This review gives you a fair indication of most of the content of the first test.

If you study our text, review the lecture notes - and attend the lectures, of course - and compose answers for each of the following questions, you should be well prepared.

The format of the test will consist of some T/F questions, some multiple-choice questions, and one essay question. The essay question will concern Chapter 4, "Does Morality Depend on Religion?".

Please note that we still have to complete our discussion of chapter 4 -- I’ll update this review next week.

Now updated!

1. What is an “argument” in philosophy?

2. What do the terms “valid” and “sound” mean?

3. Sketch the “benefits arguments” in favor of harvesting Baby’s Theresa’s organs.

4. Sketch the “we should not use people as means” argument against harvesting Baby Theresa’s organs.

5. Sketch the “slippery slope argument” against killing Tracy Latimer.

6. What does Rachels’s “minimum conception of morality” consist of?

7. What are 5 common features of cultural relativism. Are each of these features equally plausible? Briefly explain.

8. What is the “cultural differences” argument for cultural relativism? Does Rachels think it is sound? Explain.

9. If cultural relativism is true, then some odd consequences for ethical theory follow. What are these consequences? How do they cast doubt on the plausibility of cultural realtivism?

10. Does Rachels hold that there are some moral rules that all societies have in common?

11. What are the three traditional divine attributes of monotheism?

12. What are some of the main elements of the “religious perspective”?

13. What is the difference between theism, atheism, and agnosticism?

14. What are some common reasons (discussed in class) for being either an atheist or an agnostic?

15. With regard to the last question, what is the “problem of evil”?

16. What is the divine command theory?

17. What is Socrates's question in the Euthyphro? How does it bear on the divine command theory?

18. What are some of the main elements of natural law theory?

19. Raise some objections to natural law theory.

End