Tag: Academic writing

Question 1
Emotivism is ethics by way of emotions.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 2
Anthropocentrism is a form of relativism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 3
Being an Autonomous Moral Agent is equivalent to Ethical Subjectivism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 4
Brushing your teeth is a “Non-Moral act.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 5
Popular Appeal fallacy occurs when we appeal to popular opinion to gain support for our conclusion. “Everyone believes (or does) it, so it is right.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 6
The Fallacy of Ignorance occurs when a person purposefully avoids knowing something because it might hurt them.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 7
Virtue is the “habit of right action.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 8
The categorical imperative, according to Kant is binding on all animals since it is a universal moral principle.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 9
Epistemology in Greek means the “study of knowledge.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 10
Skepticism in ethics generally leads to some form of relativism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 11
The etymology of the term Philosophy is “search for wisdom.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 12
Metaphysical Materialism results in ethical determinism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 13
Immoral and Unethical carry the same general meaning.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 14
Metaethics is the relativistic ethical principle established by Jeremy Bentham the founder of utilitarianism to support his “hedonistic calculus.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 15
Applied Ethics is the practical application of ethical theory.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 16
Fallacy of Accident is a form of a hasty generalization which occurs when one accidentally uses stereotypes to categorize people.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 17
Tolerance is a universal principle in all ethical theories.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 18
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies human knowledge and action.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 19
Moral Motivation is of central importance for metaphysical materialists.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 20
The guiding principle of Utilitarianism is “the greatest good for the greatest number,” and therefore it is less concerned with the consequences of an act and more concerned with the good intention.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 21
Religious Ethics is always determined by and relative to some supernatural revelation, examples, Torah, Bible, Koran.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 22
Metaphysical Dualism, as an ethical theory, is the idea that there is only “one kind of stuff.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 23
Ethical Subjectivism suggests that individuals determine the value of their own actions.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 24
Relativism in the ethical sense was discovered by Albert Einstein in his theory of relativity.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 25
The terms Ethics and Morals engender the same general meaning.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 26
The statement, “The UN General Assembly argues that the US has a (moral) duty to end the embargo on Cuba, while the US argues it has no (legal) duty to end it.” is an example of the Fallacy of equivocation.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 27
Virtue Ethics is the ethical system associated with the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 28
A “vice” is a “bad habit.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 29
Accepting Cultural Diversity means accepting Cultural Relativism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 30
Irrelevant Conclusion occurs when the conclusion is not relevant to the premises. The topic gets changed by the arguer; it moves from a question of what ought to be done to a statement about what we would do.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 31
Reason is essential for Moral Judgment.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 32
Cognitive Ethical Theories include emotivism and deontology.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 33
All dilemmas are Moral Dilemma.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 34
Ontological shock occurs when my boyfriend is found cheating!!
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 35
Appeal to Inappropriate Authority occurs when we refer to an expert or authority in one field while the discussion is related to a different field. Falsely assumes that an expert in one field is an expert in all fields.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 36
Virtue ethics is a form of emotivism established by the french philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 37
Cultural Relativism refers to the belief that good and bad is determined by culture.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 38
Abusive fallacy occurs when a threat to use force (physical, psychological or legal) in an attempt to coerce (force) or intimidate another person to accept our conclusion. Makes the false assumption that “might (strength) makes right”.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 39
An
Ad hominem
fallacy occurs when we disagree with someone’s conclusion, but instead of addressing the argument, we verbally attack the character of the person who made the argument.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 40
Social Darwinism suggests that human culture progresses from lower to higher forms of society, and therefore, humans evolved to be free, and determined to act as they do.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 41
A characteristic of Wisdom is the ability to learn from the mistakes of other.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 42
Brushing your teeth is an “amoral act.”
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 43
Animals are part of our Moral Community in the sense that they too make moral decisions.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 44
Non Cognitive Ethical Theories include emotivism and skepticism.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question
Ones “World View” refers to what the majority of the world believes about a moral issue.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 46
According to Kant, no one has a good will because all people are capable of sin.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 47
A circumstantial fallacy occurs when one falsely assumes that the pre-determined group is always “right”, and that each person is obliged to conform or risk expulsion from that non-voluntary group.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 48
Universalist Moral Theories are said to apply to all animals .
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 49
Normative Ethics is what the majority of people believe to be true in a society.
Group of answer choices
True
False
Question 50
Rhetoric, the art of persuasive speech, was used by the Sophists to uncover philosophical truth.
Group of answer choices
True
False

Principle of Ethics
In week three, we were looking at rights ethics with regards to Locke. As a reminder, Locke said we have inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property. It is immoral to violate them. Many think we have more rights than those listed by Locke. Some even think we have a right to health care. That means it is the duty of the state to provide each citizen with their medical needs.
Rights theory says to respect the entitlements we have. If a right is inalienable (unable to be taken away from or given away), it cannot truly be violated ethically even with our consent. We have basic needs. Rights are something beyond needs. They are what we should be authorized to have. We are due what we have a right to. That is not always the case with need. For example, we need food, but people often go hungry. A need refers to something we need physically to exist. A right is a moral entitlement to something. Asking if we have a right to food is a moral question. Needs are determined by the requirements of the body and of material existence. Rights are determined by moral reflection, inquiry, an argument We have a right to own property. We do not need it to live. We could imaginably be allowed to use another’s. We have a right to own a home. We can rent.
DISCUSSION:
Assess the moral solutions arrived at through “care” (care-based ethics) and “rights” ethics to social issues of ethical import such as poverty, drug use, and/or lack of health care,
That is, note any ethical problems that arise related to those particular issues. Then, say how both care-based and rights theory of ethics would solve those problems.
Are those solutions correct? Why or why not?
What is your own approach there?

