The Fundamentals of Ethics

Does the idea of an individual whose purpose in life is to sacrifice their own well-being for the sake of others conflict with the concept of hedonism? What about the desire satisfaction theory? Discuss.

Is human nature a good guideline for judging morality? Why or why not?

Why is Kantianism considered the most important voice of opposition to utilitarianism?

Define proceduralism, provide at least one example of a theory that follows this ethical methodology, and explore its advantages and weaknesses.

What is a prima facie duty, and how does it differ from Kant’s maxims?

To what extent does feminist ethics differ from the rest of the theories covered in this book? Compare two theories of your choice to feminist ethics.

An individual belongs in two different cultures and finds themselves in a situation where the moral rules of these cultures contradict each other. How might cultural relativists make sense of this situation?

To what extent can we test the existence of moral objectivity? Select two theories and discuss how each approaches this question.