PHIL 437: Final Exam, Part II (Take Home)
WORD LIMIT = 1000 WORDS.
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REMINDER: PART I OF
THE EXAM (THE IN-CLASS PORTION) WILL BE A ONE-HOUR EXAM AND
THIS PART II OF THE EXAM SHOULD BE ENTIRELY YOUR OWN INDEPENDENT WORK. DO NOT DISCUSS THIS PART OF THE EXAM WITH ANY OTHER STUDENT IN THE CLASS (OR WITH ANYONE ELSE).
Reason and the passions. (1) Explain why Hume's use of "Reason" in Books 2 and 3, corresponds to the role of the understanding (Reason plus imagination) from Book 1. (2) Explain Hume's account of the role of passions in motivating action. (3) Explain what Hume means when he says: "Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions."(T 2.3.3.4) (4) Explain why Hume believes that moral judgments are a product of the passions, not Reason (in the sense explained in part 1 above). (5) Critically evaluate Hume's position on the relation of reason and the passions, especially as applied to moral judgment. To critically evaluate a position, you must consider the strongest arguments for both sides and the strongest objections to both sides and then give your considered judgment of which side it makes the most sense to believe with your reasons for preferring it to the opposing view. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REFUTE THE OPPOSING VIEW, ONLY SHOW THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN IT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
WRITE YOUR EXAM IN THE FORM OF A PAPER, NOT AN EXAM ANSWER. MAKE SURE YOUR DISCUSSION IS WELL-GROUNDED IN THE HUME TEXT.