The following questions are about Kierkegaard’s “The Rotation of the Crops”
1. What are Kierkegaard’s Three Spheres of Existence? Briefly explain each sphere.
2. What is the role of love in Kierkegaard’s philosophy?
3. Laughter is the greatest gift from the gods according to Kierkegaard. Why?
4. Boredom is the greatest evil, according to Kierkegaard. Please explain why.
5. Of the three kinds of laughter, which one most resonates with you and why?
6. “Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forwards.” – Kierkegaard. What is the
significance of this quote?
7. What does Kierkegaard mean by the following “Leap of Faith?”
8. What kind of philosopher is Kierkegaard?
9. What about marriage was problematic for Kierkegaard?
10. “To remember poetically is actually only an expression for forgetting.” What does this mean within
Kierkegaard’s essay, “The Rotation of the Crops”?
11. What stands out in Kierkegaard’s philosophy and why?

Make a list of things that you value (they could be material or non-material). Arrange them
according to their degree of importance in your life.
Consider the topmost three of these things that you value. Do you also consider them as a
moral value? Please explain why they are so or why they are not your moral values?
And then consider the bottom part of your list of values and explain why they should be-
long there using your valuation process.

A. Read Mothershead’s Ethics: Modern Conception of the Principles of Right, Chapter 2
(pp. 21-36), “The Problem of the Scope of Morality” and answer the study questions be-
low.
Here is an overview of the reading:
THE PROBLEM OF THE SCOPE OF MORALITY – MOTHERSHEAD A. Ethics and Morals Ethics is the study of morality – Ethics is a branch of philosophy – Moral Philosophy – Moral philosophy = explains how we can make moral judgements and why we ought to do SO B. The Concept of Value There are different kinds of values, and the common supposition that all goods are moral ones is wrong “Value experience” – side-taking part of human experience (we are for some things, against others), and the goods or bads are the values/disvalues Not everything good is moral (ex: he is a good cracksman not because of his purpose, but because he just has technique aka skill = values of utility) Examples of values: Truth, Validity, Reasoning, Meaning, Religious value, Social values, etc C. Moral Values – So what makes a value moral? Unlimited priorities All values are priorities with respect to some aspect of human experience. (We get to decide with has less value, no value, or disvalue!) Moral values differ from other values by being unlimited priorities. When I make a moral judgment (saying X is morally good), it means X has to be promoted as purpose human action can do it without conflict with other higher moral values Moral values take precedence over all other values (some say that the highest moral values are religious, but that’s up to your priority) Moral values may be created by human preferences, they may be embedded in the nature of things, or they may exist as a realm of transcendental entities Conduct = Deliberate human action D. Necessary Conditions of Morality – Minimal requirements of morality = Freedom and Obligation If we were unable to consider the future or if we could see a perfect future all laid out before us, there would be no obligation for us The condition of freedom limits morality to men because only men can make moral judgments E. Only Men are Moral – Living creates other than men are not capable of moral judgment – We can also suppose there are men who are incapable of moral judgment (some may say they’re insane because they don’t know the difference between right and wrong, or you can also say children because they may not be mature yet) Plants/inanimate objects can’t make moral judgment because moral values are values of action! Plant’s can’t move (u should know this) F. Morality is not the whole of human life Most human decisions and actions are motivated by automatically operating reflexes in combination with various habits formed on the basis of experience We call things right or wrong as a fairly direct result of our conditioning Moral judgments express conditioning – Moral judgments involve reflective application of a moral principle The weight given to moral concern and judgment in human life varies greatly from person to person Amoral man = lives his life without consideration of the right or wrong of his actions or those of others
1. When does a value become a moral value? Is money a value? Can money become a
moral value? Why/Why not? Can you think of other examples?
2. Why do we have this tendency to render moral judgements on others so easily? Ex-
plain your answer.
3. Is your practical choice always in consonance with your intellectual choice? Why/
Why not?

Explain why Kant believes that it is always morally wrong to lie. Do you agree or disagree with his position and why? You should use examples from class, the readings, the world, or your own life to support your explanation.

Was Fantasia Goodwin morally justified in her decision to continue playing basketball while she was secretly pregnant? Why or why not. Utilize moral principles/theories to justify your answer.

Imagine that you have been given a piece of sovereign land upon which to build a just society. discuss the following: Identify and explain your definition of justice. Identify and discuss the social philosophy/philosophies that are similar to your own vision of justice. For example, you might draw upon Rawls’ idea that justice is fairness and original position and discuss how reflecting upon the original position influenced the structure of your new society. Alternatively, you might explain intersectionality and discuss how your society will ensure that discrimination on the basis of identities like race, class, gender, and sexuality will not occur. Identify and discuss a contrasting theory.

