--- Topics in Moral Philosophy - Egoism and Altruism

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Discussion questions and topics

Forum	Topics	Posts	Last post
Discussing the Ring of Gyges After finishing this essay, consider responding to the following question, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. Is Glaucon correct in assuming that the unjust and just man would do the same thing if they could get away with it?	3	5	irrelevant ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 00:59
Discussing Nietzsche After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. 1) According to Nietzsche, what is life “essentially?” What is the “will to life?” 2) Describe “master morality.” 3) Describe “slave morality.” 4) Why, according to Nietzsche, is Christianity the “most impious lie?”	3	4	Nietzsche's ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:06
Discussing Ayn Rand After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. 1) What are the values held by objectivist ethics, known as “rational selfishness?” 2) How does Rand distinguish the meaning in popular usage of “selfishness” and the dictionary definition? [ 3) Why does Rand think that the ethics of altruisms assumes a moral equivalency between a businessman and a robber? 4) How does Rand distinguish her ethic from the ethic of Nietzsche?	1	2	Ayn Rand ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:10
Discussing King's Drum Major Instinct After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. 1) Why did King say we might have condemned the request by James and John? 2) How does king reinterpret his Christian response to egoism and the desire for recognition?	2	3	King way ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:14
Discussing Darwin on Morality After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. Morality and Sympathy 1) How does Darwin describe the “social instincts” of dogs and humans? What are they? 2) Does “nurture” play a role in molding the moral attitudes and behavior of humans, according to Darwin, and if so, how?	1	1	Darwin ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:28
Discussing Peter Singer on Altruism After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line dialogue. Peter Singer on Ethics 1) According to Singer, what does Maslow assume about the relationship between happiness and morality? 2) Want is the “paradox of hedonism” that leads Frankl to promote the pursuit of meaning or purpose as different from, but necessary for, happiness? 3) How does Singer suggest “kin altruism” and “reciprocal altruism” contribute to the development of morality? 4) When does rationality affect and extend “reciprocal altruism”? 5) Where does Thomas Nagel come down on the question of reason’s capacity to motivate moral action? Do you agree with him?	1	2	Aha! by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:32
Discussing Browne and Rachels For this forum, if you e-mail the teacher your postal address, he will mail you two essays, one by Harry Browne and one by James Rachels. After reading them, address some of the questions below. Harry Browne, “The Unselfishness Trap” 1) What is “psychological egoism” and how does it serve as the foundation for Browne’s argument? 2) What is Browne’s “red rubber ball” metaphor and does it aptly reflect how happiness evades us due to the “selfishness trap?” 3) What is Browne’s alternative to being caught between either sacrificing others for yourself, or sacrificing youself for others? James Rachels, “Egoism and Moral Skepticism” 1) What are Rachels’ two arguments against “psychological egoism?” Do you agree with his arguments? 2) How does Rachels’ attack the egoist’s (and Lincoln’s) interpretation of Lincoln as a selfish person? 3) How does Rachels distinguish “selfishness” and “self-interest?” 4) What is Rachels’ opinion of those arguments refuting egoism on the basis of logical consistency (and universalizability)? 5) For Rachels, what is the more common and defendable reason for not hurting others?	0	0	n/a
Discussing "Morality, Duality and Self" After finishing this essay, consider responding to any of the questions below that stimulate your thought, or add other comments that might lead to fruitful on-line discussion. “Morality, Duality, and the Self: Autonomy and Interrelatedness” 1) What assumed theory of personal identity dominates Marxism, Hegel and some tribal societies? How is this theory supported in some cases by “the theory of internal relations?” 2) What assumed theory of personal identity does Felix Adler believe is shared by Lincoln, Emerson, and Jesus? 3) Why does the author believe that Adler overemphasizes collectivist theories of the self, and why is such over-emphasis dangerous?	1	1	Excellence ... by admin 11/17/2010 - 01:36
Buddhist no-self ethics Discuss this essay and a Buddhist claim that once you accept that the "self" is an illusion, morality can blossom.	0	0	n/a