Examination papers and Examiners reports 2009

235 P115

Ethics: contemporary perspectives

Examination paper
Time Allowed: 3 hours
Candidates should answer THREE of the following ELEVEN questions.
1.

Is consequentialism self-defeating?

2.

Because moral facts are not required to explain anything, we have no reason to
suppose they exist. Discuss.

3.

Can one firmly believe that some action is right, while taking oneself to have no reason
at all to do it?

4.

There can be no arguments one could offer to amoralists to convince them to behave
morally. Discuss.

5.

In what sense, if any, is ethics objective?

6.

In the end, there can only be one virtue: a disposition to do what is right. Discuss.

7.

What is the best way to understand the relationship between human well-being and
morality?

8.

Could one be faced with a choice such that whatever one did was morally wrong?

9.

A: Utilitarianism is inconsistent with our other moral beliefs, therefore utilitarianism

should be rejected. B: Utilitarianism is inconsistent with our other moral beliefs,
therefore our other moral beliefs should be rejected. Which, if either, of A or B has
the better argument?

10.

Could there be moral properties?

11.

If moral relativism is true, then any kind of moral realism is untenable. Discuss.

END OF PAPER

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