This examination counts as twenty percent (20%) of your course grade.
You may use a 3"x5" card of notes of your own making.
This is a closed-book, in-class examination on the scheduled date.
You will be asked to write two (2) essays (worth ten (10) points each). You will have a choice of at least four (4) essay questions. By "essay" I mean a discussion (in complete sentences) that will probably take more than a paragraph or two, but should take no more than a few pages.
As always, cheating will not be tolerated. No help in answering the questions may be received from anyone (except yourself) during the examination.
| A-NATU | Aristotle argues (NE II.1) that "Neither by nature ..., nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us ..." Explicate and critically discuss his argument(s) for this point. |
| A-COND | What conditions, according to Aristotle, are necessary in order that a virtuous act be done virtuously? Explain each condition. For each condition give an example of a virtuous act that fails to meet that condition. Is Aristotle right about these conditions? Critically discuss. |
| A-GENU | What kind of thing is a virtue, according to Aristotle (i.e., what is its "genus")? Carefully explain and critically evaluate his argument for this conclusion. |
| A-MEA | Carefully state and explain Aristotle's doctrine of the mean. Give examples of virtues and vices, according to Aristotle, and illustrate Aristotle's account of virtue by showing how those virtues and vices would fit into Aristotle's account. |
| A-TABL | Aristotle considers a "table" of virtues and vices Explain what Aristotle's account of virtue is by going through many of the items in his "table" and showing how the virtues and vices he identifies are virtues and vices according to his theory. Critically discuss. |
| A-BADN | Aristotle says "not every action nor every passion admits of a mean; for some have names that already imply badness." (NE II.6) Explain what he means by this. Is there a way that the troublesome cases can fit more readily into the general Aristotelian position? Explain and critically discuss. |
| SL-SRA | What according to Shafer-Landau is the virtue ethics "standard of right action?" Explain. What emmendation of Shafer-Landau offer to that standard? What problem is that emmendation intended to fix? Does it do the trick? Critically discuss. |
| SL-EMO | How do virtue ethicists see moral understanding, according to Shafer-Landau? What crucial roles, according to Shafer-Landau's account of virtue ethics, do emotions play in moral understanding? Explain these roles. Is virtue ethics right about this? Critically discuss. |
| SL-CON | How, according to Shafer-Landau's account of virtue ethics, does a person who has a virtue differ from someone who does not? Explain, using examples. What is the difference, on this account, between being virtuous and being "continent?" Explain and critically discuss. |
| SL17-5 | What is the "priority problem" for virtue ethics? Explain. Do you think the virtue ethicist has an adequate reply to this problem? Explain and critically discuss. |
| W-&H | Explain what Hobbes means by war. Explain how Orend defines war. Explain the differences in their accounts of what war is. What, if anything, in Orend's account of just war theory would be affected by taking Hobbes's definition of war instead of his own? Critically discuss. |
| W-JAB | According to just war theory, under what circumstances is it morally permissible to go to war? Explain each of the conditions laid out by just war theory for the permissibility of going to war. |
| W-DIS | Explain the just war principle of "discrimination." State it and provide examples of actions which would be morally acceptable according to it, and also examples of actions which would be morally unacceptable according to that principle. |
| W-PAC | What is pacifism, according to Orend? What distinction does he draw between what he calls "CP" and "DP?" Orend explores several objections to pacifism. Explain a couple of these and whether they apply to CP or DP (or both). |
| W-DDE | State and carefully explain the principle (or "doctrine") of double effect. Give examples of actions which would be morally acceptable according to it, and also examples of actions which would be morally unacceptable according to that principle. (And explain, of course, how these examples satisfy or violate, respectively, the principle of double effect.) |
| W-EXCU | Michael Walzer considers several "excuses" that might be offered for terrorism. Explain what these are and why Walzer rejects them. Critically discuss. |
| T-SL3 | What three values does Dershowitz say are in conflict when making decisions about torture? Explain. Why does he claim that a clash between these values is "inevitable?" Explain. Do you think he is correct about this? Critically discuss. |
| L-ARG | Explain in detail the positive argument that LaFollette offers for his claim that "the state should require all parents to be licensed." Critically discuss this argument. |
| L-OBJ | LaFollette considers several objections to his claims that "the state should require all parents to be licensed." Consider two of his objections. For each explain the objection and LaFollette's reply to it. Is his reply adequate? Critically discuss. |
| E-DUT | Explain the differences that Jane English finds between the duties owed to someone as a result of favors and the duties of friendship. Give examples. Do friends owe things to one another? Why or why not? Critically discuss. |
| E-PAR | Jane English asks "What Do Grown Children Owe Their Parents?" What is her answer? Explain. What reasons does she give to support it? Offer an objection to her position. What would English say in response? Critically discuss. |
| E1-UP | According to Epictetus: "Some things are up to us, some are not up to us." What does Epictetus think is up to us? What does he think is not up to us? What conclusions does he draw from this concerning how we can be happy? Critically discuss. |
| E1-HAP | Summarize and critique Epictetus' prescription for happiness, being sure to mention any central distinctions Epictetus draws in his discussion of how to be happy. |
| E1-IDEA | Epictetus wrote, "It is not things that upset people but rather ideas about things." What does this mean? Is it right? What conclusions does he draw from this concerning who is to blame for unhappiness? Critically discuss. |
| E1-BANQ | "Remember that in life you ought to behave as at a banquet." Who said this? What does it mean? Explain. What are its implications? Critically discuss. |
| E1-SPO | According to Epictetus what attitude should we have if our spouse or child dies? Why? Critically discuss. |
| E1-ADV | In sections 33 through 42 of the Enchiridion Epictetus offers lots of specific advice about how to behave in certain circumstances. Explain (some of) this advice. How does it fit or not fit with his overall stoic view? Does this advice seem good? Why or why not? Critically discuss. |
| E2-DIN | Explain Epicurus's reasoning that "death is nothing to us." Does that mean that death is not bad? Explain. |
| E2-PLE | Epicurus thinks that pleasure is "the first good." Explain Epicurus's view on whether we should seek pleasures, and his views on what pleasures, if any, we should avoid, and why. Critically discuss. |
| E2-BEN | Compare and contrast the thoughts of Epicurus and Jeremy Bentham on the value of pleasure and which pleasures should be chosen. |
| 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. |
| T-SIS | Richard Taylor retells the story of Sisyphus. Explain Taylor's telling of that story. Explain how the story of Sisyphus can (or cannot) be seen as analogous to our lives. Is there a way in which Sisyphsus' life can be "meaningful?" Is there a way in which Sisyphus's life can be worthwhile or desirable? Explain and critically discuss. |