Interview with a Cannibal
This interview, excerpted by Harper’s Magazine in 2005, was originally published by Hannah Thomas, for the Edinburgh, Scotland university newspaper, Student. She met with Gary Stevenson, now known as Kapal Nath, an American who practices cannibalism in India.
Can you tell me about your childhood and family?
I was born in Houston, Texas, on December 3, 1950. My family was really Christian. I had a lot of religious education. We were very wealthy. I was richer than most of the other kids. My father worked in corporate finances– you know, money managing.
Have you ever been married?
Yeah. I’ve got a daughter too– she’s got a husband and everything, lives in Canada.
How did you first get interested in the Aghori sect and in cannibalism?
It was pretty natural, you now. I went to Varanasi in 1977– there were loads of sadhus [Hinduism: an ascetic holy man], and I just started naturally. Slept on the ashes in the cremation grounds and chatted with the sadhus, you know. They accepted me, and that’s unusual. Normally they don’t let outsiders hang around with them, but they knew I was serious, you know. The dons, and pandits– it’s like a family. They have to keep the sacred fire going– it’s where they burn the bodies. I changed my name when I met this one sadhu, really high up. He gave me my new name– Kapal means skull, Nath means great teacher.
In Varanasi there are loads of Aghoris around, but it’s pretty secretive– some of them are cannibals and some aren’t, or they don’t do it regularly, but I loved it. We perform rituals using the human skull– drinking alcohol from it gives you power, enables you to speak with the spirit. It’s this sacred primordial ritual– you know, secret, really powerful. The spirit comes into you when you eat the flesh of a dead person– it kind speaks to you, gives you power and so much energy. I do it as often as I can, every day if possible.
Did you not feel repulsed at the notion of eating another human?
No, not at all. I said before, it’s natural. I like the taste– it’s like pork. Younger flesh is better– babies really taste fresh. It’s the same with any kind of meat– old people have a stringy texture, like wood, but babies are like lamb. It’s like the way most people prefer lamb over mutton. Also babies are pure, so their spirit is clean. When I eat flesh from older humans, it’s like their tainted spirit comes into me. It can be draining if they have negative energy.
The best bit is the fingers, though. The police found this charred arm one day, and wanted to eat the fingers– they’re the most tasty part of the body. It kind smells like rawhide. It’s an addiction, makes you want to do it more and more.
Where do you get the corpse meat from?
I can get it from the dons, you know, the fire keepers, the untouchables. It’s not really illegal, and lots of them are Aghoris. It’s easy in Varanasi, as it’s the holy city where people come to die– plenty of bodies. I try to get it every day when I’m there.
There are more bodies in the river, as they don’t cremate the sadhus, lepers, or the babies– often bodies floating in the river, so you just pick them up from the ghats [platforms on the river bank] and cook them– you know, barbecue them. Sometimes families let use meat from the body of the family member they are burning. This policeman was burning the body of his neighbor, and just crushed the skull with a bamboo stick, gave it to me, so I just scooped out the brains and ate them. Lots of people were staring, but I felt the spirit come into me and was powerful, blessed, you know.
Have you ever killed a human being in order to eat their flesh?
Me, no, but you know, human sacrifice happens in Varanasi– it keeps the city holy. Human sacrifices please the gods, but people have to agree to be sacrificed. I’ve been asked to do a ritual killing before– what I’d do is make them fast for two weeks, to purify themselves, let them get weak and pray, then chop their head off like a goat. That way the soul would be freed. I mean, I would do it if someone really wanted me to, but I’m not really qualified.
But, you know, scary stuff happens with the Aghoris– you don’t want to mess with them. One time, this German goth kid tried to practice cannibalism– he didn’t know what he was doing, trying to fit in with the sadhus. But he did it wrong and got punished by the family of the dead person. Yeah, you don’t wanna mess with them. Some Aghoris do bad stuff like killing and paralyzing using black magic.
I had a big fight with some Aghoris in Varanasi– you know, they were jealous of me, I was on their turf. I wanted to kill one of them, actually. He tried to kick me out, and I started to beat him. The others turned on me, and a policeman got involved. I actually stabbed him with a sword I was carrying. Got put into prison for a while.
But, you know, that wasn’t the first time I went to jail. I went back to America, and they had heard about me being a cannibal. Yeah, put me in some mental institution, tried to medicate me. Actually I was really pissed off, as I had all my skulls and bones stolen by the guards– thrown away. I even had a skull with fangs, it was priceless, must have been from a retarded person or something. That upset me when they took those.
WHAT DO YOU think this case demonstrates that morality is relative? Or WHAT DO YOU THINK an absolutist case could be made against the morality of what Gary Stevenson’s religious practices?

After reading the various theories of discipline, which theory would you apply in your own classroom? Explain why you chose this theory. Discuss some possible challenges that you might have to face in implementing your classroom discipline philosophy. How would you overcome those challenges?
If you don’t have experience teaching now, how would you imagine the model being implemented in the classroom?