Philosophy 346: Study questions for the second test
The second test is scheduled for Friday, November 5. Like the first, it will consist of essay and short-answer questions. The questions will cover a selection of the material indicated by the questions below, but they may not be in the same form as the questions below. The test will count as 20% of your final grade.
Explain the difference between deontological and utilitarian ethics and discuss the kind of moral reasoning characteristic or each (e.g. rule-based vs. consequentialist reasoning). How does preference utilitarianism differ from hedonistic utilitarianism? Why do the usual forms of utilitarianism fail to provide an adequate population policy? How do utilitarian ethics and deontological ethics differ from natural law theories?
What is cost-benefit analysis? What sort of ethical theory does it typically presuppose? What steps are involved in performing a cost-benefit analysis? Why is cost-benefit analysis not a morally neutral decision-making tool? How may a cost-benefit analysis be criticized? What is shadow pricing? How is shadow pricing accomplished, and what role does it play in cost-benefit analyses? How can it be criticized? What is discounting, how is it used in cost-benefit analysis, and how may it be criticized?
What are the fundamental value assumptions of market-based economics? How can these assumptions be criticized? How is free-market economics related to utilitarianism? Why does a free market not provide adequate solutions to moral problems? What non-economic human values do markets fail to consider?
Explain the main arguments for and against the claim that we have obligations to future generations. What are the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments? What problems arise when we try to extend traditional forms of ethics to future generations?
What reasons do we have for believing that animals are sentient? Which animals? Explain. Explain and compare the theories of animal ethics of Peter Singer and Tom Regan. What is the basic moral principle of each? To which animals does each theory apply, and why? To what moral tradition does each thinker belong? What are the practical implications these views, and how do they differ? How has each been criticized?
Why does Peter Singer think that we should be vegetarians? Explain the arguments for and against vegetarianism. Are humans naturally omnivores? Of what relevance is this to the debate over ethical vegetarianism?
Lynn White has argued that Christianity bears a good bit of the responsibility for the ecological crisis. Explain and criticize his reasoning.
What is biocentrism, and what are the main varieties of it? What its implications and how can it be criticized?
Discuss the conceptual changes that have occurred in the science of ecology over the course of its development from the organismic model to the various systems models (e.g. community, functional and energy models). How have these changes affected environmental ethics?
Describe Leopold’s Land ethic. How does it differ from biocentrism? In what ways does it embody the organismic model and the energy model of ecosystems? What does Leopold mean by "land"? By what principles does Leopold think ethics has evolved? What implications does the land ethic have for personal living and environmental policy? What criticisms can be raised against the land ethic?
What conflicts arise between advocates of animal ethics and ecocentrists (such as Leopold)? How might they be resolved?
What is deep ecology? How is it related to the thought of Mohandas Gandhi? Explain Naess' distinction between the self and the Self and his concept of Self-realization. What implications does deep ecology have for ethics? How can it be criticized?
What are the main ideas of social ecology? How can they be criticized?
Describe the three "waves" of feminism. How and why do some feminists advocate narrative rather as opposed to abstract theory? What is ecofeminism? What aspects of Western Culture do ecofeminists criticize? How? What implications does ecofeminism have with respect to personal living and environmental policy? What other objections might be raised against ecofeminism?
Explain the notions of moral monism, moral relativism and moral absolutism. What reasons can be given for and against each? How could moral decisions be made on a pluralistic theory?
Be able to define and explain the following terms: inherent (intrinsic) and instrumental value, ethical relativism, telos, moral considerability, anthropocentrism, sentience, speciesism, moral agent, moral patient, naturalistic fallacy, ecofascism, ethical accretionism, egalitarianism.