Exam 12: Normative Theories, Part 2

According to Chapter 12, contractarians often assume that in the state of nature, people are self-interested, rational, and able to benefit from cooperating with one another.

What is contractualism?

What role does human nature play in natural law theories of ethics?

Which of the following best captures the more specific sense of rén in Confucian ethics?

The ethics of ubuntu focuses on realizing one's humanity by promoting social harmony in one's community.

In your own words, explain contractualism. How does it differ from contractarianism?

Why do some people think that the ideal of justice is incompatible with the ethics of care? What do you think is the best way to reconcile care and justice? Why?

Contractarianism is the view that morality consists of rules that would be agreed to in a state of nature to make everyone better off.

Which of the following best describes the natural law theory of ethics?

What role do the "five relationships" play in Confucian ethics, according to Chapter 12?

According to Chapter 12, what does it mean to have "good will" in the ethics of ubuntu?

What kinds of rules are in the social contract, according to contractarians? Why are those the rules to which people would agree in the state of nature?

Define contractarianism.

In your own words, explain the ethics of care.

What role does emotion play in the ethics of care?

According to Chapter 12, the ethics of ubuntu often conflicts with traditional Western normative theories because of its emphasis on social harmony. Give one example of a case in which the ethics of ubuntu would conflict with a specific Western normative theory and explain why the two theories conflict.

Because natural law theory bases morality in human nature, God never plays a role in natural law theories of ethics.

In the ethics of ubuntu, promoting social harmony involves honoring a sense of shared identity and promoting good will or solidarity within one's society.

What is the natural law theory of ethics?

According to natural law theory, we can discover what is good and bad by reflecting on human nature.