1. Ethical Language / Meta-Ethics
Utilitarianism
Deontology (Kant)
Virtue Ethics
Ethical Language / Meta-Ethics
What is meant by the ‘principle of utility’? (3 marks)
Briefly explain how the hedonic calculus can be used to make decisions. (5 marks)
Briefly explain how a rule utilitarian would make moral decisions. (5 marks)
Briefly explain the difference between higher and lower pleasures according to Mill. (5 marks)
Briefly explain one advantage Utilitarianism has over other ethical theories. (5 marks)
Compare and contrast (any 2 of) Act / Rule /Preference Utilitarianism. (12 marks)
Fully explain the criticism that Utilitarianism can justify the punishing of innocent people. (12 marks)
‘A consequentialist view of ethics is the best approach’ What do you think? (25 marks)
You could also get asked a question regarding the 5 applied topics we covered in class:
Animal Rights / Crime and Punishment / Lying / Simulated Killing / War
What is meant by ‘deontology’? (3 marks)
Briefly explain the difference between a categorical and hypothetical imperative. (5 marks)
Briefly explain the first formulation of the categorical imperative (universalizability) (5 marks)
Briefly explain the second formulation of the categorical imperative (5 marks)
Briefly explain the role of reason in our decision making according to Kant (5 marks)
Explain how a deontologist might use the categorical imperative (both formulations) to make moral decisions (12 marks)
Fully explain the criticism the axe murderer at the door criticism of deontology (12 marks)
Critically assess Deontology as an approach to ethical decision making. (25 marks)
What is meant by ‘Eudaimonia’? (3 marks)
Briefly Aristotle’s function argument. (5 marks)
Briefly explain the doctrine of the mean (5 marks)
Briefly explain the role of habit and education in Virtue Ethics (5 marks)
Briefly explain what is meant by moral and intellectual virtues (5 marks)
What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary actions when it comes to our moral responsibility? (12 marks)
Why do some people believe that Virtue Ethics (particularly the doctrine of the mean) is too vague as a theory? (12 marks)
Is the Doctrine of the mean helpful for making moral decisions? (25 marks)
What is meant by ‘Naturalist’ when it comes to morality? (3 marks)
Briefly explain the difference between anti-realism and realism in ethics. (5 marks)
What is the difference between cognitivism and non- cognitivism in ethics (5 marks)
Outline the open question argument for non-naturalism (5 marks)
Explain the argument from metaphysical and epistemological queerness (12 marks)
Compare and contrast emotivism and error theory (12 marks)
Explain the view that non-cognitivist, anti-realist views undermine morality (12 marks)
‘There is no such thing as real moral facts’ Examine this claim. (25 marks)
Animal Rights / Crime and Punishment / Lying / Simulated Killing / War

2. You could also get general questions covering more than one theory like:
‘Ethics should be about consequences not character’ Critically assess this claim.
Is going to war always wrong? (It is possible you could get asked a general essay question on any of the applied ethics questions)
Assess which ethical theory is the best approach to moral decision making.
Alternatively you could get a question that asks if one or more theories are the ‘best’ approach to moral decision making, allowing you to compare the theory in question to the alternatives.
Important Note: We’ve covered the applied ethics stuff in detail (or will have done by the time you do the exam) so feel free to use these as examples in your exam when explaining a particular point or idea.