PLS1501 EXAM PACK
2021
UNIVERSITY EXA.MINA.TIONS
October/November 2020
PLS 1501
Introduction to Western Philosophy
100 Ma.rks
Dura.tion: 24 Hours
This pa.per consists of 2 pa.ges including this cover pa.ge.
Instructions:
Your exa.m consists of 3 QUESTIONS.
SECTION A. which consists of ONE QUESTION is COMPULSORY a.nd counts 50 ma.rks
You ca.n choose to a.nswer A.NY TWO of the FOUR QUESTIONS under SECTION B
A.ll 3 a.nswers must be submitted a.s pa.rt of A. SINGLE word file/ text
DOCUMENT.
Plea.se remember to downloa.d the pla.gia.rism decla.ra.tion a.va.ila.ble on MyUNISA. a.nd
include a. completed version in your fina.l submission.
Plea.se consult your 203 tutoria.l letter on MyUNISA. for submission instructions.
Good luck a.nd a.ll of the best.
, SECTION A [50 marks]
The question in this section is compulsory.
1. Write an essay {maximum 1000 words} in which in light of your studies this
semester, provide a detailed answer to the following interrelated questions
(which must form the main sections of your essay). (i) What is Western
philosophy? (ii) What value, if any, can it in your opinion contribute to
South African society? [in answering this question, you are encouraged to
make recourse to etymology, branches, history and historical figures in
philosophy]
SECTION B [50 marks]
Choose any 2 questions in this section.
2. Please discuss Aristotle’s doctrine of the four causes applying it to the an
illustrated visualisation of the microscopic coronavirus as seen in fig 1 .
hereunder. [In your answer you must first set out Aristotle’s doctrine of the
four causes and use Fig 1 as your example/ illustration].{maximum 500
words} [25 marks]
Figure 1 1
1. Discuss in detail Plato’s allegory of the cave and its philosophical
(epistemological and political) significance {maximum 500 words}
[25 marks]
2. Critically discuss Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God {maximum 500
words} [25marks]
1
See https://elemental.medium.com/what-the-coronavirus-image-youve-seen-a-million-times-really-shows-3d8de7e3eb1f for more details about the origin of the attached image
The question in this section is compulsory.
1. Write a.n essa.y {ma.ximum 1000 words} in which in light of your studies this semester,
provide a. deta.iled a.nswer to the following interrela.ted questions (which must form the
ma.in sections of your essa.y). (i) Wha.t is Western philosophy? (ii) Wha.t va.lue, if a.ny, ca.n
it in your opinion contribute to South A.frica.n society? [in a.nswering this question, you a.re
, encoura.ged to discuss etymology(of ‘philosophy’), bra.nches, history a.nd historica.l figures
in philosophy]
Introduction
Philosophy is defined a.s the study of the funda.menta.l na.ture of knowledge, its etymology comes
from the Greek word ‘philosophia.’. Philo mea.ning ‘love of’ a.nd Sophia. mea.ning ‘knowledge’.
Western philosophy refers specifica.lly to the philosophic pursuits of the western world tha.t
emerged out Greece. The ea.rliest philosophica.l movement being the Presocra.tics in 624 BC.
Wha.t distinguishes philosophy from other fields of study is its subject ma.tter a.nd methodology.
Western philosophy ca.n be broken down into three ma.in bra.nches Meta.physics, epistemology
a.nd ethics.
The study of existence is often referred to a.s "meta.physics" we exa.mine wha.t na.ture of
‘stuff’ is.
While the study of knowledge is ca.lled "epistemology". Epistemology exa.mines belief, opinion a.nd
objective knowledge. Wha.t do we know a.nd how do we know it.
The study of va.lues ca.n be divided into two ma.in bra.nches: mora.lity ("ethics") a.nd bea.uty
("a.esthetics").
The A.ims Of Philosophy
1. Wha.t is knowledge?
This refers to the following kinds of issues a.nd questions: How ca.n we know a.nything, Is there
a.bsolutes, universa.l truths. it ca.n help people understa.nd whether their closely-held derive from
objective or subjective informa.tion. In a. counry with such a. history of division, “unlea.rning” or
a.tlea.st questioning wha.t we think we is essentia.l.
2. How should we conduct ourselves?
Wha.t exa.ctly is na.ture of the huma.n condition. Wha.t is mora.lity a.nd wha.t constitutes "the
good." When we exa.mine the history of South A.frica. we must Wha.t is a. va.lued life a.nd va.lued
wa.y of being?
3. How should we govern ourselves?
Huma.nism,
This study source wa.s downloa.ded by 100000799301222 from CourseHero.com on 10-19-2021 06:23:17 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/100045288/exa.mdocx/
, utilita.ria.nism
Conclusion
interroga.tion
world
This study source wa.s downloa.ded by 100000799301222 from CourseHero.com on 10-19-2021 06:23:17 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/100045288/exa.mdocx/
2021
UNIVERSITY EXA.MINA.TIONS
October/November 2020
PLS 1501
Introduction to Western Philosophy
100 Ma.rks
Dura.tion: 24 Hours
This pa.per consists of 2 pa.ges including this cover pa.ge.
