It and Ethical Issues Questions
Ethics and Social Issues
Final Exam Essay Questions
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Essay Question: Rule Vs. Act Utilitarianism (Utilitarianism) Suppose that you were wondering whether you, as a doctor, should hug a patient who is in tears. Give an ethical analysis of pros and cons from an act utilitarian point of view. Then give an analysis from a rule utilitarian point of view.
2. Essay Question: (Case Scenario -- Utilitarianism) Suppose that Rosa moves away her children out of town because, based on the information she has gathered, she believes the move will be the best for the children and larger family in the long run and she wants to do her duty by them. Imagine the two scenarios. Scenario 1: The results of the action are mostly positive for the family (and inspirational to their friends), because Rosa’s knowledge was good and nothing unexpectedly negative happens. Scenario 2: The results are greatly positive despite the fact that Rosa didn’t know very much, purely by luck. Scenario 3: The results are greatly positive mostly because Rosa worked hard to make the move a good one. Would Utilitarianism evaluate each act as having identical moral worth? Explain. Do you agree with the Utilitarian analysis?
3. Essay Question: (Case Scenario) Suppose that Rosa moves away her children out of town because, based on the information she has gathered, she believes the move will be the best for the children and larger family in the long run and she wants to do her duty by them. As it turns out, through no fault of her own, the children suffer greatly because of the move and the cost/benefit analysis after 2 ½ years shows that the pain outweighs the pleasure. Suppose that, 5 years later, a re-evaluation of the act in comparison to how alternative actions would have played out shows that her action, in fact, produced much more good than the other alternatives Do you think that we should (1) evaluate Rosa’s action as having been a good one, because it
Final Exam Essay Questions
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. Essay Question: Rule Vs. Act Utilitarianism (Utilitarianism) Suppose that you were wondering whether you, as a doctor, should hug a patient who is in tears. Give an ethical analysis of pros and cons from an act utilitarian point of view. Then give an analysis from a rule utilitarian point of view.
2. Essay Question: (Case Scenario -- Utilitarianism) Suppose that Rosa moves away her children out of town because, based on the information she has gathered, she believes the move will be the best for the children and larger family in the long run and she wants to do her duty by them. Imagine the two scenarios. Scenario 1: The results of the action are mostly positive for the family (and inspirational to their friends), because Rosa’s knowledge was good and nothing unexpectedly negative happens. Scenario 2: The results are greatly positive despite the fact that Rosa didn’t know very much, purely by luck. Scenario 3: The results are greatly positive mostly because Rosa worked hard to make the move a good one. Would Utilitarianism evaluate each act as having identical moral worth? Explain. Do you agree with the Utilitarian analysis?
3. Essay Question: (Case Scenario) Suppose that Rosa moves away her children out of town because, based on the information she has gathered, she believes the move will be the best for the children and larger family in the long run and she wants to do her duty by them. As it turns out, through no fault of her own, the children suffer greatly because of the move and the cost/benefit analysis after 2 ½ years shows that the pain outweighs the pleasure. Suppose that, 5 years later, a re-evaluation of the act in comparison to how alternative actions would have played out shows that her action, in fact, produced much more good than the other alternatives Do you think that we should (1) evaluate Rosa’s action as having been a good one, because it