Section 1
1. EITHER (A): What is the significance of the story of Gyges the Lydian shepherd in Plato's discussion about the origin of morality in society and of the nature of justice and injustice? From an ethical point of view, do you accept the moral of Gyges' fable? Why or why not?
OR (B): Given the encounter between Socrates and Euthyphro in Plato's dialogue The Euthyphro, what, in your view, is Socrates' position about attempts to establish morality on religion? How might a defender of the Divine Command Theory respond to Socrates' concern?
OR (C): Drawing upon your knowledge of the Euthyphro and "The Story of Abraham," give a detailed account of the Divine Command theory of morality. What are some objections that have been leveled against the theory? Do you consider those objections valid? Justify your answer.
EITHER (A): Distinguish between psychological egoism and ethical egoism. Do you consider ethical egoism a valid moral theory? Justify your position.
OR (B): It is often said that Hobbes advances a "social contract" theory
of morality. What does this claim mean? Do you consider Hobbes' theory valid? Why or why not?
EITHER (A): Critically examine some of the key arguments that cultural relativists present for their view that morality is relative. (Be sure to specify the cultural relativists whose views you are interrogating.)
OR (B): According to Ruth Benedict, "normal" and "abnormal" are culturally defined. What arguments does Benedict advance in support of this view? Does it necessarily follow from her claims about cultural differences that morality is relative? Justify your answer.
OR (C): What are some objections can you bring against utilitarianism as a moral theory? Against the backdrop of those objections construct a possible argument that a defender Of the theory might attempt to advance in the theory's favor.
SECTION 2
In the war against terrorism and terrorist groups, you have been contracted to design a software program for a new weapons system that, when deployed, will cause carnage beyond anything the human race has seen in the history of warfare.
But to ensure this result, you will be required to test the weapons system, driven by the software, on .svulnerable populations" on some distant part of the world. That way, you will be able to demonstrate that the software works as designed or, in case it doesn't, to identify its flaws.
Drawing upon any of the ethical theories we have studied, what kinds of moral considerations would you bring to bear upon your decision-making about whether or not to design the software?