Philosophy 12: Midterm Study Guide Fall 2019
Short Short Answer (One or two sentence answers):
1. What is the literal definition of philosophy?
2. What is the Socratic method?
3. What is a thought experiment? Name one example.
4. What is ethical subjectivism?
5. What is cultural relativism?
6. What is moral objectivism?
7. What is emotivism?
8. What is ethical nihilism?
9. What is the divine command theory?
10. What is the Euthyphro dilemma?
11. What is the posterity problem?
12. What is the difference between natural and moral evil?
13. What is the problem of evil?
14. What is a theodicy?
15. What is the difference between psychological egoism and ethical egoism?
16. What is altruism?
17. What is utilitarianism?
18. What is Bentham’s hedonic calculus?
19. What is the key difference between Bentham’s and Mill’s utilitarianism?
20. What is the tragedy of the commons?
21. What is the first formulation of Kant's categorical imperative?
22. What is the second formulation of Kant's categorical imperative?
23. What is the main difference with virtue ethics compared to other theories?
24. For Aristotle, what are two ways one can become a virtuous person?
25. How does the doctrine of the mean relate to being a virtuous person?
Short Answer (Quiz length answers):
1. Briefly explain the trial of Socrates. What are the main ideas presented by Socrates? Do you agree or disagree with these ideas?
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of moral objectivism and moral relativism. Which theory presents a better case and why?
3. Explain the divine command theory. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this theory? In your opinion, how important is religion for a meaningful moral life?
4. Examine the argument from evil against God’s existence. How persuasive is it? Does the fact of evil or the amount of evil in the world count against the idea that God exists? Explain your answer.
5. Explain the difference between psychological and ethical egoism. What objections are there to these views? Does ethical egoism constitute an adequate ethical theory? Explain your answer.
6. Briefly explain two (2) of the following thought experiments. What do these experiments illustrate? In your opinion, what is the right thing to do in these situations?
Deserted Island Promise
Trolley Problem
South American Showdown
Experience Machine
7. How would a Kantian, utilitarian, and virtue theorist justify the following statements: (1) Cheating on a test is wrong and (2) Giving to charity is good.
8. Describe the ethical theories presented in the film Crimes and Misdemeanors. Which characters do you agree with and why? Which characters do you disagree with and why?
Format: 4 short answer questions (10 points each), 12 short short answer questions (5 points each). Total points: 100.