PHIL 102 Final Exam Preparation Guide PDF

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PHIL 102-003, 2019-20 term 2 PHIL 102: Introduction to Philosophy II, 2019-20 Term 2 (Happiness) Final Exam Preparation Guide Because of the constraints imposed by the closing of campus to students, the normal format for the final exam is not feasible for this course. However, the exam will take place online in the same time window as the originally scheduled final exam would have occurred. The exam will start at 9:00 a.m., Monday, April 27, and last until 10:15 a.m. There are some details about the logistics and technology that we will use to administer the final exam that have not been determined. I expect to have this worked out within the next week. In particular, I anticipate asking you to use the “Lockdown Browser” in Canvas. A list of the authors and titles of the course readings for the second half of the course will appear at the top of the exam. The exam will have two parts. Questions in part 1 are more focused and will require answers of between one moderately lengthy paragraph to two or three shorter paragraphs. Questions in part 2 will be broader, and require a more substantial essay answer. Questions on the exam will be drawn from the list of questions below. You will have 75 minutes to complete the examination. Part I: Shorter answer questions Three of the following six questions will appear on your exam. You must answer two of those three questions. Each answer is worth 20% of exam score (40% total); you should spend about 15 minutes on each. These are intended to test your understanding of some basic themes in the readings and lectures, and how well you can explain these key ideas precisely and efficiently. 1. On Wolf’s account, why does the importance of finding meaning in one’s life (as in “active engagement in projects of worth”) complicate the idea of “self-interest”? Briefly but precisely explain how Wolf thinks “meaning” relates to our ordinary notions of “happiness,” and why “self-interest” is not as important or determinable as a goal for life. 2. On Benatar’s view, why is it bad to bring a person into a miserable existence, while it is not similarly bad to fail to bring a person into what we expect would be a pleasurable, happy existence? What are the ethical implications of this difference on Benatar’s view? 3. On Vitrano’s account of the “value of unhappiness,” why should one not seek to avoid unhappiness through such means as pills that prevent one from experiencing negative emotions? Supposing that is right, what implications does her argument have for thinking about happiness as an objective state that can be measured moment-bymoment? 4. What are some of the most salient differences in how happiness is understood across different cultures and times? Explain some of the main differences that have been observed. State at least one implication that such differences have for how we should theorize happiness.

PHIL 102-003, 2019-20 term 2 5. On Ahmed’s view, why is it appropriate for someone to be a “killjoy,” and what sort of joy does she advocate “killing”? 6. What are some of the most central characteristics of the experience of “flow,” as described by Nakamura and Czikszentmihalyi? Is this an experience one can or should seek to have continuously? Why or why not? Part II: Longer Essay Questions Two of the following five questions will appear on your exam. You must write an answer to one of those two. This answer is worth 60% of the exam score; you should spend roughly 45 minutes answering this question. This question aims to test your ability to pull together some of the different themes and arguments we have studied so far, and clearly, precisely and efficiently explain how they relate to each other. 7. Does “positive psychology” provide an appropriate, defensible way to think about happiness? What is meant by “positive psychology” and how is it different from other psychological approaches to well-being? What are the best reasons to implement the recommendations of the positive psychologists? What are some of the most important objections or worries raised against positive psychology? 8. Should society and/or government make the promotion of happiness a goal for policy? What are some of the main obstacles to happiness that such strategies would need to overcome? What would be recommended as principal strategies for the promotion of happiness by society or government? What are some of the most significant objections or worries to making happiness a goal of social policy? 9. If happiness is not appropriate as the main, final goal for a human’s life, what is? How should we distinguish other final goals for a human’s life from happiness? Why do some thinkers prioritize other goals over happiness? What is the proper role for happiness as part of a good life, according to such thinkers? 10. Can you be wrong in your assessment of your own happiness? Using at least one thinker from our readings, make as persuasive a case as you can for either a “yes” or “no” answer to this question. State and explain at least one cogent objection to the position you take in answer to this question. What are some of the most important implications of each answer, “yes” and “no,” to this question? 11. Is happiness always good? What are some objections to the claim that happiness is always good for a human being? How can happiness be problematic for people to pursue? How might advocates of happiness as the highest good respond to the more important criticisms of it? The questions on the exam will be numbered as they are above. Some suggestions for how to approach this exam: My hope is that by providing you the questions in advance, you are able to prepare your answers with some care in advance of the exam, and come in ready to start writing your answers at the beginning of your discussion section time. I am looking to see how much you have learned so far, so I urge you to give as much relevant, true, insightful information and evidence of what you have learned as you can in answer to each question. I’m interested in both seeing

