Reference no: EM13332723

1. Explain the difference between legality and ethics.

2. Explain why the doctrine of separate spheres might be self-defeating.

3. Is maximizing pleasant feelings really what life is all about? Your answer must include a discussion of the experience machine thought experiment.

4. The argument from expected benefit is intended to support psychological egoism. According to a key premise of the argument- (P2)- "If you expect to be better off as a result of your actions, then you are aiming to promote your self-interest." Explain why this premise is (at least probably) false.

5. The argument from our strongest desires is intended to support psychological egoism. According to a key premise of the argument- (P2)- "Whenever you are motivated by your strongest desire, you are pursuing your self-interest." Explain why this premise is (at least probably) false.

6. "The good life depends on objective values, things that are valuable even if we fail to value them." Explain the reasoning in support of this claim.

7. Why is it implausible to think that moral debates are simply expressions of personal preferences?

8. In your own words explain why, even if we assume that God exists, it is implausible to think that actions are right/wrong because God says they are right/wrong.

9. Use a counterexample to refute the cultural differences argument for cultural relativism.

10. In your informed opinion, what is the most problematic aspect of utilitarianism?

11. In your informed opinion, what is the biggest problem with using a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether or not we should give the green light to a particular engineering project?

12. What are the practical and ethical reasons why business people should attempt to satisfy the reasonable safety expectations of consumers? Your answer must include a discussion of the Ford Pinto case.

13. What, if anything, was ethically wrong with Ford using estimates of the monetary cost of the loss of a human life in making the decision not to recall the Pinto?

14. Explain why, in the Challenger Disaster case, there is good reason to think that the astronauts should be considered the "public" with respecting to "Hold[ing] paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public."

15. Explain the role of trust in the relationship between professionals and the public.

16. Discuss the two most important (in your opinion) considerations supporting the need for shared minimum standards in a profession.

17. What does it mean to "think like a manger rather than an engineer", and what was wrong with Mason saying this to Lund?

18. Explain why it is implausible to think that either contracts or promises are the sources of one's obligations as an engineer.