Ethical Reasoning

Winter 2015
First exam study guide
Be prepared to discuss:

Genslers account of arguments for and against cultural relativism

Humes motivation argument for ethical subjectivism

Humes account of virtue and vice: why does Hume claim these cannot involve
relations of ideas or matters of fact? what do they involve, according to Hume?

the is/ought discussion in Hume

possible objections to ethical subjectivism

Mills utilitarianism; consequentialism; the Greatest Happiness Principle

Mills responses to the claim that utilitarianism is a doctrine worthy only of swine

Mills responses to the claims that happiness is unattainable and that

utilitarianism sets too high a standard

Mills claim that utilitarianism does not give immoral advice; his account of the
wrongness of lying

Mills response to the claim that utilitarianism is unacceptable because there is

not time to calculate general happiness

Mills evidence that happiness is in fact the ultimate end; Mill's account of desire
for virtue

 objections to utilitarianism, particularly the worry that utilitarianism disregards

fairness

Singers discussion of poverty, and of the moral obligations of wealthy individuals

Norcross puppy example, and his discussion of the similarities of that case to our
consumption of meat

Norcross use of the marginal cases argument in support of his claim that eating
factory-farmed meat is morally wrong; his replies to objections to the argument

the difference between being a moral agent and a moral patient

Rachels account of the utilitarian argument for the morality of euthanasia; his
reasons for rejecting that argument

Rachels own argument for the morality of euthanasia; possible objections to

Rachels

Kants reasons for claiming that a good will is the only thing good in itself; Kants
claim that only actions done from duty have moral worth

Kants distinction between hypothetical and categorical imperatives; Kants

categorical imperative (both the universal law and the humanity versions)

the four duties that Kant derives from (both versions of) the categorical
imperative

Kants claim that the categorical imperative (and in particular the humanity
version) is grounded on the value of every rational beingwhich he supports by
examining the conception of the will

the inquiring murder objection to Kant; other objections

Nathansons account of different versions of retributivism (or lex talionis);

objections to retributivism

Nathansons case for abolishing the death penalty

Essay possibilities:
1. Is cultural relativism correct? Explain in detail one argument in favor of the view, and one
counter-argument. Explain why you agree or disagree with the view.
2. Explain and evaluate Humes argument that moral judgments are not conclusions of reason
(the motivation argument). How does he support his conclusion? Why might someone
disagree? Is Humes argument sound? Explain.
3. Is euthanasia ever morally acceptable? Explain one of the arguments Rachels discusses in
favor of the morality of euthanasia, and explain one possible counterargument. Is Rachels right
to conclude that euthanasia can sometimes be morally acceptable? Why or why not?
4. Do we need to change the way we treat non-human animals? How does Norcross argue that
we do? Why do you agree or disagree with him?
5. Is Mill successful in defending utilitarianism against the charge that it asks too much of
people or sets too high a standard? What exactly is the objection that Mill is addressing, and
how does he respond? Are you persuaded by his discussion? Why or why not?
6. Evaluate Mills response to the charge that utilitarianism is a doctrine worthy only of swine.
Explain the objection, and explain Mills response. Does Mill have a sound argument for his
view, in your opinion? Why or why not?
7. Kant argues that only actions done from duty have moral worth: why does he make that claim,
and what examples help explain his view? Is his view reasonable, in your opinion? Explain.
8. Explain Kants second major version of the categorical imperative (the humanity version),
and explain one of the duties that he derives from that imperative. Do you agree that this
imperative is the one moral law? Why or why not?