Contemporary Ethical Theory

[Be sure you are familiar with the format and ground rules for this exam.]

Questions will be referred to by their "names," listed to their left.

Tentative

"Name" Question

SH-SC What, according to Shaw is consequentialism? What distinguishes what he calls "standard consequentialism?" What would be non-standard consequentialism? Is one more plausible than the other? Why or why not? Critically discuss.

SH-JI Explain the details of Bernard Williams' "Jim and the Indians" example. What should Jim do in these circumstances? Why? Explore answers that might be given by various ethical theories or principles.
SH-IND At one point Shaw says "The good is agent-neutral and independent of the right." Explain what this means. Explain why a consequentialist might hold this. Explore alternatives. Critically discuss.

SH-UTI How on Shaw's view is utilitarianism distinguished from other forms of standard consequentialism? Critically explore these differences.

SH-RUL Shaw explains the value, according to consequentialists, of relying on "secondary rules." State, explain, and critically explore what Shaw has to say about secondary rules.

SH-RI What is "reflective equilibrium?" Explain how one justifies moral beliefs according to the method of reflective equilibrium. Is this a reasonable way to justify moral beliefs? Critically discuss.

SH-DRP Shaw distinguishes "deontological restrictions" and "deontological permissions." Explain what each of these is. How is each an "objection" to consequentailism? What is Shaw's reply to these objections? Critically discuss.

NZ-MAT What, according to Robert Nozick, matters to us in addition to our experiences? Explain his attempt to convince us of this. Critically discuss.
P-UNR Explain the distinction Derek Parfit draws between the "Unrestricted Desire-Fulfillment Theory" and the "Success Theory." Which does he think a better theory? Why? Critically discuss.
P-WOU Parfit spends some time exploring the place of "desires and preferences that I would have had, in the various alternatives that were, at different times, open to me." (ET p.331b) Which of these desires, if any, should count in considering whether my life is going well? Critically explore Parfit's answer and the alternative answers he considers.

P-BLA Parfit considers a case (put forward to Rawls) of someone who "wants to spend his life counting the numbers of blades of grass on different lawns." (ET p.332a) What point is Parfit trying to make by bringing up this example? Does Parfit succeed? Critically discuss.
SM-E&R J.J.C. Smart draws a distinction between what he calls "extreme" and "restricted" utilitarianism. Explain as fully as you can what this distinction is. What is the role of rules in each? Which does Smart favor? What are his arguments against the other form of utilitarianism? Critically discuss and evaluate.
SM-PRA Under what circumstances, according to Smart, should an action be praised? Why? Is this consistent with his view of when actions are morally right? Explain. Critically discuss.
SM-COM What role does J.J.C. Smart think considerations of "the common moral consciousness" should play in the considerations of ethical philosophers? Explain and critically discuss.
SM-RUL What role does Smart think rules should play in moral decision making? Explain and critically discuss.
SM-PRA Under what circumstances, according to J.J.C. Smart, should a utilitarian praise some action? What does moral praiseworthiness have to do with moral rightness on Smart's theory? Critically discuss.
H-EMPT Hooker suggests (2 p. 483b) "A life could be maximally pleasurable, have maximum desire-fulfillment, and still be empty ..." Explain what he means. What does this have to do with what the correct theory is in regard to what make someone's life go well? Critically discuss.

H-DIST Hooker suggests that "we should reject rule utilitarianism in favor of a distribution-sensitive rule-consequentialism ..." (3 p.484b) Explain this. What is rule utilitarianism? What is this distribution-sensitive rule-consequentialism he is talking about? Why does he think the latter is superior? Critically discuss.

H-DP Hooker distinguishes "criteria of rightness" from a "decision procedure" (4 p.485ab) What is this distinction? Which does consequntialism plausibly offer, on Hooker's view? Critically discuss.

H-FORM In section 5 Hooker offers various "formulations" of rule-consequentialism. Explain what these are and how they differ. Which is most plausible? Critically discuss.

H-COLL It is a standard objection to rule-consequentialism that it "collapses" into act consequentialism. Explain this objection. How might a rule consequentialist respond to the objection? Critically discuss.

H-ARG Hooker says "I've suggested three different way of arguing for rule consequentialism (8 p.419b) Explain these three ways. Which does Hooker support? Why? Critically discuss.

SG-ARG Peter Singer argues that we have a moral duty to forgo relative luxuries (e.g. new clothes) in order to send money to save starving people in other countries. What is his argument for this conclusion? Critically discuss.
SG-PRIN Singer offers two versions of a principle (sometimes referred to as the "strong" and "weak" versions). Explain these versions of his principle. Give examples of the application of each of these principles. How do the versions differ? Do these principles seem correct or incorrect? Critically discuss.

