Possible Exam Questions for Ethics Final

Note: The format and rules for the final exam will be the same as for the midterm exam. The exam will be held on Monday. December 18, at 10 AM in our regular classroom.

1. What, according to Aristotle, is ‘the function’ of a human being? How does he use this idea to define happiness for a human being (and, thus, ‘the human good’)? What do you think of his definition?

2. Briefly, what is Aristotle’s ‘doctrine of the mean’? Is it true? Useful?

3. What does Aristotle mean by saying that the mean is ‘relative to us’? Does that mean that he thinks there is no objective right and wrong?

4. In what sense are virtue and vice ‘up to us’ according to Aristotle? Do you agree?

5. Why does Aristotle think that a life of ‘theoretical study’ is the best life for a human being? Is he right about this?

6. What, according to Aristotle are the three kinds of friendship? Say a little about each one. And explain why one type is best.

7. Aristotle says only virtuous people can be true friends. Why? Do you agree?

8. What is the difference between liberal and natural law approaches to explaining what is wrong with ‘perverted’ sex, according to Alan Soble? Which approach seems better to you? Why?

9. What is the most reasonable interpretation, in your view, of the claim that some sorts of sexual activity are wrong because they are unnatural? How might this claim be criticized?

10. Morris Kaplan argues that gays and lesbians cannot be ‘equal citizens’ unless they are able to marry. How does his argument go and how cogent is it?

11. Why does Mary Ann Warren think that human fetuses are not, morally speaking, human beings? Is she right?

12. Don Marquis claims to have developed an argument that “purports to show, as well as any argument in ethics can show, that abortion is, except possibly in rare cases, seriously immoral, that it is in the same moral category as killing an innocent adult human being.” How does this argument go? Is it sound?

13. What do you think is the most compelling reason to think that early abortions are morally wrong? How good a reason is that?

14. How does Susan Sherwin distinguish between ‘feminine ethics’ and ‘feminist ethics’?

15. How might one explain the difference between a ‘feminine’ and a ‘feminist’ approach to the issue of abortion?

16. Do you think that an “ethic of care” is needed to correct the male bias of mainstream ethical theory? (Why or why not?)

17. According to John Stuart Mill, how is freedom of expression beneficial to society?

18. What reasons might be given for thinking that widespread use of pornography is not a good thing? How good are those reasons?

19. According to Raymond Gastil, pornography and obscenity can produce a kind of ‘moral harm’. How so? Does he have a good point?

20. How, according to Rae Langton, might pornography silence and subordinate women?

21. What are some reasons for thinking that it might be a good idea for a university to have regulations prohibiting racist speech on campus? How good are these reasons?