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Philosophy Entrance Exam

Reply 20

Jigglypuff

16

Edit: Triple post.

I got a bit impatient with internet.

Reply 21

FadedJade

15

ooh we'll have to meet up and do stuff. I'm hleping out with interviews and i dont know anyone else thats staying (i tihnk Vivi is for a bit) and i dont want to be on my own!

Good plan!

Hey philosophers!! :biggrin:

Thanks for organising that meal btw Nina

Reply 24

FadedJade

15

no problems, although I have absolutely no idea who you are in the scheme of things!

Reply 25

FadedJade

15

yeah ok i looked at your profile and will stop being silly now!

Reply 26

Schmokie Dragon

OP

17

Interview with Peterhouse on the 7th *trembles*

Been reading horror stories about people being asked questions such as "how many 'planes are flying over x city at this moment in time?", "how much water does a cow contain?" and "what is the IQ of this table?"

Meep.

Reply 27

Jigglypuff

16

Schmokie Dragon

Interview with Peterhouse on the 7th *trembles*

Been reading horror stories about people being asked questions such as "how many 'planes are flying over x city at this moment in time?", "how much water does a cow contain?" and "what is the IQ of this table?"

Meep.

This is how I would answer them in the interview:
1) I don't know, I'm a philosopher not a mathematician.
2) As much as your mum.
3) Higher than yours.

100% success guaranteed.

Reply 28

FadedJade

15

You can get some really odd questions but nothing that isnt manageable.

Reply 29

glaucon

8

They asked me to write about whether the subject boredom could be interesting for 45 min. Someone was having a laugh...

Reply 30

Ozymandias

Jigglypuff

This is how I would answer them in the interview:
1) I don't know, I'm a philosopher not a mathematician.
2) As much as your mum.
3) Higher than yours.

100% success guaranteed.

More seriously, though, 'manageable' isn't exactly the way I'd describe my interview questions. I didn't have a clue how to go about answering most of what I was asked, but I'd imagine that's true for most people in philosophy interviews. Just make it clear you understand why the question's impossible (or at least near-impossible) to answer I guess.

Reply 31

coldfish

12

Questions which seem impossible to you will either have some hidden trick, or actually be impossible (or very very difficult). You're all clever people, so if a question seems unapproachable just be sensible and say what you can about it, even if you don't come to anything you'd think of as an answer.

The boredom being interesting is not too dreadful, just sounds it. Just start thinking about boredom in the same way you would anything else on being asked whether or not it is interesting.

Reply 32

FadedJade

15

yeah but in understanding why the question is impossible you are understanding the issues involved which is the whole point and what they want you to talk about! They dont want you to come up with a straight yes/no conclusion.

Reply 33

glaucon

8

They don't want you to come up with a straight answer: but a debate with a conclusion is a good idea, I'm not sure (if it's an essay question) that they'd be happy with an "i don't know" more a - given this then it seems reasonable that this...

They don't expect you to understand perfectly or understand all the issues, just explore the topic to whatever depth you can.

Reply 34

Ozymandias

It's different with essay questions, certainly - I more meant the questions in the interview. I definitely said I didn't know the answer to one of the questions in my interview, though admittedly I also gave reasons why I didn't think the answers they suggested were true.

Reply 35

kissmekate

2

is anyone being interviewed at queen's
my interviews and test are there this thursday?
xxx

Reply 36

coldfish

12

I'm not being interviewed, but I am a current (philosophy) student who will be helping out around the place on Thursday (and in fact every) afternoon this week. I'll probably see you then. :smile:

Philosophy Entrance Exam

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