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What is the subject matter of philosophy?
What are the three major questions and the areas of philosophy to which they
correspond?
- what is real- metaphysics
- what is knowledge-epistemology
- what should i do- value theory- ethics
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- What are the two major questions of ethics?
- what is right/wrong
- how do i know if wrong
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What is the method of philosophy?
How does this method differ from religion and science?
Why use this method?
- thinking and discussion
- Proofs --->reasons -->arguments
- challenging commonly held beliefs
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What is an argument?
How is an argument structured?
comprised of one or more premise and a conclusion
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What is validity?
Give an example of a valid argument
What is invalidity?
Give an example of an invalid argument
- If the premises are true then the conclusion is
- Joe Torre has received a BC degree
- No one can receive a BC degree unless they have paid tuition
- Joe Torre has received a BC degree
- Joe Torre paid tuition
- Valid but not sound
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What is soundness?
Give an example of an unsound argument
What is unsoundness?
Give an example of an unsound argument
valid and premises are true
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What is morality, according to Rachels?
Minimum conception of morality
- conduct guided by reason
- Minimum conception of morality
- 1 moral principles
- 2 ethical reasoning
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What is the benefits argument with relation to Baby Theresa?
Now that we know more about moral philosophy, what kind of argument is this
(Kantian, Utilitarian, Virtue Ethicist, Relativist…)?
- The benefits arguments- consequentialism
- If we can benefit someone without harming anyone else, we ought to
- Transplanting the organs would benefit other children without harming anyone
- Therefore we ought to transplant
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What is the argument that we should not use people as means with relation to Baby
Theresa?
o What kind of argument is this?
- The argument that we should not use people as means- Kantian- Deontology
- Its wrong to use people merely as means to others ends
- Taking Theresa's organs would be using her as a means
- Therefore it shouldn't be done
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What is the argument from the wrongness of killing?
o Evaluate this argument
killing to save other lives?
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What is impartiality?
o Does ethics need it? (Possible long answer question)
not making yourself more important than anyone else. Equality. Needed
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What is cultural relativism?
o How does it differ from ethical universalism?
- Different cultures have different moral codes
- There are no universal truths
- Right Action: culturally approved action
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What are the negative consequences of accepting cultural relativism (hint: there are
three)?
- You cant judge other cultures
- you cant criticize your own culture
- there is no more progress
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- What is the cultural differences argument?
o Is this argument valid? Sound?
- List the five claims of cultural relativists?
- Analyze the relationship between cultural relativism and tolerance. (This is a potential
long answer question).
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What is ethical subjectivism?
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According to the simple subjectivism, what are we actually expressing when we say
things like: “X is morally acceptable”, “X is right”, “X ought to be done” o What about:
“X is morally unacceptable”, “X is wrong”, “X ought not to be done”
you approve of x or x is right
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List the problems for simple subjectivism.
Explain why disagreement causes a problem for simple subjectivism o Explain
why...
- implies that we are always right.
- if s.s. is true no one could be wrong, there could be no disagreement. everyones is entitled to their opinion and it is not wrong
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What is emotivism?
o According to emotivism, what are we actually expressing when we say “X is
morally acceptable”...?
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How does emotivism distinguish between the different uses of language?
How does this allow emotivism to avoid the problems faced by subjectivism?
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What are the problems for emotivism?
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Does Morality Depend on Religion?
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What is divine command theory?
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What is the ‘euthyphro’ problem? (potential long answer question) o What kind of
dilemma does it present the divine command theorist?
How could the divine command theorist respond to this dilemma? Evaluate the
options.
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What are the three features of natural law theory?
On the basis of these features, how does natural law theory define good and bad?
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List the problems for divine command theory.
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What is the is/ought distinction? (Hint: difference between descriptive and normative)
(Potential long answer question)
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