Personal or communal ideas about what is considered important to us are called:

The ‘Principle of Utility’ states that morally right actions are ones that:

Essay #3. Pick one of the following (three different topics total): 1. Explain the difference between descriptive relativism and moral relativism, and then analyze at least one argument for moral relativism and one argument against moral relativism. Use examples to make your analysis clear. Do you agree or disagree with moral relativism? Why/why not? 2. Provide an overview of the Ring of Gyges story and explain why it is important for the discussion of justice/morality. What is Glaucon arguing regarding ethics? Be sure to include an account of the different ‘kinds’ of goodness that Glaucon describes. What response(s) do you think could be given in response to Glaucon’s challenge? 3. Explain the ‘Classical’ view of Utilitarianism developed by Bentham. What are some of the problems with it? Mention at least one of the examples from the lectures. How does J. S. Mill try to overcome those problems? Finally, explain why some people criticize Utilitarianism as being too demanding. What is the problem, and how might the Utilitarian respond to this criticism? 4. What does Ayn Rand think about morality? What is the basis of ethics, according to her? Explain her view carefully—be sure to include all of the important steps in her reasoning. Then explain at least one of the criticisms against her view in detail. 5. What does Kant think matters most when it comes to ethics? Provide an overview of his theory. Then, carefully explain both of the formulations of Kant’s ‘Categorical Imperative’ that we discussed in class, using examples. Finally, what is a weakness of Kant’s view?

In philosophy, a ‘claim’ is a statement of belief that is expressed propositionally.

The ‘benign home invader’ scenario is meant to show that:

Essay #1. Pick one of the following (three different topics total): 1. Explain the difference between descriptive relativism and moral relativism, and then analyze at least one argument for moral relativism and one argument against moral relativism. Use examples to make your analysis clear. Do you agree or disagree with moral relativism? Why/why not? 2. Provide an overview of the Ring of Gyges story and explain why it is important for the discussion of justice/morality. What is Glaucon arguing regarding ethics? Be sure to include an account of the different ‘kinds’ of goodness that Glaucon describes. What response(s) do you think could be given in response to Glaucon’s challenge? 3. Explain the ‘Classical’ view of Utilitarianism developed by Bentham. What are some of the problems with it? Mention at least one of the examples from the lectures. How does J. S. Mill try to overcome those problems? Finally, explain why some people criticize Utilitarianism as being too demanding. What is the problem, and how might the Utilitarian respond to this criticism? 4. What does Ayn Rand think about morality? What is the basis of ethics, according to her? Explain her view carefully—be sure to include all of the important steps in her reasoning. Then explain at least one of the criticisms against her view in detail. 5. What does Kant think matters most when it comes to ethics? Provide an overview of his theory. Then, carefully explain both of the formulations of Kant’s ‘Categorical Imperative’ that we discussed in class, using examples. Finally, what is a weakness of Kant’s view?

Ayn Rand believed that altruism is a reasonable moral framework.

Ethics is considered a branch of philosophy.

According to Don Marquis, killing a person is morally wrong because of the suffering it causes the victim’s family and friends.

According to Nietzsche, morality is ultimately determined by: