HU2702: Study Questions for Exam 1 (Fall, 2006)
Define, Explain, Describe, Identify
act utilitarianism
actual rule utilitarianism
applied ethics
axiological
bad
Butler, Joseph
consequentialist
cultural relativism
deontological
Dependency thesis
descriptive judgment
Divine Command
Theory
ethical absolutism
ethical egoism
ethical relativism
ethical universalism
extreme relativism
extrinsic value
fundamental rule of
morality
good
happiness
hedonism
hedonistic utilitarianism
ideal rule utilitarianism
ideal utilitarianism
immoral
intrinsic value
macro ethics
metaethics
micro ethics
monism
moral judgment
moral legalism
moral nihilism
moral particularism
moral psychology
moral skepticism
nonconsequentialism
nonmoral
normative ethics
normative judgment
obligation
pleasure
pluralism
prescriptive judgment
psychological egoism
right
rights
rule utilitarianism
teleological
theory of intrinsic value
theory of moral
obligation
theory of moral right
and wrong
unethical
utilitarian theory of
moral right/wrong
value judgment
voluntary
wrong
Discussion
1. Can there be conflicts between moral standards and nonmoral standards of conduct?
Why or why not? If you believe that such conflicts can occur, give an example. What
should an individual do if he/she must choose between moral and nonmoral
standards? Why? Be specific.
2. Compare and contrast cultural relativism, ethical universalism, and ethical
absolutism. Exactly how are they alike? Exactly how do they differ? Be specific.
What are the main arguments for and against cultural relativism? What are the main
arguments for and against ethical universalism? Which arguments do you find more
convincing? Why? Be specific.
3. What is the connection between ethical relativism and tolerance of the ethical beliefs
of other people and other cultures? Are ethical relativists necessarily more tolerant
than ethical universalists? Why or why not? Be specific. (Be sure you take the
discussion of these questions in your textbook into account.)
4. Give examples of the following categories of theories of moral right and wrong. You
may make up your own examples if you wish:
A. axiological, consequentialist
B. axiological, nonconsequentialist
C. deontological, consequentialist
D. deontological, nonconsequentialist
E. teleological, nonconsequentialist
Explain why each theory exemplifies its type. Be specific.
5. What are the main differences between theories of moral obligation and theories of
intrinsic value? How are the two kinds of theories related to each other? Explain. Be
specific.
6. Compare and contrast ethical egoism and psychological egoism? Which of the two is
a theory of moral obligation? What are the main connections between the two? Be
specific.
7. What are the main arguments for and against psychological egoism? Which argument
is more convincing, in your view? Why? Be specific.
8. What are the main arguments for and against ethical egoism? Which argument is the
more convincing, in your view? Why? Be specific.
9. What are act utilitarian theories of moral obligation? Describe two types of act
utilitarian theories. Be specific. What are the main arguments for and against act
utilitarianism? Which argument do you find more convincing? Why? Be specific.
10. What are rule utilitarian (RU) theories of moral obligation? Compare and contrast
actual rule utilitarianism and ideal rule utilitarianism. Be specific. Which of the two
do you find more plausible? Explain. Is rule utilitarianism an improvement over act
utilitarianism, in your view? Why or why not? Be specific.
11. What exactly is the Divine Command Theory of moral obligation? What are the main
arguments for and against the theory? Which argument do you find more convincing?
Why? Be specific. Could one consistently believe in God and yet not accept the
Divine Command Theory? Why or why not?