Humanities Question

1- Mill and Nietzsche are both skeptical about attempts to ground our sense of morality in nature. Select one of the two philosophers, and briefly summarize their arguments as presented in this course. What does Lorenzo say we can learn from that philosopher, which motivated our exploration of ethical theories?

2-Imagine something evil: a murder, systemic oppression, or even a natural disaster. Use either virtue ethics or deontology to explain what makes it evil. Be sure to characterize the theory (explain what it believes) just a bit in your explanation.

3-Whichever theory you selected for 2 above, select the other. Explain a couple of the problems that the theory faces, which we discussed in lecture. Do you think those are serious problems for the theory? Say why or why not.

4- Objectors to utilitarianism often state that the theory can be used to support eugenics. Indeed, many eugenicists were sympathetic to or motivated by utilitarian-ish reasoning. Do you think this is fair to utilitarianism? If so, explain why the theory seems to support eugenics. If not, explain why you believe the theory would be opposed to eugenics. In either case, explain what features of the theory and what features of eugenics (as explored in the readings and lecture) support your view.