Mid-Term Prep Questions Philo 100 F&G

The best way to prep for the midterm is to write out complete answers to the following questions.

1. What is cultural/moral/ethical relativism? How is it defended with the argument from queerness by Mackie?

2. How are Mackie’s arguments challenged by Dworkin?

3. What is the argument from diversity, according to Rachels? What is wrong with the argument from diversity according to Rachels? How does Rachels argue against ethical relativism (arguments from reflective equilibrium and shared commitments). How might these arguments be challenged?

4. What is the State of Nature, according to Hobbes? How does he characterize it, and what arguments does he give in defense of that characterization?

5. What is the Right of Nature, according to Hobbes, and how does he defend it?

6. What are the first three laws of nature, according to Hobbes, and how does he defend them?

7. How, according to Hobbes, is a commonwealth with a sovereign power created? Why do the covenants that create it authorize the sovereign power to represent everyone? Why is it impossible for the sovereign power to break the covenants which institute it?

8. Why, according to Hobbes, is it impossible for a sovereign power to injure its citizens (and what does this mean). Why is it impermissible ever to change the government by revolution?

9. Why is the authority of the sovereign power absolute, according to Hobbes?

10. How does Locke characterize the state of nature? What moral rules bind persons in the state of nature, according to Locke, and why?

11. What is the state of war, according to Locke, and why is it that the state of nature need not be a state of war? Why do we need a political society, according to Locke?

12. How is a commonwealth, or ‘community’, created, according to Locke? Under what conditions does one become bound by the civil law of such a community? Under what conditions does one become a member of that community? What is the difference, for Locke?

13. Why, according to Locke, are such communities governed by the will of the majority? What is wrong with a monarchy, according to him? What is wrong with requiring unanimity before passing a law? What is tyranny of the majority; is it a problem for Locke?

14. What is Utilitarianism? Why is it different from a doctrine that enjoins action in one’s self interest, according to Mill?

15. How does Mill defend Utilitarianism from the charge that it is a doctrine fit for swine? How does he defend it from the claim that Utilitarianism is too demanding in that it requires people to act from unselfish motives? How does he defend it from the charge that it cannot ever be used effectively?

16. How might one challenge Utilitarianism?

17. Define the following terms: Argument, Valid, Sound, Complete Ethical Theory, Intrinsic Value, General Principle, Reflective Equilibrium, Moral Tragedy, Supererogation, Implied Consent, Deontological theory, Consequentialist theory.