Essay Questions

What does Strawson identify as one of the marks of a really great philosopher?

In the essay titled "Self, Mind and Body" Strawson kicks off his thesis by asserting that one of the marks of a "really great" philosopher—taking time to remind the reader that it is not a mark that is necessary rising to that level—is to make a "really great mistake." To prove this contention, Strawson takes as the topic of his argument the concept of Cartesian dualism. What is more interesting than his rather dry working out of this thesis, however, is something that he admits to in the prefatory material title "Intellectual Autobiography Taken From The Philosophy of P.F. Strawson." In that section, author admits that though his first published article, "Necessary Propositions and Entailment Statements" forwarded "the germ of a fruitful idea" it was also contained what he terms a "serious mistake" which ultimately resulted in its failure to to achieve its aim.

What example is used to distinguish aesthetic judgment from non-aesthetic judgment?

In the essay, "Aesthetic Appraisal and Works of Art" Strawson analyzes whether it is possible to make a distinctive appraisal of the aesthetic quality of an entity. Things immediately gets interesting, however, in the examination of aesthetic quality when the author separates those items which could potentially be appraised for aesthetic quality from those things which could not. Those things which may ultimately be capable of an aesthetic determination are probably among the most obvious examples to immediately come to mind: a novel or a painting. It is the singular example of what is probably not even open to such a determination that is unexpected and interesting: a game of football (soccer).

How does the author demonstrate his definition of gratitude as the opposite of resentment?

One of the centerpieces of the essay "Freedom and Resentment" is that attitude and intent are often as consequence in any given social interaction. The concept of gratitude is expressed through a demonstration of how attitudinal circumstances paint the details of a portrait delivered in stark outlines. The example is thusly provided: a person's actions have the ultimate consequence of helping attain some benefit you desire. If that benefit is derived merely by accident, coincidence, or even as consequence that was specifically the opposite of that intended, the benefit is likely to be enjoyed without a feeling of gratitude. On the other hand, if the person specifically exhibited some sense of goodwill in their action—even in the absence of a specific intent to provide the benefit you desire—that will be enough to produce the sense of gratitude. The point being that the actual benefit enjoyed is identical in either case and so it is not the benefit itself which inspires the feeling of gratitude.