Philosophy 103
Final Exam Study Guide

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.)

    1.  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?

    2.  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?

    3.  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?

    4.  Set out and critically assess Singer's account of moral equality?  How does he criticize
          alternative accounts of moral equality, and how does he explain and defend his own?
          Explain what you take to be the most important problem with Singer's account?
          How might Singer respond?  What does this lead you to conclude about what it
          means to say that we are morally equal?

    5.  Set out and critically assess Singer's account of animal equality.  How does he make the
          case for the moral equality of animals and humans?  What practical implications does he
          think this equality has for our treatment of animals?  Explain what you take to be the
          most important objection against Singer's view.  How might Singer respond?  What
          does this lead you to conclude about the moral status of animals?

    6.  Set out and critically assess Singer's defense of euthanasia.  Under what circumstances does
          he think euthanasia would be justified, and how does he defend his views?  Explain what
          you take to be the most important objection against Singer's view.  How might he respond?
          What does this lead you to conclude about the moral permissibility of euthanasia?