Introduction to Ethics 205 Final Exam Study Guide

Be able to:

Define

End state distributive justice

Process (or procedural) justice

Libertarianism

Capitalism

Socialism

Pacifism

Jus ad bellum

Jus in bello

proportionality principle of jus ad bellum

proportionality principle of jus in bello

Do the following:

Give James Fishkin's definition of equal opportunity

Tell why James Fishkin thinks we will never have equal opportunity in our society

Tell how John Rawls thinks we should come up with just principles for society (imagine we are in...)

Tell under what circumstances Rawls thinks disparity of distribution of income and social goods would be acceptable

Tell why Robert Nozick thinks that a patterned distribution of wealth and social goods is problematic

Tell why Nozick thinks income tax is unfair

Explain whether deterrence could be provide an argument for punishing innocents

Explain how a utilitarian would argue for legal punishment.

Explain how a retributivist would argue for legal punishment

Explain how a retributivist would argue for the death penalty.

Tell whether Hugo Bedau thinks there is evidence that a more severe punishment is a better deterrent

Tell why Ernest Van Den Haag thinks capital punishment is justified

Explain why Michael Walzer argues that just war theory is important militarily

Tell what Jean Bethke Elshtain argues are the essential features of terrorists

Explain how (generally), a utilitarian would justify war. Would a utilitarian agree with the jus in bello principles of proportionality and discrimination (briefly explain what these are)? Why or why not? Do you think war is ever justified? Why or why not? (This essay must be written in paragraph form using complete sentences for full credit)