Deck 47: Doing Your Fair Share

Question 1

Describe two cases, one where Michael Cholbi would say that the person is doing their fair share, and one where he would say that they are not. Is the idea of doing your fair share helpful in getting us to the right answer in cases like these? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

Successfully apply Cholbi's concept of doing one's fair share to two imagined cases.
Develop a thoughtful position on the issue, correctly identifying and defending controversial claims using sound reasoning, helpful analogies, appeals to plausible principles, etc

Question 2

In your essay, briefly summarize both the fair share view and the maximalist view. Which do you find more convincing? Why? Illustrate your point by describing an imagined case and what the person that you've imagined should do in it.

Answer 2

Correctly summarize the reasoning on both sides of the issue, explaining both the fair share and the maximalist view.
Develop a thoughtful position on the issue, correctly identifying and defending controversial claims using sound reasoning, helpful analogies, appeals to plausible principles, etc.

Question 3

What do you think of the comparison between choosing a career and getting married? Specifically, what do you think of Michael Cholbi's example of Stella and Truman's relationship? Do you think that this is a good argument by analogy? If so, why? If not, explain what Cholbi misses.

Answer 3

Evaluate Cholbi's comparison of marriage to career choice.
Include a thesis that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for the thesis.
Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.

Question 4

How does Cholbi define "career?"

A) The specific economic arrangement by which a person earns income by working
B) An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress
C) The sort of work a person does for economic reasons
D) To move swiftly in a specified direction
E) A paid position of regular employment

Question 5

What does "the maximalist view" refer to?

A) The view that we are ethically required to choose our careers and jobs based on what is best for our community
B) The view that we are ethically required to choose our careers and jobs based on what is best overall
C) The view that we are ethically permitted to choose our careers and jobs based on our individual interests
D) The view that we are morally obligated to maximize everyone's opportunity to have a meaningful career or job
E) The view that we are ethically permitted to choose our jobs so long as they do not perpetuate a maximal amount of harm

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a claim that Cholbi makes about the maximalist view?

A) It make our identities and lives unfairly and unreasonably beholden to others
B) It would be unethical to make career choices based on this view
C) Heroic 'maximizing' choices about our careers or jobs are laudable
D) We are not ethically obligated to make career choices based on this view
E) It implies that what particular individuals are obligated to do depends on what other individuals do

Question 7

Cholbi argues in favor of what view of careers and jobs?

A) The equal parts view
B) The reasonable demands view
C) The maximalist view
D) The fair share view
E) The minimalist view

Question 8

The choice of whether and whom to marry is an example of what?

A) A professional choice
B) A legal choice
C) An ethically neutral choice
D) An intuitive choice
E) An identity-based choice

Question 9

Cholbi argues that identity-based choices ________ subject to the maximalist demand.

A) Are always
B) Are sometimes
C) May be
D) Are rarely
E) Are not

Question 10

Cholbi affirms that identity-based choices should generally be largely left up to an individual to decide based on her ________ :

A) Values, tastes, and goals
B) Duties, obligations, and responsibilities
C) Family, friends, and group membership
D) Education, wealth, and social status
E) None of the above

Question 11

In considering the Gina case, Cholbi grants that the maximalist might be right if what were true?

A) If ChemStart were doing the most ethically important work in the world
B) If Gina's taking the job at ChemStart were the only time she had to forgo her interests in order to maximize good in the world
C) If ChemStart were willing to donate as much money as Gina wanted to a charity of her choice
D) If Gina's refusal to take the job at ChemStart resulted in the position being offered to someone else
E) If the offer from ChemStart were the first job that Gina was offered

Question 12

Cholbi argues that we are responsible to the world but not for the world.

Question 13

On what view is it true that "a person's obligations do not depend on whether others do their fair share or not."

A) The equal parts view
B) The reasonable demands view
C) The maximalist view
D) The fair share view
E) The minimalist view