1 Assess Avicenna’s arguments for the immortality of the soul.
2 How convincingly does Avicenna show the need for the Active in his theory of
knowledge?
3 Does Aquinas think that it is I who will survive the death of my body?
4 Critically assess Aquinas’ response to Aristotle’s On the Soul.
5 At what point in the Meditations can Descartes claim secure knowledge?
6 ‘The greatest benefit [of doubt in the Meditations] lies in freeing us from all our
preconceived opinions, and providing the easiest route by which the mind may be
led away from the senses’ (DESCARTES). Discuss.
7 ‘But in order to proceed from mathematics another principle is necessary …. that is
the principle of sufficient reason’ (LEIBNIZ). Discuss.
8 Does Leibniz’ essential reliance on the existence and nature of God in his
metaphysics mean that an atheist cannot accept any of his conclusions?
9 Can Berkeley believe in the existence of other minds?
10 Explain the importance of Berkeley’s theory of causation to the rest of his
metaphysics.
11 What is Hume’s aim in his account of causation? Does he achieve it?
12 ‘We feign the continu’d existence of the perceptions of our senses, to remove the
interruption; and run into the notion of a soul, and self, and substance, to disguise
the variation’ (HUME). Discuss.
13 Which, if any, of the following philosophers can properly be described as a
sceptic: Descartes, Berkeley, Hume? Answer with reference to at least two of
them.
14 Compare the views of any two philosophers set for this paper on the nature of
matter.
15 Compare the views of any two philosophers set for this paper of the nature of
ideas.