BIO-ETHICS EXAM QUESTIONS
Lecture 1: Introduction to ethics and bio-ethics
Theoretical philosophy: People asked themselves what human being are, what
the universe around them is and what the universe is. This is still important but
mainly taken over by exact sciences in these modern times but philosophers still
reflect critically on many questions in science and try to clarify these. Examples
are metaphysics, philosophical anthropology and philosophy of science.
Practical philosophy: This involve disciplines such as ethics, political
philosophy and social philosophy. In political, people ask questions about power,
structures and ideologies are analysed. Social philosophy thinks about origins of
society and relation between individual and social structure.
Ethics: Ethics is a subdivision under philosophy which include applied ethics.
Thought experiment: Philosophers develop philosophical theories and use
thought experiments to clarify. Thought experiments are fictional cases with
which one tries to test or bring to the fore certain philosophical intuitions.
Experimental philosophy: questioning the function of thought experiments and
the philosophical intuitions they are thought to evoke. This is philosophy
combined with psychology and sociology.
Morality: morality talks about the common notion to distinguish between good
and evil. Morality is approach from social sciences, psychology and cultural
anthropology.
Egoistic prudence: This is the origin of morality based on Thomas Hobbes
where he states that individuals entangle in a bitter struggle to survive. Moral
rules and norms should be set in laws and enforced by the state.
Ethical naturalism: what is morally good is determined by scientific data and
be logically deduced from facts. Moral facts can be reduced to non-moral facts
and have no separate ontological status in reality. Empirical facts can show what
is good.
Ethical non-naturalism: Good cannot be reduced to other non-moral facts.
Goodness is a real characteristic and can be shown and grasped. Intuitions are
important.
Which method(s) do philosophers use to come to certain conclusions
1. Thinking about the meaning of concepts: how are concepts used in
scientific disciplines
2. Questioning commonly held assumptions: how is scientific progress
possible
3. Using thought experiments: fictional cases to test intuitions
1
Lecture 1: Introduction to ethics and bio-ethics
Theoretical philosophy: People asked themselves what human being are, what
the universe around them is and what the universe is. This is still important but
mainly taken over by exact sciences in these modern times but philosophers still
reflect critically on many questions in science and try to clarify these. Examples
are metaphysics, philosophical anthropology and philosophy of science.
Practical philosophy: This involve disciplines such as ethics, political
philosophy and social philosophy. In political, people ask questions about power,
structures and ideologies are analysed. Social philosophy thinks about origins of
society and relation between individual and social structure.
Ethics: Ethics is a subdivision under philosophy which include applied ethics.
Thought experiment: Philosophers develop philosophical theories and use
thought experiments to clarify. Thought experiments are fictional cases with
which one tries to test or bring to the fore certain philosophical intuitions.
Experimental philosophy: questioning the function of thought experiments and
the philosophical intuitions they are thought to evoke. This is philosophy
combined with psychology and sociology.
Morality: morality talks about the common notion to distinguish between good
and evil. Morality is approach from social sciences, psychology and cultural
anthropology.
Egoistic prudence: This is the origin of morality based on Thomas Hobbes
where he states that individuals entangle in a bitter struggle to survive. Moral
rules and norms should be set in laws and enforced by the state.
Ethical naturalism: what is morally good is determined by scientific data and
be logically deduced from facts. Moral facts can be reduced to non-moral facts
and have no separate ontological status in reality. Empirical facts can show what
is good.
Ethical non-naturalism: Good cannot be reduced to other non-moral facts.
Goodness is a real characteristic and can be shown and grasped. Intuitions are
important.
Which method(s) do philosophers use to come to certain conclusions
1. Thinking about the meaning of concepts: how are concepts used in
scientific disciplines
2. Questioning commonly held assumptions: how is scientific progress
possible
3. Using thought experiments: fictional cases to test intuitions
1
