Philosophy 433
History of
Ethics
Darwall
Winter
2008
FINAL
EXAM STUDY
QUESTIONS
1. Bringing in the
various aspects of Hume's account of justice, write a critical
evaluation, from
Hume's point of view, of Hobbes's treatment of morality as based on a
mutual
covenant. Where would Hume agree; where
would he disagree; and why? Then defend
Hobbes as best you can against whatever criticisms Hume might make.
2. Discuss how
damaging to Kant Hume's arguments that morality can neither be based
on, nor be
discovered by, reason are. How would
Kant best defend his idea that the moral law is a “Fundamental Law of
Pure
Practical Reason against Hume’s attack.
3. The notion of
utility and/or the happiness of all appear, in one way or another, in
the
writings of Hutcheson, Hume, and Bentham.
Describe and critically assess the different and distinctive
roles these
ideas have in the moral philosophy of each writer.
4. Compare, contrast,
and critically evaluate the way Kant connects the ideas of freedom and
the moral
law and the way Rousseau relates "moral liberty" and the general
will.
5. Critically discuss
Bentham's ethics in relation to those of Hutcheson and Hume.
Where do they agree and disagree and why? Who do you
think has the most plausible views and why?
6. How does
7. Critically discuss
the “fact of reason” and the role it plays in Kant’s defense of the
idea that “autonomy
of the will is the sole principle of all moral laws” (
8. Compare and contrast Adam Smith and David Hume on
justice. Whose account do you find most plausible and why?