Tiberius and Gaius Speaking...

Phil 105 Discussion Question 12: Marquis

    Please read this post which purports to refute Marquis's argument against abortion. You may a) support Campbell Brown's argument with further arguments of your own or b) try to respond on behalf of Marquis.

Philosophy 105 Discussion Question 10: Thomson's "A Defense of Abortion"

    Typically abortion debates revolve around contentious (and loud) arguments about the personhood of the fetus that often resolve themselves in people just asserting their intuitions.

1. How does Thomson propose to make progress on this front
2. And what does the "Violinist Case" purport to show?

Hint: What key premise is Thomson granting the anti-abortion position?

Phil 105 Discussion Question 10: Kant's Groundwork 2

    In the second chapter of the Groundwork, Kant argues that there is a second formulation of the categorical imperative, the Formula of Humanity. Pick at least one of these questions and answer them:

1. What is "humanity" under this account?
2. Why is it necessary to treat one's own humanity as an end in itself?
3. Pick some immoral action we have discussed in class and explain why Kant's Formula of Humanity might find them unacceptable.

Phil 105 Discussion Question 9: The Duty to Aid

           Kant, in groundwork II, argues that we have an imperfect duty to aid as a result of a contradiction in the will. Reconstruct this argument.

Philosophy 105 Discussion Question 8: Kant's Argument in Section 1 of the Groundwork

    Consider the following two people:

1. The Sympathetic Do-Gooder: This person does good acts because he feels an immediate inclination and gets a "warm fuzzy feeling" when he does it.
2. The Unsympathetic Duty-Doer:  This person does not feel any sympathy with those who suffer.  Rather, she helps those in need reluctantly and miserably because she feels it is her duty.

For Kant, which person's action has greater moral worth? Why?

Due Friday at noon.

Phil 105 Discussion Question 7: Hobbes

    A response to this question is due by Friday at noon:

    My dad always used to say this after I got hooked particularly brutall during a hockey game and the ref didn't call a penalty, "If the ref doesn't see it, it isn't a penalty."

    Why might this be an apt characterization of Hobbes? In what sense could you attribute this view to him?

Phil 105 Discussion Question 6: Mill's Chapter 5

    In Chapter 5 of Utilitarianism, John Stuart Mill tries to show that his theory can account for our intuitions of justice (or show they need to be revised). Briefly summarize his central argument for this claim.

Phil 105 Discussion Question 5: No question this week.

    Due to the paper this week, no question. We will pick up with Chapter 5 of Utilitarianism next week.

Philosophy 105 Discussion Question 4: The Proof of the Principle of Utility

    In the beginning of Chapter 4, Mill says, "The only proof capable of being given than object is visible is that people actually see it. The only proof the that a sound is audible is that people hear it; and so of the other sources of our experience." In about 100 words or so, quickly answer the following:

1. How does Mill use this to prove the principle of utility?
2. How is this problematic (according to Mill) when we consider virtue in this light?
3. How does Mill include virtue in his theory?

Good luck. Remember, this is due by noon on Friday.

Phil 105 Discussion Question 3: Bentham vs. Mill

    Both Bentham and Mill give an account of utilitarianism based upon pleasure that can be opposed to satisfaction of desire. However, Bentham and Mill have very difference conceptions of pleasure. The question I ask is this:

• Briefly (about a hundred words), explain an important difference between Mill and Bentham in their conception of pleasure.