"Name"	Question
SH-SC	What, according to Shaw is consequentialism? What distinguishes what he calls "standard consequentialism?" What would be non-standard consequentialism? Is one more plausible than the other? Why or why not? Critically discuss.
SH-JI	Explain the details of Bernard Williams' "Jim and the Indians" example. What should Jim do in these circumstances? Why? Explore answers that might be given by various ethical theories or principles.
SH-IND	At one point Shaw says "The good is agent-neutral and independent of the right." Explain what this means. Explain why a consequentialist might hold this. Explore alternatives. Critically discuss.
SH-UTI	How on Shaw's view is utilitarianism distinguished from other forms of standard consequentialism? Critically explore these differences.
SH-RUL	Shaw explains the value, according to consequentialists, of relying on "secondary rules." State, explain, and critically explore what Shaw has to say about secondary rules.
SH-RI	What is "reflective equilibrium?" Explain how one justifies moral beliefs according to the method of reflective equilibrium. Is this a reasonable way to justify moral beliefs? Critically discuss.
SH-DRP	Shaw distinguishes "deontological restrictions" and "deontological permissions." Explain what each of these is. How is each an "objection" to consequentailism? What is Shaw's reply to these objections? Critically discuss.
NZ-MAT	What, according to Robert Nozick, matters to us in addition to our experiences? Explain his attempt to convince us of this. Critically discuss.
P-UNR	Explain the distinction Derek Parfit draws between the "Unrestricted Desire-Fulfillment Theory" and the "Success Theory." Which does he think a better theory? Why? Critically discuss.
P-WOU	Parfit spends some time exploring the place of "desires and preferences that I would have had, in the various alternatives that were, at different times, open to me." (ET p.331b) Which of these desires, if any, should count in considering whether my life is going well? Critically explore Parfit's answer and the alternative answers he considers.
P-BLA	Parfit considers a case (put forward to Rawls) of someone who "wants to spend his life counting the numbers of blades of grass on different lawns." (ET p.332a) What point is Parfit trying to make by bringing up this example? Does Parfit succeed? Critically discuss.
SM-E&R	J.J.C. Smart draws a distinction between what he calls "extreme" and "restricted" utilitarianism. Explain as fully as you can what this distinction is. What is the role of rules in each? Which does Smart favor? What are his arguments against the other form of utilitarianism? Critically discuss and evaluate.
SM-PRA	Under what circumstances, according to Smart, should an action be praised? Why? Is this consistent with his view of when actions are morally right? Explain. Critically discuss.
SM-COM	What role does J.J.C. Smart think considerations of "the common moral consciousness" should play in the considerations of ethical philosophers? Explain and critically discuss.
SM-RUL	What role does Smart think rules should play in moral decision making? Explain and critically discuss.
SM-PRA	Under what circumstances, according to J.J.C. Smart, should a utilitarian praise some action? What does moral praiseworthiness have to do with moral rightness on Smart's theory? Critically discuss.
H-EMPT	Hooker suggests (2 p. 483b) "A life could be maximally pleasurable, have maximum desire-fulfillment, and still be empty ..." Explain what he means. What does this have to do with what the correct theory is in regard to what make someone's life go well? Critically discuss.
H-DIST	Hooker suggests that "we should reject rule utilitarianism in favor of a distribution-sensitive rule-consequentialism ..." (3 p.484b) Explain this. What is rule utilitarianism? What is this distribution-sensitive rule-consequentialism he is talking about? Why does he think the latter is superior? Critically discuss.
H-DP	Hooker distinguishes "criteria of rightness" from a "decision procedure" (4 p.485ab) What is this distinction? Which does consequntialism plausibly offer, on Hooker's view? Critically discuss.
H-FORM	In section 5 Hooker offers various "formulations" of rule-consequentialism. Explain what these are and how they differ. Which is most plausible? Critically discuss.
H-COLL	It is a standard objection to rule-consequentialism that it "collapses" into act consequentialism. Explain this objection. How might a rule consequentialist respond to the objection? Critically discuss.
H-ARG	Hooker says "I've suggested three different way of arguing for rule consequentialism (8 p.419b) Explain these three ways. Which does Hooker support? Why? Critically discuss.
SG-ARG	Peter Singer argues that we have a moral duty to forgo relative luxuries (e.g. new clothes) in order to send money to save starving people in other countries. What is his argument for this conclusion? Critically discuss.
SG-PRIN	Singer offers two versions of a principle (sometimes referred to as the "strong" and "weak" versions). Explain these versions of his principle. Give examples of the application of each of these principles. How do the versions differ? Do these principles seem correct or incorrect? Critically discuss.

Richard Lee, rlee@uark.edu, last modified: 9 September 2011