PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy: Morality and The Moral Life 5

Question 1

Bernard Williams's critique of utilitarianism centers on the claim that it violates:

Accepted Answer

Personal integrity and agent-relative commitments

Answer

Williams argued that utilitarianism alienates agents from their deepest projects and commitments, undermining personal integrity.

Question 2

What does it mean for a moral theory to be 'agent-neutral'?

Accepted Answer

The reasons it generates are the same for every agent regardless of their personal relationships

Answer

Agent-neutral theories give every agent the same reason structure (e.g., 'reduce suffering wherever it occurs'), unlike agent-relative theories that give different reasons to different agents.

Question 3

Philippa Foot's naturalistic virtue ethics grounds moral norms in:

Accepted Answer

The natural teleology and life-form of a species

Answer

Foot argued in Natural Goodness that moral virtues are grounded in what constitutes a good specimen of a human being, analogously to natural goodness in plants and animals.

Question 4

According to contractualism (T.M. Scanlon), an act is morally wrong if:

Accepted Answer

It violates a principle no one could reasonably reject

Answer

Scanlon's contractualism holds that wrongness consists in acting on principles that others, motivated to find mutually justifiable terms, could reasonably reject.

Question 5

The philosophical problem of 'dirty hands' in political ethics refers to:

Accepted Answer

The situation where doing what is morally right in politics may require committing a moral wrong

Answer

Dirty hands cases (discussed by Michael Walzer) involve political leaders who must commit genuine moral wrongs (e.g., torture) to achieve morally important ends.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophy: Morality and The Moral Life 5