Philosophy 100: Introduction to Philosophy Craig Fox

PAPER TOPICS, PAPER #2 (ETHICS)

Due: Monday, 4/25/05

Length: about 5 pages

Choose ONE of the following topics. Any and all citations should be made only from Kant’s Grounding or Mill’s Utilitarianism; provide name and page number references in parentheses. (Do not appeal to any other sources—this is not a research paper.) It is your responsibility to make sure that your paper gets to me. Note that each topic contains a number of associated questions. Throughout the course of a good paper, most of these questions will probably be answered. The paper should not be, however, simply a listing of answers to these questions. Do not worry if your paper seems too specific, or if you spend a good deal of time belaboring small points: it is probably not possible to focus your paper too narrowly. Finally: the primary goal is to explain the author’s views—not your own. The secondary goal is to provide some criticism of the author’s views, and such criticism should come via argument—not via your feelings or reactions. Assume that your reader is intelligent, yet (somehow) ignorant of Kant’s and Mill’s philosophy.

RECALL THAT THERE IS A STRICT PENALTY FOR ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT.

(1) Kant’s approach to ethics. Kant espouses a decidedly non-empirical approach to ethics. What is his theory, and what justification does he give for its non-empirical character? (Be sure to focus on its non-empirical character.) What might you cite as advantages and/or disadvantages to his approach? Mill criticizes Kant at the end of Chapter One of Utilitarianism. What is his criticism, and how might Kant respond?

-What are the main features of Kant’s ethical theory? (maxims, imperatives, categorical imperative, universal law, end-in-itself…)

-What is Kant’s approach to ethics, since it isn’t empirically based?

-What is the good will?

-Is the “goodness” of the good will open to doubt? Why or why not?

-What are the roles of intentions and consequences for Kant’s theory?

-What is the role of experience for Kant’s ethical theory?

-Can Kant’s results be at all counter-intuitive? (If so, give an example or two.)

-Do we have some basis for judging any of Kant’s results to be wrong?

-What is the weakest aspect of Kant’s approach?

-Can you help Kant’s position by filling in any holes in his theory?

(2) Mill’s approach to ethics. Mill espouses a decidedly empirical approach to ethics. What is his theory, and what justification does he give for its empirical character? (Be sure to focus on its empirical character.) What might you cite as advantages and/or disadvantages to his approach? How might a Kantian criticism of Mill begin? (Isolate and focus on one main point.)

-What are the main features of Mill’s ethical theory? (principle of utility, happiness, prevention of pain, quality vs. quantity, maximizing overall happiness…)

-How is Mill’s approach an empirical one?

-What are the roles of intentions and consequences for Mill’s theory?

-Can Mill’s results be at all counter-intuitive? (If so, give an example or two.)

-Do we have some basis for judging any of Mill’s results to be wrong?

-What is the weakest aspect of Mill’s theory?

-Can you aid Mill’s theory in any way?