Philosophy Exam Question: "Is this a question?" discuss?

Question

Maybe an urban myth but I heard this was a question in a Final Year Philosophy degree. How would you answer?

Answer 1

Funny Answer:

If this is a answer!

Serious Answer:

It sound like a logic question to me. It is likely that the professor wanted some reference to logic, self reference and set theory. In other words, is this question which is asking the question about whether it is a question really part of the set of all questions. Confused? That might not matter. After this isn't real life, its philosophy.
There is lots on this in the philosophy of Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein and other language philosophy.
Take a look at:
http://web.mit.edu/dmytro/www/NewSetTheory.htm
http://www2.imm.dtu.dk/~tb/essay.pdf
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/russell-paradox/

Answer 2

An inane question that doesn't test much of the CONTENT, but nevertheless a question. I've heard similar things students did to justify their lack of preparation for a final exam, but this kind of ingenuity must happen only at certain types of schools.
First define what is the subject matter: "question". Then use critique or analysis to solidify a mass around the subject, instead of leaving it at a vague position as it is now, before definition. Then give examples and arguments using creativity.

This kind of "question" requires a great deal of creativity and imagination and would never really be found in a state schools that aren't allowed to waste a test opportunity like that by asking a non-content question. Only private school with extremely intelligent students--makes a good movie material.

Answer 3

That's an urban legend, but you're telling it wrong. The philosophy professor hands out a final exam and the only question is "Why?"
One student's answer is "Why not?" and he gets an A.

Answer 4

I'd simply write: "Yes, the sentence is an example of a question. A question is an inquiry, and this inquires whether the sentence is a question. It does makes an inquiry, and is therefore a valid question." Then I'd turn in the paper.

My prof should have asked such easy questions on exams, LOL! That darling little man of steel made me EARN my 4.0 GPA. I'm actually eternally grateful to him for challenging me and making me do my best. I still send him weird xmas cards. ;D

Answer 5

This sounds more like a question for a linguistics exam then for a philosophy.
The questions asks a student to analyze meaning of words in Syntactic[1] and pragmatic[2] sense.

The answer would be something like this:
1. On syntax level -- the sentence "Is this a question?" is definitely a question(it has a question like structure). On syntax level any sentence of the form:
"Is "noun" a "noun"?"
Is always a question regardless of what the nouns are.
However it is unclear what the word "this" refers to.
2. On pragmatic level it can be further extrapolated that the word "this" is self referential. Thus the sentence ask us if sentence itself is a question. For answer we go to part 1 of the analysis -- to answer "yes"

Once again i would like to note the question is purely linguistic and not philosophical.

Answer 6

"Is this a question?", is definitely a question, the answer can only be supplied by one to whom it is asked.... the answer might not be very definitive and may cause one to wonder as to whether it is authentic, but indeed it is.....

The subject refers to "this".......

My answer: so, it is......


your sister,
Ginger

Answer 7

yes , it ends with a question mark .

Answer 8

yes it is, it has a "?" right?

now my question is, "is this the answer?"