Houston PHIL2306 FULL COURSE Latest 2019 October

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 1

 Moral Principles

Do you believe that moral principles are absolute or should they allow for exceptions?  Consider the examples of lying, killing, and stealing.  Is it always wrong to lie, kill, and steal, or are there circumstances when those actions might be ethically permissible (put aside the legal implications of those actions for this question).  If so, can you think of circumstances in which those actions might be ethically permissible?

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 2

Ethical Topics

Discussion Question #2: Give an example of an ethical topic or two that have piqued your interest in the past and explain why (e.g., abortion, physician-assisted suicide, income inequality, capital punishment, genetic engineering, etc.).  One of these topics may be the subject of your Critical Analysis Paper (CAP) later on.

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 3

Material Wealth

Philosophy's first martyr, Socrates, warned his fellow Athenians in the Apology that the sole pursuit of material wealth corrupts the kind of person that we are. Explain whether you agree with this statement or not, especially in light of the “Meaning of Life” Power Point. In what way can wealth be corrupting? Does it depend on the person or circumstance?

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 4

Ethics of Technology

After watching the PBS program, 22nd Century, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the World-Wide Mind (WWM). Can you think of beneficial ways in which the WWM can be put to good use? Are there any concerns that you might have with it?

 

 

 

 

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 5

Poverty and Animal Rights

Do you find any of Peter Singer’s arguments on poverty (i.e., that we have an ethical obligation to assist those less fortunate than us) or his arguments on animal rights (that we have an ethical duty to treat nonhuman animals ethically) to be persuasive? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning.

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 6

Car Crash Testing

Are you persuaded by the utilitarian justification of cadaver use in car crash testings (that the data from those tests go on to save more lives in the future with improved safety features)?  Why or why not?  Assume that the participants gave prior informed consent for their bodies to be used in those tests.  Explain your reasoning.

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 7

Three Types of Friendships

Aristotle distinguished among three types of friendships (pleasure, utility, and character). Do you

agree with his characterizations (see below) or not? Can you think of examples or criticisms of any of these types?

--Pleasure: Since the good that is desired on both sides is pleasure and enjoyment, relationships of this sort tend to

fade and break off when what had given pleasure ceases to do so; friendship of young people often tend to be of this

kind.

-- Utility: This is largely based on the usefulness that is served by being nice to one another, as is in the workplace;

there is little to sustain the relationship when the mutual utility ceases.

-- Character: We wish well to our friends for their own sake; both parties

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Discussion Question 8

Friendships

Presuming that friends will give one another the “benefit of the doubt” and allow for all sorts of

things out of friendship, when does it become necessary to break off a friendship? Is a direct confrontation better for breaking off such a relationship, or is it better to use some indirect course, such as neglect or atrophy, until the person ceases to be in contact?

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Exam #1

Question 1

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that studies ___.

  the nature of right and wrong, good and bad

  principles of correct reasoning

  the nature and structure of reality

  the nature of beauty

  how humans acquire knowledge

Question 2

The “ideal moral judgment” ought to include all of the following, except ___.

  conceptual clarity

  coolness

  rationality

  impartiality

  economic implications

 

Question 3

 

Which of the following is false of normative statements?

  Normative statements are indistinguishable from factual statements.

  A normative statement expresses a value judgment of some kind.

  The correctness of a normative statement is determined by reference to a norm or standard.

  An example of such a statement would be: “Affluent nations have a moral duty to assist impoverished nations.”

  All of them are true.

 

Question 4

 

What are some of the benefits of studying ethics?

  Ethics helps us to participate intelligently in today’s ethical debates.

  Various professions have professional codes of conduct to which we may be subjected.

  We might find ourselves called before an ethics or disciplinary board to give an account of our actions.

  All of the above.

  None of the above.

 

Question 5

 

With which of the following statements about moral expertise would the philosopher C. D. Broad agree?

  It is not part of the professional business of moral philosophers to tell people what they ought or ought not to do.

  Moral philosophers have no special information not available to the general public about what is right and what is wrong.

  They do not have a calling to undertake those hortatory functions which are so adequately performed by clergymen, politicians, and leader-writers.

  All of the above.

  None of the above.

 

Question 6

 

Why does Peter Singer believe that ethicists have moral expertise (and be considered soft experts)?

  His general training as a philosopher should make him more than ordinarily competent in argument and in the detection of invalid inferences, such as logical fallacies.

  His specific experience in moral philosophy gives him an understanding of moral concepts, such as ethical theories, and of the logic of moral argumentation.

  The moral philosopher can, if he wants, think full-time about moral issues, while most other people have some occupation to pursue which interferes with such reflection.

  All of the above.

  A and C only.

 

Question 7

 

According to Peter Singer, what is ethics not about?

  It should not only be about a set of prohibitions particularly concerned with sex. There are other important ethical issues to discuss.

  It is not an ideal system that is noble in theory but no good in practice.

  It is not something intelligible only in the context of religion. It is possible to think critically and responsibly about ethical issues independently of religious consideration.

  It is not relative or subjective.

  All of the above.

 

Question 8

 

Central to morality are moral principles which have five traits.  Which of the following is NOT one of those five?

  Practicability

  Prescriptivity

  Economics

  Overridingness

  Universalizability

 

Question 9

 

The word “moral” comes from the Latin meaning ____ and the Greek meaning ____--respectively.  Each derives their meaning from the idea of custom.

  violation; punishment

  mores; ethos

  reward; altruism

  prison; freedom

  blameworthy; guilt

 

Question 10

 

Generally there are four domains that evaluate rules of right conduct.  Which of the following is NOT one of those four?

