CS384 Study Questions 1

Hospers, Utilitarian Ethics

 

1.  What is utilitarian ethics?  Is it egoistic, altruistic, or something else? [Joel Baker]

 

 

 

 

 

2.  What is the relationship of utilitarian ethics toward laws or rules? [Tim Bartlam]

 

 

 

 

 

3.  How is 'happiness' defined?  Is it possible to formulate a definition that would make utilitarian ethics essentially Christian? [Eric Beech]

 

 

 

 

 

Rachels, Kantian Ethics

 

4.  What does it mean to treat a person as an end rather than a means?  How is this different from the Golden Rule? [Nathan Beech]

 

 

 

 

 

5.  How does Kant say that capital punishment is treating someone as an end and not a means? [KC Campbell]

 

 

 

 

 

General Questions (for everyone):

6. Describe one ethical dilemma you have struggled with—if possible, concerning technology. How did you go about trying to decide on the right course of action? (Discuss this in your critique.)

 

 

 

 

7.  Formulate and describe a Christian ethical system.