Socratic Ethics (Plato)
- What are the two main moral principles that Socrates upholds throughout his trial?
- What is the Euthyphro Dilemma? Why is it important for ethics?
- Explain the difference between “breaking a law” and “breaking thelaws.”
- Does Socrates place any value in good reputation? Explain how this is relevant to his decision in the Crito.
Defining Ethics. Object and Application. (Hume, Smith)
- What does Hume mean when he says that “reason has no influence on our actions and passions”? How is this relevant to ethics?
- What is Hume’s purpose in using the example of the adulterous neighbor? Explain.
- Why, according to Smith, is it important to distinguish between reasons and motives?
- What role does the ideal observer (cool, calm, and collected) play in Smith’s version of realism?
Moral Sentiment and Moral Knowledge (Bambrough)
- What is Bambrough’s proof for the legitimacy of moral knowledge? Explain.
- Identify at least one of the objections Bambrough sets out to refute. Do you think his counter-arguments are successful?
- What similarities does Bambrough outline between scientific knowledge and moral knowledge?
Challenges to Ethics.Relativism and Skepticism. (Mackie, Midgley)
- Why does Mackie believe that there are no objective values?
- What is the argument from cultural relativity of moral values and how does Mackie go about supporting it?
- What, according to Midgley, is wrong with the purported tolerance of relativists?
- What is the example of trying one’s new sword used to illustrate?
- How does Midgley go about her refutation of moral skepticism?
Ethical Categories. Pleasure, Happiness, Goodness, Justice. (Mill, Nozick)
- What is Mill’s definition of pleasure? Why does pleasure matter for ethics?
- What does Mill mean when he says that “it is better to be a human being dissatisfied, than a pig satisfied”?
- What is the purpose of Nozick’s “experience machine” thought experiment?
- What would be Nozick’s take on the popular maxim “ignorance is bliss”?
