1. ‘Realism is not a semantic issue; so Putnam is wrong to argue against
realism by criticising claims about truth and reference.’ Do you agree?
2. EITHER: (a) Must a conceptual relativist think that conceptual relativism is
true relative to some conceptual schemes but not to others? If so, is this a
problem for conceptual relativism?
OR: (b) ‘It makes no sense to say what the objects of a theory are, beyond
saying how to interpret or reinterpret that theory in another’ (QUINE).
Discuss.
3. What do transcendental arguments aim to show? Does any succeed?
4. How do linguistic considerations bear on the distinction between
particulars and universals?
5. ‘Universals are abstract entities.’ What does this mean? Is it true?
6. Is the notion of agency needed to account for the temporal asymmetry of
causation?
7. Is change possible without temporal flow?
8. In what ways is time different from space?
9. Does personal identity matter?
10. Are you different from the thinking animal sitting in your chair?