Philosophy 103
Final Exam Study Guide

I.  Identifying terms and distinctions

You should be able to answer the following in a few sentences:

    --What are hypothetical and categorical imperatives?  How do they differ?
    --What is the distinction between a priori a a posteriori knowledge?  How does Kant
             make use of this distinction?
    --What is the distinction between necessary and contingent truth? How does Kant make use
            of this distinction?
    --Set out and explain briefly Kant's Formula of Universal Law.  
    --Set out and explain briefly Kant's Formula of Humanity as an end in itself.                            
    --Explain Nietzsche's distinction betwen the morality of good and bad ("master" morality) and
            the morality of good and "evil" ("slave" morality).
    --Explain briefly at least two kinds of alienation that Marx thinks wage labor involves.
    --Explain briefly the doctrine of "realism" regarding morality and warfare.
    --What is the distinction between just ad bellum and jus in bello?  Name at least two
          constraints associated with each.
    --Explain briefly the doctrine of "double effect"
 
II.  Short answer

You should be able to develops essays of a few paragraphs on the following topics.
(The more carefully you can develop your answers the better.)

    --Set out Kant's Formula of Universal Law and illustrate it by applying it to a particular case
        (you may choose one of Kant's examples or one of your own).  What potential problems are
        there with the way in which the formula applies in this case, or problems with the formula in
        general?  How might a Kantian address these problems?

    --Set out Kant's Formula of Humanity and illustrate it by applying it to a particular case
        (you may choose one of Kant's examples or one of your own).  What potential problems are
        there with the way in which the formula applies in this case, or problems with the formula in
        general?  How might a Kantian address these problems?

    --How does Nietzsche describe the difference between what he calls the morality of good and evil
        ("slave morality") and the morality of good and bad ("master morality")?  Why does he think that
        "master moralities" are superior?  What fundamental features of human nature does he think are
        denied and degraded by "slave morality?"  How should we respond to Nietzsche's view? 
        What are its main potential problems?

    --Explain Marx's account of the alienation of wage labour?  How is this account tied to his
          view of human nature?  What do you think is the strongest objection against either of
          these views (his view of alienation or of human nature)?  How might Marx respond?

    --Explain the doctrine of "realism" regarding morality and warfare.  How is this view defended
          by the Athenian military leaders in the "Melian Dialogue"?  How does Walzer criticize
          their argument?  How might a defender of realism respond to these criticisms?  What does this
          lead you to conclude about the plausibility of realism?

    --Explain the constraints Walzer sets out on "anticipation".  Under what conditions may a
          first strike in war count as self-defense?  What do you think is the strongest objection
          against this view?  How might Walzer respond to these objections?  What does this lead
          you to conclude about the circumstances in which "anticipation" is morally permissible in
          warfare?

    --Walzer argues that, while it is never permissible to target non-combatants, it is sometimes
          permissible to use tactics that involve killing them.  What constraints does he set out
          regarding the killing of civilians (focus on his modification of the doctrine of "double
          effect")  What do you think is the strongest objection to this account?  How might
          Walzer respond?  What does this lead you to conclude about the permissibility of
          killing civilians in war?