PHIL 102-003, 2019-20 term 2 accurate, precise, efficient answers that demonstrate your grasp of the readings we have done as well as seeing how you explain and elaborate on some of the main themes of our course so far, demonstrating your own understanding and thinking about them. Keep in mind that the first two questions are together worth fewer points than the longer question in part two, so budget your time accordingly. The questions in part 2 of the exam are intended to draw upon several of the readings we did, and to make some connections and identify some contrasts among them. We will be looking to see both the depth and breadth of your learning and thinking. While this exam focuses on material we covered since the reading break in February, you may also wish to draw upon material from the first part of the course. It is not essential that you do so, but some of the ideas from that part of the course may be helpful especially in answering some of the questions in part 2 of the exam. Please feel free to ask questions in advance of the exam to clarify the questions above, either in discussion sections this week, in office hours, or by email to your TA or to me. Rules concerning the administration of this exam: Due to the circumstances of this exam, I am expecting students to obey the following rules in preparing for the exam and taking it. 1. You are allowed and encouraged to discuss the material with others in the course before the exam. The answer you write must be your own work, however, and written solely by you. I reserve the right to submit your answers to “Turn-it-in” to check for the originality of their composition. 2. You may use whatever printed material you wish during the exam. (However, it is not recommended that you spend much time during the exam consulting the readings or slides from the lectures.) You will likely be unable to use your computer for purposes other than typing your answers to the exam, so please print out or handwrite out whatever other material you expect to need to use during the exam; do not expect to be able to use your computer for the readings or the notes you will need during the exam. You will not be allowed to copy and paste your answers into the exam, but may outline your answers in advance. Like your actual answers, any such outlines should be solely your own work. 3. For this exam, there is an upper word limit on answers, corresponding to how many words I would expect you to be able to write in the corresponding length of time for each question. Answers to each question in part 1 can be a maximum of 750 words long (it is expected that they will be shorter than this). The answer to the question in part 2 can be a maximum of 2000 words long (it is expected that it will be shorter than this). 4. You will be asked to affirm at the end of the exam that you have complied with these rules. Failure to affirm that you have complied with these rules will result in a score of 0 for this exam. It will be considered a violation of UBC’s academic honesty policy to make a false declaration. Additional Accommodations for the exam If you require additional accommodations for this exam, such as to sit it at a different time (due to time-zone differences or other scheduling conflicts), or due to technological limitations where you are, please contact me as soon as you are aware of these difficulties, and we will try to work out some suitable alterations or accommodations. If you are registered with

PHIL 102-003, 2019-20 term 2 the Centre for Accessibility and require accommodations that they would ordinarily manage, please let me know that as well, so that I can work with you to make these adjustments in advance. Optional Review Sessions in advance of the exam I will hold optional review sessions online for any students who wish to discuss the material for this exam together. These will take place using Zoom software at the following times: Thursday, April 23, 3:30-5:00 p.m., PDT Friday, April 24, 9:00-10:30 a.m., PDT The password for these meetings is: 102 The Zoom Meeting info is below: Topic: PHIL 102 Review Session Join Zoom Meeting https://ubc.zoom.us/j/92757351669?pwd=TFdBMXkyVlZia2NrRmVRYzc4ZTg1UT09 Meeting ID: 927 5735 1669 Password: 102 One tap mobile +15873281099,,92757351669# Canada +16473744685,,92757351669# Canada Dial by your location +1 587 328 1099 Canada +1 647 374 4685 Canada +1 647 558 0588 Canada +1 778 907 2071 Canada +1 438 809 7799 Canada +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 253 215 8782 US +1 301 715 8592 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 927 5735 1669 Find your local number: https://ubc.zoom.us/u/adpWNLlKjJ Join by SIP

PHIL 102-003, 2019-20 term 2 [email protected] Join by H.323 162.255.37.11 (US West) 162.255.36.11 (US East) 221.122.88.195 (China) 115.114.131.7 (India Mumbai) 115.114.115.7 (India Hyderabad) 213.19.144.110 (EMEA) 103.122.166.55 (Australia) 209.9.211.110 (Hong Kong) 64.211.144.160 (Brazil) 69.174.57.160 (Canada) 207.226.132.110 (Japan) Meeting ID: 927 5735 1669 Password: 102...