Study Questions: M.A. Exam in Ethics—Winter 2006
1. What is Nietzsche’s critique of morality? How compelling is it? Discuss with reference to
at least one contemporary philosopher.
2. Virtue theorists claim that their theories give a more adequate account of our moral
commitments than do theories based on principles. Evaluate this claim and explain what is at
stake in the controversy between virtue theorists and proponents of theories based on moral
principles.
3. Do ethical judgments have cognitive content? Discuss with reference to at least two
philosophers.
4. Describe Michael Smith’s so-called moral problem. What is the allegedly inconsistent
triad of propositions he points to? If the propositions are inconsistent, which one or ones
should we deny?
5. What is the source of moral normativity? Discuss with respect to at least two philosophers.
6. In his Treatise, Hume writes, “Two men, who pull the oars of a boat, do it by an agreement
or convention, tho’ they have never given promises to each other.” What does this
“agreement or convention” consist in? What role does it play in guiding the men’s actions?
How is it like, and unlike, the “convention” that, according to Hume, is the basis of justice
and property? Does justice require a social contract?
7. Can moral rights or principles of justice be defended strictly on utilitarian grounds? How
might the importance of rights and justice be weighed against the maximization of happiness
overall?
8. What, if anything, is wrong with the idea that some people’s desires are not in their own
best interest and, thus, should not be taken into account in our moral deliberation? Discuss
one moral theory that endorses paternalism and another that rejects it.
9. What does it mean to say that we ought always to treat other people as ends, and never as
mere means? Support your answer with reference to at least one philosopher who has
defended the importance of this distinction.
10. In what ways might Kantianism be at odds with a moral agent’s personal concerns and
commitments? Is this a problem for morality? Discuss with regard to at least two
contemporary critics of impartiality (e.g., Williams, Wolf, Stocker, Scheffler).
11. What role, if any, should blame and praise play in moral life and moral philosophy?
Discuss with reference to at least two philosophers.
12. In what ways, if any, is participating in Rawls’s original position like applying Kant’s
categorical imperative?