Ethics Questions for HL Philosophy

From the Sandel video “What’s the right thing?” part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY

1. Do a comparative analysis of Consequentialist vs. Categorical Ethics telling what each entails and giving some details about their representative philosophers.

2. Relate these two forms of ethics to the hypothetical events that Sandel discussed:

1. Steering the trolley car into 2 people instead of allowing it to hit five.

2. Pushing the “Fat Man” off the bridge (vs. jumping off the bridge yourself – to save the other people)

3. In the “Case for Cannibalism,” discuss whether this would be “morally valid” via a consequentialist/utilitarian argument; or via a categorical argument?

4. In relation to Categorical Ethics, if there is a moral law within which tells one not to cheat, lie, kill, etc., why do so many people do these things?