Philosophy Essay 1 and 2

Waseda Law School Ethics Questions

Essay 1 (Due Friday Week 7)
Length: 500 words minimum

Answer ONE of the following questions.
1.1 Moral Relativism:
What is the Cultural Differences Argument? And what is its most serious
objection?
1.2 Socrates and Obedience to the Law:
What was Socrates’s argument in favor of obeying the law, even when to do so meant death? What are some objections to his argument? And which argument do you think is more plausible?
1.3 Utilitarianism
Can a Utilitarian respect the obligation to keep promises?

Essay 2 (Due Friday Week 14).
Answer ONE of the following questions.
2.1 Kant:
Why does Kant think that murderers should be executed?
What is the strongest objection to his argument? Which argument is more
plausible?
2.2 Social Contract:
What is the difference between Kant’s conception of human nature, and that
of Hobbes? And what, for both thinkers, is the relationship between reason
and morality? Who has the more plausible view?
2.3 Death Penalty:
Should Japan abandon the death penalty?
2.4 Choose your own essay question.
You may choose to write an essay on a question you have chosen yourself, provided 1). It is on a topic covered in class and 2). I approve of the essay question.