How do contractarians justify moral rules

Reference no: EM133307557

Discussion Questions

1. What makes a situation a "prisoner's dilemma"? What is the rational thing to do in a prisoner's dilemma situation?

3. How do contractarians justify moral rules against such things as slavery and torture? Do you find their justifications of such rules to be compelling?

4. Explain how a contractarian defends the objectivity of ethics. Do you find this defense plausible?

5. Suppose that the existing laws of a society require something that you regard as unjust. Does the social contract theory automatically support the morality of the existing law? Why or why not?

Case 1 Questions

Questions

1. Do athletes face a prisoner's dilemma with respect to doping?

Why or why not?

2. According to contractarianism, is doping in sport morally wrong? Why or why not?

3. Do you believe doping in sport is morally wrong? Why or why not?

Case 2 Question

1. Do we face a prisoner's dilemma with respect to global climate change? Why or why not?

2. Do you believe that individuals are morally obligated to reduce their share of greenhouse gas emissions? Why or why not?

3. What principle (if any) regarding our obligations to reduce our share of greenhouse gases would the contractors agree to from behind the veil of ignorance? Why?

4. According to contractarianism, are we morally obligated to reduce our share of greenhouse gas emissions? Why or why not?

Case 3 Questions

1. According to contractarianism, are we obligated to give aid to the poor in our own community? What about the world's poor?

2. Do we face a prisoner's dilemma with respect to providing charitable aid to individuals suffering from lack of food? Why or why not?

3. What sort of principle regarding charitable aid to foreign nations would the contractors agree to from behind the veil of ignorance? Why?

A concise introduction to ethics by Russ Shafer-Landua

Chapter 7

Discusses Questions (1,5 and 7)

1. Explain the difference between the Golden Rule and the what if everyone did that? test. What problems arise for each? Do you think that they can be remedied?

5. Why does the existence of fanatics pose a challenge to Kant's moral theory? How do you think that the Kantian should respond to this challenge?

7. If rationality and autonomy explain why we are as important as we are, how (if at all) can we explain the moral importance of infants and nonhuman animals?

Puffery Case Questions

1. Do advertisements manipulate consumers? Can our autonomy be undermined by an exaggerated advertisement?

2. According to Kant's principle of universalizability, is there anything morally wrong with using puffery in advertising?

Why or why not?

3. According to Kant's principle of humanity, is there anything morally wrong with using puffery in advertising? Why or why not?

Hooking up Cases Questions

1. Do you think there is anything morally dubious about hookup culture? Why or why not?

2. According to the Golden Rule, is there anything morally wrong with casual sex? Why or why not?

3. According to Kant's principle of universalizability, is there anything morally wrong with casual sex? Why or why not?

4. Do casual hook-ups involve treating someone as an object or as a mere means? According to Kant's principle of humanity, is there anything wrong with casual sex? Why or why not?

Reference no: EM133307557

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