Answer both of the following questions. Each answer is to be a 1000 to 1200 word formal essay (double spaced, normal margins and fonts, etc.) addressed to someone with familiarity with the required material for this course.

1.    What is the theory of inference to the best explanation?  Show how inference to the best explanation can       be used to evaluate the quality of evidence presented in defense of Darwin's theories common descent and natural selection.  What is evolutionary psychology?  What is the evidence for this theory?

2.     According to Damasio, what was wrong with Elliot?  Critically evaluate the evidence in support of Damasio's  theory.

Answer all three of the following questions. Each answer is to be an 800 to 1000 word  formal essay (double spaced, normal margins and fonts, etc.) addressed to someone with only limited familiarity with the required material for this course.

1.    Critically analyze the positions of hard determinism, libertarianism, and compatiblism (soft-determinism).  You will need to sympathetically explain each of these theories.  Now show how the issue of free will versus determinism is related to moral and legal responsibility.

2.    What is the Turing test?  What is Searle's argument as to why the Turing test is irrelevant to strong AI?  What is parallel processing (or connectionism)?  Why might this improve the chances of a computer passing the Turing test?

3.    What is the problem of personal identity?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of the main theories?  How does Nozick's closest-continuer theory fit into all of this?