ETHICS

Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals

1. Kant says that the moral law is a law of freedom. What does this mean? Why does it matter? How, according to Kant, is the moral law different from natural laws? How is it different from maxims of prudence?

2. How does the Categorical Imperative determine whether it is impermissible to make a promise I know I cannot keep? Do different versions of the Categorical Imperative require different chains of reasoning to settle the question? Do they all draw on morally valid reasons? Are all the reasons equally good?

3. Kant maintains that the several formulations of the Categorical Imperative amount to the same thing. Is he right? If so, what is the point of offering multiple formulations? If not, what are the differences? Which is most compelling? Why?

4. Kant maintains that it is impossible to know whether anyone ever acted out of duty. Why does he think this? What bearing does this have on his moral philosophy?

Mill, "Understanding and Defending Utilitarianism"

1. What does Mill mean by "pleasure"? What does he mean in saying that pleasure differs in quality as well as in quantity? Critically evaluate his arguments in favor of the view that some pleasures are of a higher quality than others. Is he right?

2. What, according to Mill, is the principle of utility? How does it serve as a supreme moral principle? What is its relation to everyday moral rules like "It's wrong to lie," and "Be kind to your neighbor"?

3. What is the role of happiness in Mill's philosophy? How does it differ from the role of happiness according to Kant? What moral consequences follow from the difference?

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics

1. Aristotle maintains that virtue is a mean between excess and deficiency. Is this an adequate characterization of virtue? Does it accommodate all the traits of character that should be considered virtues? If so, how? If not, why not?

2. What, according to Aristotle, is the connection between virtue and happiness? Does he successfully make his case?

3. According to Aristotle, what is the distinction between natural justice and legal justice? In what realms is each important? Can the two conflict? If so, which takes precedence? If not, why not? Is Aristotle's theory compelling?

4. According to Christianity, humility is a virtue and pride of any sort is a vice. According to Aristotle, proper pride (that is, pride that is properly keyed to one's accomplishments) is a virtue, and humility is a vice, since it involves crediting oneself with less than one is due. Is there a way to determine which position is correct?

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