| Introduction to Ethics | Richard Lee |
| Philosophy 2103 sec. 012 | Summer 2009 |
This examination counts as twenty percent (20%) of your course grade.
You may use a 3"x5" card of notes of your own making.
This is a closed-book, in-class examination on the scheduled date.
You will be asked to write two (2) essays (worth ten (10) points each). You will have a choice of at least four (4) essay questions. By "essay" I mean a discussion (in complete sentences) that will probably take more than a paragraph or two, but should take no more than a few pages.
As always, cheating will not be tolerated. No help in answering the questions may be received from anyone (except yourself) during the examination.
| N-MAS | Explain Nietzsche's distinction between "master morality" and "slave morality." What is each? Critically discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C-SIS | Camus retells the story of Sisyphus. Explain Camus's telling of that story. Explain how the story of Sisyphus can (or cannot) be seen as analogous to our lives. Camus says "One must imagine Siyphus happy." Explain and critically discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S-EPE | What did Sartre mean by "Existence preceeds essence?" What does that view say about how we should live our lives? Critically discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| S-STU | Sartre discusses a student trying to make a decision. Explain the decision the student is trying to make. What does Sartre say about the decision? Critically discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-HAPP | Early in his Nicomachean Ethics (See chapters 4 and 5 of book I) Aristotle considers and rejects several accounts of what happiness is. Specify two of these accounts and explicate and critique Aristotle's reasons for rejecting them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-CHIE | Aristotle writes: "Since there are evidently more than one end, and we choose some of these (e.g. wealth, flutes, and in general instruments) for the sake of something else, clearly not all ends are final ends; but the chief good is evidently something final. Therefore, if there is only one final end, this will be what we are seeking, and if there are more than one, the most final of these will be what we are seeking. Now we call that which is in itself worthy of pursuit more final than that which is worthy of pursuit for the sake of something else, and that which is never desirable for the sake of something else more final than the things that are desirable both in themselves and for the sake of that other thing, and therefore we call final without qualification that which is always desirable in itself and never for the sake of something else." (NE I.7) What is the chief good that Aristotle then identifies and how does it fit this account? Critically discuss. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-NAT | Aristotle explores the nature of virtue. According to Aristotle, what is virtue? Carefully explain the argument Aristotle offers in support of his answer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-MEA | Carefully state and explain Aristotle's doctrine of the mean. Give examples of virtues and vices, according to Aristotle, and illustrate Aristotle's account of virtue by showing how those virtues and vices would fit into Aristotle's account. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-TRIO | "Since things that are found in the soul are of three kinds--passions, faculties, states of character--virtue must be one of these." (NE II.5) Which one is virtue, according to Aristotle? And how does he show that it can't be either of the other two? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-3CON | Aristotle indicates three conditions which must be satisfied in order that an action may be said to be done virtuously. (Nicomachean Ethics Book II chapter 4) What are these conditions? For each condition provide an example of an action which fails to satisfy that condition but satisfies the others and which on Aristotle's account would therefore not be considered a virtuous action (but which would be if the remaining condition were satisfied). (If the demand for such examples is impossible to satisfy in one or more of these cases, please indicate the reason for this.) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A-EXER |
Aristotle says "the virtues we get by first exercising them." (NE
II.1) Explain, using examples. In II.4 Aristotle considers an objection
to this position. What is the objection and how does he answer it?
Critically discuss.
| A-COND |
What conditions, according to Aristotle, are necessary in order
that a virtuous act be done virtuously? Explain each condition. For each
condition give an example of a virtuous act that fails to meet that
condition. Is Aristotle right about these conditions? Critically
discuss.
| A-GENU |
What kind of thing is a virtue, according to Aristotle (i.e., what is
its "genus")? Carefully explain and critically evaluate his argument for
this conclusion.
| A-MEAN |
What is Aristotle's doctrine of the mean? Show how Aristotle applies
it to a virtue or two (take your pick) and the related vices. Critically
discuss.
| A-BADN |
Aristotle says "not every action nor every passion admits of a mean;
for some have names that already imply badness." (NE II.6) Explain what
he means by this. Is there a way that the troublesome cases can fit more
readily into the general Aristotelian position? Explain and critically
discuss.
| K-IN |
Immanuel Kant says that our duties toward animals are "indirect
duties." Explain what he means. On Kant's view what duties do we have
toward animals and why? Critique Kant's account.
| PS-SPE |
Peter Singer thinks speciesism is analogous to racism. Explain what he
means. Is he right? Why or why not?
| PS-BOU |
According to Singer what marks the boundary between beings who should
morally be taken into consideration and those that should not? How does
he rule out other ways of marking the boundary? Explain.
| A-CLAS |
Into what four main classes does A.J. Ayer divide the pronouncements of ordinary
systems of ethics? Explain each and give examples. With which of these classes
should ethical philosophers be concerned, according to Ayer? Is he right? What
does Ayer say about the other classes?
| A-MEAN |
Explain A.J. Ayer's account of the meaning of ethical statements. On
Ayer's account what would it mean to say (i) "It was morally wrong of
Geoffrey to tell the company that the computer was broken from the start
when it really broke a week after it arrived," (ii) "Lying is morally
wrong." Critically discuss the plausibility of Ayer's account.
| A-SUBJ |
A.J. Ayer considers an argument G.E. Moore offered against
subjectivism. What is this argument? Does it, with suitable
modification, apply to Ayer's own theory? What is Ayer's response to the
modified argument?
| E1-UP |
According to Epictetus: "Some things are up to us, some are not up to
us." What does Epictetus think is up to us? What does he think
is not up to us? What conclusions does he draw from this concerning how
we can be happy? Critically discuss.
| E1-HAP |
Summarize and critique Epictetus' prescription for happiness, being sure to
mention any central distinctions Epictetus draws in his discussion of how to
be happy.
| E1-IDEA |
Epictetus wrote, "It is not things that upset people but rather
ideas about things." What does this mean? Is it right?
What conclusions does he draw from this concerning who is to blame for
unhappiness? Critically discuss.
| E1-BANQ |
"Remember that in life you ought to behave as at a banquet." Who said
this? What does it mean? Explain. What are its implications? Critically
discuss.
| E1-SPO |
According to Epictetus what attitude should we have if our spouse or
child dies? Why? Critically discuss.
| E1-ADV |
In sections 33 through 42 of the Enchiridion Epictetus offers
lots of specific advice about how to behave in certain circumstances.
Explain (some of) this advice. How does it fit or not fit with his overall
stoic view? Does this advice seem good? Why or why not? Critically
discuss.
| E2-DIN |
Explain Epicurus's reasoning that "death is nothing to us." Does that
mean that death is not bad? Explain.
| E2-DEA |
What was Epicurus's attitude towards death? Critically discuss his
defense of this attitude.
| E2-DES |
What desires would Epicurus regard as unnecessary or vain?
| E2-PLE |
Epicurus thinks that pleasure is "the first good." Explain Epicurus's
view on whether we should seek pleasures, and his views on what pleasures,
if any, we should avoid, and why. Critically discuss.
| E2-LIV |
Explain the sort of life Epicurus thinks we should live.
| E2-BEN |
Compare and contrast the thoughts of Epicurus and Jeremy Bentham on
the value of pleasure and which pleasures should be chosen.
| NZ-MAT |
What, according to Robert Nozick, matters to us in addition to our
experiences? Explain his attempt to convince us of this. Critically
discuss.
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