PHI 1102 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What is the central philosophical question raised in the debate about charity? - Answer-
How much are we morally required to sacrifice to help others?
What does Singer believe about individuals' moral obligations? - Answer- Individuals
have strong moral obligations to help the global poor and should donate if they can save
lives cheaply.
What is the main question regarding the atomic bomb debate? - Answer- Was the U.S.
justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan?
What is the pro argument for dropping the atomic bombs according to Maddox? -
Answer- It was the least bad option, prevented a more deadly invasion, and saved more
lives overall.
What do the Geneva Conventions (1949) govern? - Answer- International rules
governing war, including protections for wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and
civilians.
What does Protocol I (1977) prohibit? - Answer- Targeting civilians, indiscriminate
attacks, and destruction of food and water sources.
What is the primary goal of philosophical arguments? - Answer- To gain wisdom
through extended conversation and arguments for a position.
What is the difference between ethics and morality? - Answer- Morality refers to a
system of norms and customs, while ethics is a theoretical discipline involving morals.
Who are the foundational figures in Western ethics? - Answer- Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle.
What does 'ethos' mean in Greek? - Answer- Character.
What are the three branches of ethics? - Answer- Normative ethics, applied ethics, and
meta-ethics.
, What is normative ethics concerned with? - Answer- The standards, rules, principles,
and laws of ethics.
What is the difference between Singer's and Kuper's focus regarding poverty? -
Answer- Singer focuses on individual responsibility and personal donations, while Kuper
emphasizes institutional change and political reform.
What does Kuper argue about the agency of the poor? - Answer- He argues that poor
people are not just passive victims; they are political actors capable of organizing and
resisting injustice.
What are some criticisms of charity models according to Kuper? - Answer- Charity can
distract from systemic injustice, maintain unequal global power structures, and focus on
symptoms rather than causes.
How does Singer respond to Kuper's criticism? - Answer- Singer argues that helping
individuals now and changing institutions later are not mutually exclusive.
What is G.E.M. Anscombe's core principle regarding killing? - Answer- Deliberately
killing innocent people is always murder.
What distinction does Anscombe make about killing civilians? - Answer- Killing civilians
as a means to an end is never allowed, but collateral damage may be permissible.
What does the Law of Double Effect state? - Answer- Intended harm is always wrong,
but foreseen side-effects may be permissible.
What is the principle of self-defense in war ethics according to Fullinwider? - Answer-
You may only kill those who pose an immediate threat.
What is the Immunity Thesis? - Answer- Noncombatants are immune from intentional
attack based on moral principles, not conventions.
What is Alexander's critique of Fullinwider's theory? - Answer- Noncombatants can
sometimes be killed in self-defense if they contribute to a threat.
What is the key idea behind Alexander's justification for killing in self-defense? -
Answer- You may kill if it reduces danger and no better option exists.
What do Anscombe and Nagel argue regarding killing innocents? - Answer- They argue
that one should never intentionally kill innocents, as moral rules override consequences.
What is the moral dilemma presented by Nagel? - Answer- Sometimes all available
options are wrong, challenging the idea that 'ought implies can' may be false.
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
What is the central philosophical question raised in the debate about charity? - Answer-
How much are we morally required to sacrifice to help others?
What does Singer believe about individuals' moral obligations? - Answer- Individuals
have strong moral obligations to help the global poor and should donate if they can save
lives cheaply.
What is the main question regarding the atomic bomb debate? - Answer- Was the U.S.
justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan?
What is the pro argument for dropping the atomic bombs according to Maddox? -
Answer- It was the least bad option, prevented a more deadly invasion, and saved more
lives overall.
What do the Geneva Conventions (1949) govern? - Answer- International rules
governing war, including protections for wounded soldiers, prisoners of war, and
civilians.
What does Protocol I (1977) prohibit? - Answer- Targeting civilians, indiscriminate
attacks, and destruction of food and water sources.
What is the primary goal of philosophical arguments? - Answer- To gain wisdom
through extended conversation and arguments for a position.
What is the difference between ethics and morality? - Answer- Morality refers to a
system of norms and customs, while ethics is a theoretical discipline involving morals.
Who are the foundational figures in Western ethics? - Answer- Socrates, Plato, and
Aristotle.
What does 'ethos' mean in Greek? - Answer- Character.
What are the three branches of ethics? - Answer- Normative ethics, applied ethics, and
meta-ethics.
, What is normative ethics concerned with? - Answer- The standards, rules, principles,
and laws of ethics.
What is the difference between Singer's and Kuper's focus regarding poverty? -
Answer- Singer focuses on individual responsibility and personal donations, while Kuper
emphasizes institutional change and political reform.
What does Kuper argue about the agency of the poor? - Answer- He argues that poor
people are not just passive victims; they are political actors capable of organizing and
resisting injustice.
What are some criticisms of charity models according to Kuper? - Answer- Charity can
distract from systemic injustice, maintain unequal global power structures, and focus on
symptoms rather than causes.
How does Singer respond to Kuper's criticism? - Answer- Singer argues that helping
individuals now and changing institutions later are not mutually exclusive.
What is G.E.M. Anscombe's core principle regarding killing? - Answer- Deliberately
killing innocent people is always murder.
What distinction does Anscombe make about killing civilians? - Answer- Killing civilians
as a means to an end is never allowed, but collateral damage may be permissible.
What does the Law of Double Effect state? - Answer- Intended harm is always wrong,
but foreseen side-effects may be permissible.
What is the principle of self-defense in war ethics according to Fullinwider? - Answer-
You may only kill those who pose an immediate threat.
What is the Immunity Thesis? - Answer- Noncombatants are immune from intentional
attack based on moral principles, not conventions.
What is Alexander's critique of Fullinwider's theory? - Answer- Noncombatants can
sometimes be killed in self-defense if they contribute to a threat.
What is the key idea behind Alexander's justification for killing in self-defense? -
Answer- You may kill if it reduces danger and no better option exists.
What do Anscombe and Nagel argue regarding killing innocents? - Answer- They argue
that one should never intentionally kill innocents, as moral rules override consequences.
What is the moral dilemma presented by Nagel? - Answer- Sometimes all available
options are wrong, challenging the idea that 'ought implies can' may be false.
