BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies Philosophy and Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Aristotle's concept of 'eudaimonia' is best translated as:
- Pleasure
- Duty
- Flourishing or well-being (Correct answer)
- Obedience to God
Correct answer: Flourishing or well-being
Eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' refers to a life of virtuous activity and fulfillment of human potential in Aristotelian ethics.
Question 2: Which philosophical position holds that reality is fundamentally mental or spiritual in nature?
- Materialism
- Idealism (Correct answer)
- Dualism
- Nihilism
Correct answer: Idealism
Idealism is the metaphysical view that reality is mind-dependent, with physical objects having no existence independent of perception or consciousness.
Question 3: The 'veil of ignorance' is a thought experiment developed by philosopher John Rawls to:
- Demonstrate that knowledge is impossible
- Design just social principles without knowing one's place in society (Correct answer)
- Show that morality is subjective
- Argue for absolute equality in all circumstances
Correct answer: Design just social principles without knowing one's place in society
Rawls' veil of ignorance asks us to design a just society without knowing our social position, leading to fair principles chosen impartially.
Question 4: Existentialism, as expressed by Jean-Paul Sartre, is characterized by the claim that:
- Essence precedes existence for human beings
- Existence precedes essence for human beings (Correct answer)
- God defines the essence of each person
- Human nature is fixed and universal
Correct answer: Existence precedes essence for human beings
Sartre argued that humans have no predetermined nature; we exist first and then create our own essence through choices and actions.
Question 5: The philosophical problem of the 'mind-body problem' concerns:
- Whether humans have free will
- How mental states relate to physical brain states (Correct answer)
- Whether ethical rules are universal
- The existence of God
Correct answer: How mental states relate to physical brain states
The mind-body problem addresses how mental phenomena (thoughts, feelings) relate to or arise from physical brain processes.
Question 6: Moral relativism holds that:
- There is one universal moral standard applicable to all cultures
- Moral truths are objective and discoverable through reason
- Moral judgments are true or false only relative to cultural or individual standards (Correct answer)
- God is the sole source of moral authority
Correct answer: Moral judgments are true or false only relative to cultural or individual standards
Moral relativism contends that moral claims are not objectively true or false but depend on the standards of particular individuals or cultures.
Question 7: The 'trolley problem,' a famous ethical thought experiment, is primarily used to explore the tension between:
- Rationalism and empiricism
- Deontological and consequentialist ethical frameworks (Correct answer)
- Theism and atheism
- Free will and determinism
Correct answer: Deontological and consequentialist ethical frameworks
The trolley problem forces a choice that highlights whether the right action is determined by outcomes (consequentialism) or by rules prohibiting direct harm (deontology).
BGS, BSGS Bachelor of General Studies Philosophy and Ethics 2
Aristotle's concept of 'eudaimonia' is best translated as: