Philosophy 230
Final Exam Study Guide (complete)

   
You should be able to develop essays on the following topics (the more
carefully you can develop your essays the better):

    --Explain Cantor and Baum's "balanced solution" regarding toleration of conscientious objection
             among pharmacists.  How do they defend this solution?  Explain what you think is the
             most serious potential problem with this view.  How might they address this problem?
   
    --Explain Dworkin's argument in favor of a right to physician-assisted suicide?  What are Arras'
            main objections against this view?  To what extent does Dworkin answer them adequately?

    --Of the three countries Battin discusses, choose the one you think has the most plausible
            approach to end-of-life issues.  Explain that approach.  What is the most important
            objection against it?  How do you respond?  Why is this approach superior to the others?

    --Explain Marquis' argument that abortion is (prima facie) seriously morally wrong.  How
            exactly does he defend this view?  What objections does Steinbock raise against
            this argument?  To what extent could Marquis respond adequately?

    --Explain the arguments that Thomson develops regarding the morality of abortion.  Under
          what circumstaces does she think that abortion is clearly morally permissible, and how does
         she defend this view?  Explain what you take to be the most important objection to her
         argument.  How might she respond, and to what extent would her response be adequate?

    --Explain the view that the President's Commission develops regarding the moral obligation
         society has to provide its citizens with health care?  How do they defend this view?  What
        are potential problems?  To what extent could they address these problems adequately?

    --Explain the "Prudent Insurance" ideal that Dworkin sets out.  What problem is this ideal meant
             to solve?  How does Dworkin explain and defend this ideal?  How might it apply
             to particular cases?  Explain what you think is the most important potential problem
             with this approach.  How might Dworkin best try to address this problem?

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