the movie INNER VISIONS AND RUNNING TRAINS?

The overall theme of the movie Inner Visions and Running Trains are that we human being are mostly ignorant and we lack knowledge of the real world. Much of what we know are theories and not laws that are absolute. Thus must of our knowledge is just guesses and not facts. We do not know what happens after death, thus we create fiction to cuddle our fear of the unknown.

25. What does Nicholas of Cusa mean by "learned ignorance"? What are its implications for your own life?''

Nicholas means that people who are learned people are still ignorant of the world. All of our knowledge is not absolute and people that try to discover God find out that it is impossible. He believes that people should just have faith and not try to discover the true nature of God because it is a fruitless pursuit. The implications for my own life are that no matter how much I try to learn, I will still be ignorant of the world and its ways.

26. What does Gerald Edelman mean by Neural Darwinism and Second Nature?

Edelman means that neuron are incharge of most of our functions in our body. He states that our second nature comes from these neurons and that it is the cause of much of our higher brain functions. It attempts to explain consciousness and whether or not artifical intelligence is possible.

27. Why turn vegetarian?---according to the film you saw. What arguments are there against vegetarianism? You may need to do a google search here.

The reasons for turning vegetarian are many. Meat converts less energy than vegetables and is more inefficient. Also, in-order to consume meat, humans must kill animals, which are sentient beings and will cause pain and suffering because all living things with a brain can feel pain in one form or another. However, some arguments against vegetarianism are that humans were designed to consume meat based on our anatomy. Also, it is natural and not barbaric to consume meat, as many animals in nature have proven. It is the way of things and not to do so is unnatural.

28. What was the turning point in Ramana Maharshi's life?

The turning point in his life is when he had a near death experience. He became enlightened and discovered that when a person dies, it is only his body that decomposes and not his soul. He would later go on and try and discover his true self through meditation and had a search for the truth and came up with that all people should stand up for what they believe in and try and live life to its full potential.

29. What was Gandhi's double shame? If Gandhi lived during our era would he have a different view of that event?
Why? Why not?

Gandhi's shame was that he was not looking after his father and left his responsibilities to his uncle while he was having fun with his wife. If he lived in our era, he would definitely have a different view of the event. Today it is acceptable for us to not loook after our parents all the time. Family is less important in the modern era and our respect for our elders has diminished today.

30. List Four distinct passages from Wittgenstein's Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and explain what you think they mean.

2.19 A logical picture can predict the world.
3.03 We cannot think anything unlogical, for otherwise we should have to think unlogically.
4.024 To understand a proposition means to know what is the case, if it is true.
4.113 Philosophy limits the disputable sphere of natural science.

These four passages mean that logic is important to the world. Without logic or philosophy, the world runs into chaos and we cannot know truth.

34. What was your favorite expert film lecture this term?

My favorite expert film lecture was by Owen Gingerich earlier in the year because it talked about how God made a mistake when he created the universe. He forgot to include a mysterious molecule which would have drastically altered the shape and laws from which this universe is ran.

35. What was your favorite movie this term?

My favorite movie this term was a Glorious Piece of Meat because I discovered the various arguments against having a soul and the true nature of the human consciousness, the brain.

36. What was your favorite reading?

My favorite reading was Plato's arguments against his accusers earlier in the semester. It taught me that life is not just and people are resistant to reason because they are too comfortable in their narrow view vision of the world.

37. Most unusual thing you learned this term.

The most unusual thing I learned this term was the belief that there are a multiple number of universes. It seems like a thing of science fiction. Who knew that this universe was so complex and stranger than ever imagined. This certainly proves the old saying to be true: "truth is stranger than fiction."

38. Give a review of the 3 required magazines listed above that you were required to read.