Philosophy 210 | Moral Thinking | Timmons | Spring 2016 | Final Exam Instructions For the final you will be asked to write an answer to any two of the five following questions. Each question is worth 50. Please submit a Blue Book by Tuesday May 3, the last class meeting. Final Exam: day & time: Tuesday May 10 from 8am to 10am. Place: Our regular classroom. 1. Theoretical Objections and Replies to Classical Utilitarianism (50). Write an essay in which you address at least the following points. (a) What is the aim of a theoretical objection to a moral theory (10) (b) A presentation of 2 of the 4 objections concerning deontological constraints (10) (c) A presentation of the 2 objections concerning demandingness (10) (d) An explanation of the “bold denial” and the “remote effects” replies to these objection (20) 2. Kant’s Ethics: The Universal Law Formulation of the Categorical Imperative (50) One of Kant’s formulations of the Categorical Imperative is the Universal Law formulation. Write an essay in which you do the following: (a) Explain Kant’s universality tests (CC and CW tests), making sure to include a brief explanation of the following: (20) Kant’s Universal Law formulation of the Categorical Imperative How there are two tests associated with this formulation How the two tests are supposed to work (b) Use Kant’s tests to evaluate the action associated with this maxim: I will kill the person(s) who has seriously wronged me whenever the legal system has failed to bring the wrong-doer(s) to justice, in order to satisfy my desire for revenge. (10)
(c) A presentation and critique of 1 of the 3 “popular” arguments for PE (10) (d) Evaluate EE according to the standard of publicity making use of Prisoner’s Dilemma to explain the objection based on this standard. (10). 4. Virtue Ethics: Virtue Accounts of Right Action (50) Write an essay on virtue accounts of right action (= VE) presented in class in which you address at least the following: (a) Explain what Virtue Ethics is, and the various tasks that a defender of this view must address. (10) (b) What is Pluralist Virtue Ethics, and how does it address cases of moral conflict? (10) (c) Explain Robert Johnson’s objection (as covered in class) to VE. (10) (d) Explain what is referred to as the “looming dilemma” for VE. (20)
