Test 2/Final Exam Study Guide

Question 1

What is Hobbes view on the “state of nature”

Answer 1

People in a state of nature are (shit)
egoistic
equal
have equal rights to everything
warlike

Question 2

Psychological Egoism

Answer 2

descriptive (is)

Question 3

Ethical Egoism

Answer 3

prescriptive (ought)

Question 4

What is the nature of the social contract between the people and the sovereign

Answer 4

The people offer compliance in exchange for the sovereign’s protection. The sovereign has absolute power, but that lasts as long has his power to protect does

Question 5

What is a “free rider”

Answer 5

A person who does not give up their rights in the contract between the sovereign and the people

Question 6

What is Locke’s view on “innate ideas”

Answer 6

Knowledge comes from the senses

Question 7

What is Locke’s view on the state of nature

Answer 7

In a natural state people were kind, peaceful, good willed, etc. The government is a convience

Question 8

What are natural rights according to Locke?

Answer 8

Life
Liberty
Pursuit of happiness
property

Question 9

What is the nature of the social contract between people and the government

Answer 9

Our government is out of consent by the people and a convience

Question 10

What are the 3 benefits of government according to Locke

Answer 10

Provides written laws
Enforces laws
Interprets laws

Question 11

What are the 3 branches of government according to Locke

Answer 11

Legislative-written laws
Executive-enforces/interprets laws
Federative-international affairs

Question 12

What is Rousseau’s view of nature

Answer 12

people are naturally happy, free, peaceful, pitie, healthy self love, perfectibilite (can improve)

Question 13

Nature of the civil contract according to Rousseau

Answer 13

It is a false social contract because those in power make laws in order to preserve their power

Question 14

What is “general will” according to Rousseau

Answer 14

the consensus of the people is the way to go with decisions

Question 15

What is the nature of the social contract according to Rousseau

Answer 15

Retain power in the community, “general will”, the people are the ruled and the rulers, populous is king, a legislator codifies laws but people enforce them, there is a civic religion, and people are “forced to be free”

Question 16

Forced to be free definition

Answer 16

the populous can force an individual to be apart of them

Question 17

Benefits of Contractarianism

Answer 17

Benefits:
interpersonal
explains content of morality
content is objective

Question 18

Concerns of Contractarianism

Answer 18

free riders
consent
rational
disagreement

Question 19

What is the difference between voluntary, non-voluntary, and involuntary euthanasia

Answer 19

voluntary-person is competent and gives consent
non-voluntary-w/o consent,person incompetent
involuntary-w/o consent, person competent

Question 20

What is the difference between active and passive euthanasia?

Answer 20

Active is where you bring the death, while passive is refusing to stop death. Ex: active is lethal injection while passive is refusing to resuscitate a person

Question 21

Most common arguments (both pro and con) for euthansia

Answer 21

1. sanctity of life v. right to die
2. value of life v cost of caring
3. diminished value of life (slippery slope) v compassion response

Question 22

Jus ad bellum (reason to go to war)

Answer 22

1. right authority
2. right intention-love
3. right cause- justice
4. actual self-defense
5. proportionality (war must lead to good/less evil)
6. Just peace (don’t demolish enemy)

Question 23

Jus in bello (war conduct)

Answer 23

1. proportionality (fight with means that are fair. not nuking a third world country with bows and arrows)
2. discrimination (non-fighters are safe)

Question 24

How is immunity in war affected

Answer 24

Lost/jeopardized:

1. bearing arms
2. political responsibility
3. giving material support
4. certain situations

Question 25

Difference between pacifism, nonviolent resistance, and abolutionism

Answer 25

Pacifists offer no violence at all and don’t involve themselves in the fight. Nonviolent resistance are protests (MLK and Gandhi). Abolitionists wish to end all war

Question 26

Pros/cons of retributivism

Answer 26

punishment based on what you deserve
Pro:
1. seems fair
2. backward looking
Cons:
1. Can disguise revenge 
2. No room for mercy
3. Moral pretentiousness
4. Attached innocent suffer

Question 27

Pros/cons of Deterrence

Answer 27

Punishment based on prevention
Pro:
1. effectiveness
2. Forward looking
Con:
1. unfair
2. too harsh
3. not that affective

Question 28

What are Bedau’s argument’s against capital punishment

Answer 28

1. slow/inconsistent
2. doesn’t account for crimes of passion
3. not more effective than other punishments
4. unfair
5. irreversible
6. barbaric
7. expensive

Question 29

What are Van der Haag’s arguments for capital punishment

Answer 29

1. preserves justice even if it is unequal
2. deterrence works
3. special cases
4. vengeance is irrelevant
5. somethings are worth dying for
6. proclaims and enforces our values
7. Failure of nerve

Question 30

What is Hardin’s argument considering poverty

Answer 30

because you can’t help everyone due to a lack of resources you can’t help anyone

Question 31

Compare Singer’s strong thesis and his moderate one

Answer 31

1. strong thesis-give until your funds equal the poors

2. moderate thesis-give until you have the minimum to support yourself and your moral causes

Question 32

What are the problems attendant to aiding the poor

Answer 32

1. Letting die v killing
2. current world v future
3. right to aid v right to money
4. need v want
5. near v far
6. bad v awful