PSC 140 CC – Spring 2017 Semester
Final Examination Directions:
There are five (5) multi-part, short essay questions. Choose any four (4) of the five (5) multi-part questions to
answer.
You must answer ALL PARTS of the question to receive full credit. Support your answers with evidence from the
assigned readings. A correct and well thought out answers to each question earns 25 points
propensity for violent overthrow of the political institutions. Discuss the statement in the light of the
situation in a country with which you are familiar. Who, among those whose thoughts you have studied,
addresses the question(s) of economic inequality and/or violent political change?
2. A) Although Marxism has been tried in a number of countries with varying degrees of success, or failure,
Marx’s ideas continue to have great ideological appeal. What do the various governments that have
experimented with Marxism attempted to accomplish? Explain in detail.
B) In “The Communist Manifesto,” Marx is not proposing Communism; rather he advocates a form of
Socialism. In your opinion, what are the similarities and differences between these two ideologies? Your
answer should address both the political and economic appeal of Marx’s writings.
3. John Maynard Keynes has been recognized as one of the most influential economists of modern times.
What are the main contributions that Keynes made to Macroeconomics? Do his ideas have any
applicability to the current economic situation? Discuss in detail.
4. Of all the philosophers that we have studied in this course, who do you consider most relevant to today?
Give your reasons by supporting your argument(s) with reference to that philosopher’s ideas as presented
in the texts.
5. There have a number of articles discussing the issue of gun control.
In The New York Times issue of November 11, 2013, there is an article entitled “A Face-Off Outside
Dallas in the Escalating Battle Over Texas’ Gun Culture.”
What are the issues brought up in the article? How does individual freedom contrast with the well-being
of the community? What might one or more of the philosophers we studied have to say about the issue?