  Motive

  Action

  Depravity

  Character

  Consequences

 

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Exam #2

Question 1

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Who is the author of Brave New World?

 

 

  Alduous Huxley

  James Hughes

  Ramez Naam

  Charles Darwin

  Peter Singer

 

Question 2

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Orlanda Bell is an astral projection: half ___, half ____.

 

  horse; man

 

  human; machine

  zebra; lion

  amoeba; paramecium

  hardware; software

 

Question 3

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Erick Ramsey is locked in—which means that he is ____.

 

 

 

  dead

  kicked out of his parents’ house forever

  always getting himself locked in various rooms

  an expert locksmith

 

  totally aware of his surroundings, but not able to communicate with the outside world

 

Question 4

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Erick’s professional ambition is to become a ___.

 

  lawyer

  doctor

  mathematician

 

  Disney artist

  astronomer

 

Question 5

 

According to Ramez Naam, the term ___ (as used in science fiction) refers to a person who has technology implanted inside his body; one who is part human and part machine.

 

  zombie

  alien

 

  cyborg

  demon

  robot

 

Question 6

 

PBS 22nd Century:  According to Ramez Naam, as long as humanity has existed we have always looked for ways to ___.

 

  make ourselves smarter

  live longer

You Answered

  improve who we are and our environment

Correct Answer

  All of the above.

  A and C only.

 

Question 7

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Michael Chorost (who considered himself an early cyborg) received a ___.

 

 

  cochlear implant

  liver transplant

  heart transplant

  leg amputation

  vascetomy

 

Question 8

 

PBS 22nd Century:  Bill McKibben, a transhumanist critic, mentions which of the following as making us human?

 

  Our commitment to one another.

  Love of art, music, and literature.

  Our interest in the spiritual and philosophical.

  Our ability to fall in love.

 

  All of the above.

 

Question 9

 

According to the Harvard psychologist, Howard Gardner, once we “[h]ave reached our adult years, and attained a certain level of competence in our chosen pursuits, ___.”

  we can safely assume that life’s lessons will automatically dawn upon us with no further reflection

  we should strive to move up, to go up, to achieve, to conquer

  we should question what the meaning of life is

 

  we cannot assume that lessons from experience will automatically dawn on us

  we should not be bogged down by a mid-life crisis

 

Question 10

 

As described by Albert Camus, the main character in the Myth of Sisyphus is ___.

  hospitalized for contracting syphilis

  praised by the gods for his unadulterated devotion to them

 

  condemned by the gods to roll a boulder up and down a hill

  paid a lot of money for working as a forklift driver

  delivering a UPS parcel from one place to another for eternity

 

 

 

PHIL2306 Introduction to Ethics

Exam #3

Question 1

 

In the Colbert Report episode where Peter Singer discussed his views on poverty, what book was featured in that episode?

 

  The Life You Can Save

  Ethics in the Real World

  Animal Liberation

  Practical Ethics

  The Ethics of What We Eat

 

Question 2

 

Which of the following statements is/are true of John Stuart Mill?

 

  He was born in England.

  He was a child prodigy.

  He had a mental breakdown in his early 20's.

  All of the above.

  A and C only.

 

Question 3

 

Utilitarianism is especially applicable to ___ decision making, which is what the classical utilitarians originally had in mind.

 

  statutory (pertaining to laws)

  religious

  social or governmental policies

  All of the above.

  A and C only.

 

Question 4

 

The classical utilitarians were social reformers who lived during the time of the ____ and saw an immense amount of suffering on the part of large numbers of people.

 

  Great Depression

  Roaring Twenties

  Industrial Revolution

  Vietnam War

  Civil War

 

Question 5

 

In the Colbert Report episode where Peter Singer discussed his views on poverty, which of the following hypothetical scenario did he bring up to advance his argument?

 

  If you ran out of gas on a highway, would you siphon gas from a stranded motorist?

  If you were offered two equally-paid jobs in two different cities, which one would you take?

  If you’re walking past a pond and see a child drowning, would you jump in and try to save the child?

  If money were not a problem, would you still want to work?

  If you were the only person on the planet, would you still care about ethics?

 

Question 6

 

A supererogatory act is one that ___.

 

  goes above and beyond the call of duty

  would be good to do but not wrong not to do

  only a Superman-type of person can perform

  is publicly acknowledged by society

  is condemned by virtually all society

 

Question 7

 

Before presenting his arguments regarding world poverty, what assumption does Singer make explicit?

 

  That God exists and He cares for his children.

  That sexual issues are the only ethical topics worthy of discussion.

  That children are worth saving more than adults.

  That evolution will inevitably lead to an X-Men type of species.

  That suffering and death from lack of food, shelter, and medical care are bad.

 

Question 8

 

Which of the following are characteristics of extreme poverty?

 

  inability to meet basic needs for survival

  lack of safe drinking water and sanitation

  inability to secure adequate medical care

  All of the above.

  A and C only.

 

Question 9

 

In the Colbert Report episode where Peter Singer discussed his views on animal rights, what book was featured in that episode?

 

  The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter

  Practical Ethics

  Animal Liberation

  Ethics in the Real World

  The Life You Can Save

 

Question 10

 

A speciesist, as defined by Peter Singer, is a person who ___.

 

  tries to save every species on the planet

  attempts to annihilate every species on the planet

  cares more about the suffering of members of his own species than those of another species

  is knowledgeable about biology

  believes in the technological superiority of his species over others