Thursday, April 14, 2016

how to present the final exam

Phi 2604 Critical Thinking and Ethics
Doe, John
Final Exam

Times New Roman p. 12
double spaced answers.
just the answers, not the questions.

Final Exam chapter 27

1- Peter Singer is talking about Bengal, which he calls "the present situation," but that was in 1972. Can you think of a place in the world right now that fits that "emergency" profile? Which? If so, what (following Singer) would that prove?
2- What is Singer's thesis in chapter 27 regarding affluence and famine?
3- Singer writes: "... if it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought, morally to do it." What does he mean? Do you agree or disagree, explain your answer.
4- Singer says the following: "... If we accept any principle of impartiality, universalizability, equality or whatever, we cannot discriminate against someone merely because he is far away from us (or we are away from him)." What is he driving at?
5- Singer makes an argument on p. 248 for giving more than $5 to the Bengal Relief Fund. What is it? Do you agree? Why?
6- What does "supererogatory" mean? On p. 251 Singer talks about "common distinction between duty and supererogation." What does he mean?
7- Are you acting immorally by buying a luxury car while others are starving? Justify your answer.
8- Are you acting immorally by paying college tuition for your children while other children have no opportunity for any schooling? Justify your answer.
9- Do you have a moral obligation to try to alleviate extreme poverty in your own country before attempting to do so in other countries? Explain.



Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

HW, chapter 29

1- What is Walzer's definition for terrorism? p. 266
2- Define the "indirect approach."
3- Is terrorism a "civilian strategy"?
4- The increasing use of terror represents a breakdown of what political code?
5- on p. 268 there are three cases. what is common to all three?
6- On p. 268, Walzer mentions three categories. Go over these.
7- Which people do terrorists try to kill? p. 269
8- Is there a difference between the "Russian Revolutionaries"? the "Stern Gang"? and the IRA? ISIS?
9-Compare these on q. 8 with the NFL's campaign in Viet-Nam
Explain Walzer's distinction of "targets" on p. 271.

homework #7, chapter 7


1. define the following:
a) right, b) entitlement, c) claims, d) duties, e) responsabilities,
2. what is a negative right? give examples.
3. what is a positive right? same as above.
4. As per classification of rights define: a) absolute rights, b) prima facie rights, c) scalar rights,

More interpretive questions,

5- do you agree with Gregory Vlastos (page 199), that all rights are prima facie rights? (think of scalar rights to inform your question)
6- do you agree that there are absolute rights?
7- since legal rights and moral rights are different is one more "inherent" than the other?
8- how do you justify someone having a "natural" right to freedom? (think of your own freedom) 
9- some people, ideologies and governments believe that rights are not inherent, but given. do you agree or disagree and if so, explain.
10- you think animals deserve rights? (if so, should you kill them?)
read this link about euthanasia
11- is involuntary euthanasia moral?
12- do you believe there's something called "dying with dignity"?
for question 12 read this (scroll to "who is at risk for suicide")