EXAM III—ETHICS
(120 pts + 40 bonus)
Directions:
This exam covers the following material: books III and IV in Aristotle’s
Ethics, Nietzsche, and the issue of what is happiness with which we began the
semester. I made all the essays, including the bonus, 20 points each, to give
you some leeway to really write what you know.
I made the happiness revision 40 points.
Read these directions carefully.
Please type all answers, except for any necessary drawings or diagrams,
e.g., of Aristotle’s virtues. You may
leave some white space there and hand draw them. You are to download this exam,
neatly type all your answers, and bring the hardcopy to class on Tuesday, stapled. Please keep
the questions in the exam, along with your answers (i.e., do not delete the
questions please). Please boldface all of your answers if you can; it
makes your exam easier to read and grade.
Please be thorough in all of your answers. Thanks for a great semester, good luck, and
may each of you rise to become one of the ubermensche!
1. What
is Nietzsche’s view of ethics? How does
he form that view, that is, what does he seem to criticize in other views of
ethics, and why does he make those criticisms?
Do you think his views have any viability? What is his relevance for us today? Please explain your response. (20)
2.
What is Aristotle’s definition of virtue, both in virtue’s genus and in its differentia (or species)?
(Please be thorough and give the full
definition.) Next, give the full diagram and description for the virtue that corresponds with anger, explaining
the diagram’s various details. Next
apply it to some situation, i.e., how would a virtuous person express his or
her anger? (20)
3.
What is Aristotle’s view of the differences between voluntary and
involuntary actions? What are a couple
of things Aristotle says that can make an action involuntary? If an unjust king commanded you to commit
murder while threatening your family, what do you think Aristotle would advise
you to do, and why? Would he say the
action is voluntary or involuntary? Do
you agree with Aristotle? Why or why
not? Please keep in mind what our moral
heroes this semester would likely do as well. Give me a good essay here. (20)
4. What is the diagram for the virtue
courage? What are the five qualities
similar to courage? Why does Aristotle
think each only resembles courage
but, in fact, are not true
courage? What is Aristotle’s position on
what form or kind of courage exemplifies courage the most? (I.e., What sort of courage does he think is the
highest form of courage?) Is he
right? Which form of courage do you
think is highest? What is the
alternative diagram for courage we discussed in class? Explain
your answer in detail, and give your best argument. Again, give me a good essay here. (20)
5. This question is required, and, in a sense,
is the one question on the exam that is a bit comprehensive. You remember your paper on happiness from the
beginning of the semester. Now, with the entire semester behind you, revise that paper, and once again
answer the question: What is happiness? (40)
–BONUS:
Though I assigned book four, section three in Aristotle, we did not get around
to discussing it. That section deals
with the virtue of magnanimity, or high-mindedness. How does Aristotle define this virtue? What are its conditions one must meet if one
is to possess this virtue? How would you
diagram it? What might Nietzsche think
of this virtue? Does it contrast with
the Christian virtue of humility? Do you
think high-mindedness is a virtue?
Please explain your responses.
(20)
–BONUS:
This question is an exploration type
question. What idea, or application of
an idea, did you find most intriguing this semester? Lay that idea out thoroughly. Is it an idea you strongly agree with, or
strongly disagree with, or something suggestive of a deep problem you find
interesting? Is it a question that was
asked at some point during the semester?
Just lay the idea out as best you can and discuss it
argumentatively. E.g., (and I am not trying
to single any students out here, nor am I trying to exclude anyone here at all,
but just giving examples that actually happened this semester) Chantal asked
the question: can one lose one’s virtue?
Great question. Something good to
explore. Matthew asked a couple of
interesting questions at certain points, one: what is the verb or action of
virtue? Two, what really is desire for
Kant? Adam last night did a great job of
questioning this notion that one must be virtuous in general in order to have
any specific virtue. Lisa and I
discussed applying Aristotle’s notion of courage to a couple of films—The
Hunger Games and Gladiator.
(We also applied Kant as well.)
These are just a few examples from this semester. Please don’t feel left out if I don’t mention
you specifically here. I’m sure each of
you has one or more ideas of this sort that has really grabbed you, so use this
as an opportunity to express yourself and lay out a serious opinion supported
by text and argument. Impress me here. (20)