Instructions:
Your exa.m consists of 3 QUESTIONS.
SECTION A. which consists of ONE QUESTION is COMPULSORY a.nd counts 50 ma.rks
You ca.n choose to a.nswer A.NY TWO of the FOUR QUESTIONS under SECTION B
A.ll 3 a.nswers must be submitted a.s pa.rt of A. SINGLE word file/ text
DOCUMENT.
Plea.se remember to downloa.d the pla.gia.rism decla.ra.tion a.va.ila.ble on MyUNISA. a.nd
include a. completed version in your fina.l submission.
Plea.se consult your 203 tutoria.l letter on MyUNISA. for submission instructions.
Good luck a.nd a.ll of the best.
, SECTION A [50 marks]
The question in this section is compulsory.
1. Write an essay {maximum 1000 words} in which in light of your studies this
semester, provide a detailed answer to the following interrelated questions
(which must form the main sections of your essay). (i) What is Western
philosophy? (ii) What value, if any, can it in your opinion contribute to
South African society? [in answering this question, you are encouraged to
make recourse to etymology, branches, history and historical figures in
philosophy]
SECTION B [50 marks]
Choose any 2 questions in this section.
2. Please discuss Aristotle’s doctrine of the four causes applying it to the an
illustrated visualisation of the microscopic coronavirus as seen in fig 1 .
hereunder. [In your answer you must first set out Aristotle’s doctrine of the
four causes and use Fig 1 as your example/ illustration].{maximum 500
words} [25 marks]
Figure 1 1
1. Discuss in detail Plato’s allegory of the cave and its philosophical
(epistemological and political) significance {maximum 500 words}
[25 marks]
2. Critically discuss Aquinas’ 5 proofs for the existence of God {maximum 500
words} [25marks]
1
See https://elemental.medium.com/what-the-coronavirus-image-youve-seen-a-million-times-really-shows-3d8de7e3eb1f for more details about the origin of the attached image
The question in this section is compulsory.
1. Write a.n essa.y {ma.ximum 1000 words} in which in light of your studies this semester,
provide a. deta.iled a.nswer to the following interrela.ted questions (which must form the
ma.in sections of your essa.y). (i) Wha.t is Western philosophy? (ii) Wha.t va.lue, if a.ny, ca.n
it in your opinion contribute to South A.frica.n society? [in a.nswering this question, you a.re
, encoura.ged to discuss etymology(of ‘philosophy’), bra.nches, history a.nd historica.l figures
in philosophy]
Introduction
Philosophy is defined a.s the study of the funda.menta.l na.ture of knowledge, its etymology comes
from the Greek word ‘philosophia.’. Philo mea.ning ‘love of’ a.nd Sophia. mea.ning ‘knowledge’.
Western philosophy refers specifica.lly to the philosophic pursuits of the western world tha.t
emerged out Greece. The ea.rliest philosophica.l movement being the Presocra.tics in 624 BC.
Wha.t distinguishes philosophy from other fields of study is its subject ma.tter a.nd methodology.
Western philosophy ca.n be broken down into three ma.in bra.nches Meta.physics, epistemology
a.nd ethics.
The study of existence is often referred to a.s "meta.physics" we exa.mine wha.t na.ture of
‘stuff’ is.
While the study of knowledge is ca.lled "epistemology". Epistemology exa.mines belief, opinion a.nd
objective knowledge. Wha.t do we know a.nd how do we know it.
The study of va.lues ca.n be divided into two ma.in bra.nches: mora.lity ("ethics") a.nd bea.uty
("a.esthetics").
The A.ims Of Philosophy
1. Wha.t is knowledge?
This refers to the following kinds of issues a.nd questions: How ca.n we know a.nything, Is there
a.bsolutes, universa.l truths. it ca.n help people understa.nd whether their closely-held derive from
objective or subjective informa.tion. In a. counry with such a. history of division, “unlea.rning” or
a.tlea.st questioning wha.t we think we is essentia.l.
2. How should we conduct ourselves?
Wha.t exa.ctly is na.ture of the huma.n condition. Wha.t is mora.lity a.nd wha.t constitutes "the
good." When we exa.mine the history of South A.frica. we must Wha.t is a. va.lued life a.nd va.lued
wa.y of being?
3. How should we govern ourselves?
Huma.nism,
This study source wa.s downloa.ded by 100000799301222 from CourseHero.com on 10-19-2021 06:23:17 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/100045288/exa.mdocx/
, utilita.ria.nism
Conclusion
interroga.tion
world
This study source wa.s downloa.ded by 100000799301222 from CourseHero.com on 10-19-2021 06:23:17 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/100045288/exa.mdocx/
