INTRO TO PHILOSOPHY FINAL EXAM (West campus)

1. Which of these is a problem with Kantian moral theory: a. the individual doesn't count, a few can be sacrificed for the benefit of the many b. it appears impossible to calculate the resulting effects of any action on all the different people it affects in all the ways it affects them c. the moral truths are universal, and thus differences in particular circumstances of certain situations cannot be accounted for d. all of the above e. none of the above 2. Thomas Hobbes: f. believed that human beings are naturally evil g. believed that human life is "nasty, brutish and short" in the absence of a Leviathan h. was one of the founders of the idea of the "social contract" i. all of the above j. none of the above 3. Which of the following is true of Rawls' "veil of ignorance": k. it is used to try and determine the fairest rules of a just society l. it forces us to imagine that we could be anybody in a society m. it leads to an argument in favor of progressive taxation n. all of the above o. none of the above 4. The teleological argument: p. Asserts that the universe appears “designed” q. Even if accepted, does not demonstrate the specific existence of the Christian God r. Is promoted by nonprofit groups today in the US for inclusion in gradeschool biology textbooks s. All of the above t. None of the above 5. The “ontological argument”: u. Demonstrates the existence of God by use of empirical evidence v. Is refuted by the observation that “to exist” is not a quality of a thing w. Argues that we should believe in God even though there is no evidence x. All of the above y. None of the above 6. Cultural Relativism: z. argues that morality does not exist {. provides one culture with the theoretical resources to criticize another |. opposes the idea that there are universal moral truths }. all of the above ~. none of the above

7. The problem of evil:

. is a problem for traditional (Christian) monotheism . argues that evil is allowed by God as punishment . provides support for the belief in God . all of the above . none of the above

8. According to the text, “perverse” freedom is:

. The freedom of sexual pleasure . The freedom to act according to whim, which does not answer to rational justification . The freedom to act in accordance with one’s own rational reasons . All of the above . None of the above

9. Mill argued that:

. The freedom of the individual could be limited if they were psychologically bullying another . The freedom of the individual could never be limited . The freedom of the individual could be limited if they were physically abusing another. . All of the above . None of the above

10. Nietzsche criticized utilitarianism:

. Because it offended his belief in God . Because it cannot maximize pleasure while minimizing pain like it says . Because it was not empirical . All of the above . None of the above

11. Locke believed that:

. Humans were naturally endowed with a right to property by God . Humans achieved the right to property only through social contract . Humans had no rights . All of the above . None of the above

Section II: True or False

12. Kant argues that our ethics come from using our rationality to figure out the correct action in any situation by willing that it be universal. 13. Plato thought that art was a good thing because it gave us a higher level insight into the Truth. 14. Bentham argued that some kinds of happiness were of a higher quality than others. 15. Compatibilism is the idea that one can have free will in a deterministic universe. 16. Political Liberalism (in the classical sense) emphasizes that social formations are nothing more than aggregations of individuals 17. Classical liberalism is what today we would call libertarianism. 18. Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that human beings were naturally good and that they were corrupted by civilization. 19. Expressionism is the idea that art can make the viewer feel the inner emotional state of the artist. 20. Cultural Relativism is usually rejected because of the disastrous history of European imperialism. 21. Nietzsche argued that he did not believe in God—though not on evidentiary grounds as much as because the idea of God offended his emotional sensibilities. 22. Hobbes thought that human beings were born naturally good, but Locke thought they were born naturally evil. 23. John Rawls’ argued that under a “veil of ignorance” we would prefer a rule benefiting the least advantaged in society. 24. Marx had an “organicist” view of society, which means he thought that only the body of the individual (as opposed to the social body) mattered. 25. Wittgenstein argued that art has a particular definition, the way the concept of games has a particular definition.

Extra credit: Scarface. Describe the character of Tony Montana, what are his values (and is he “good” or “bad” or…), what does he symbolize in relation to the concept of American (USA) culture?

The movie is focused around the life of a man by the name of Tony Montana and depicts his rise to power from a political refugee from Cuba to a drug warlord. In the course of the movie, Tony Montana also known as Scarface, is able to go from a dishwasher in a small restaurant to a very powerful man in the States through the drug trafficking and distribution of large amounts of Colombian cocaine. The movie shows Scarface’s rise to fame and then his downfall caused mainly through cause and effect. As Tony Montana puts it, he must be the bad guy. But is he really? Or the better question is: is he really the worst? Placed in antithesis with any average, hard working, person, Tony Montana ought to be the bad guy. But this is not where the movie stands or what the creators are trying to tell the viewer. For obvious or maybe not so obvious reasons, the viewer cannot help but sympathize with the Cuban immigrant that starts working his way towards the ‘American dream’, using any means necessary. It is quite clear that the creators’ intentions is for the viewers to like Tony Montana, which is why he is presented as the better human among the wolves he is surrounded by. As Tony climbs the power ladder, the situation is actually getting worse for him, and, when he is caught between a rock and a hard place, and he must go to jail, he is presented by Sosa with an offer he cannot refuse. The Bolivian drug Lord asks Tony for assistance in getting a journalist killed, in exchange for his freedom. Tony accepts it, but, when the killer sent by Sosa wants to blow the journalist’s car, along with the man’s family, Montana goes crazy regarding the situation, and he kills the assistant. The reason for his actions is, as he clearly states, that the deal was not to kill a woman and her children. This also reveals another aspect of Tony’s personality; even if he is a drug dealer and a murderer, he wants to have a family and kids, something that remains unattainable until the end. Showing a human face, even if in a crude and violent way, absolves Tony of many of his sins, at least in the eyes of those watching the movie. I think Tony was not a good example to the society specially for all the cocaine he brought to the US and also all the coke he took at the end of the movie is not a good thing, and also he became too addict and is not a nice thing to see. Tony Montana does not confront only with other people along the way, he also confronts with a system of values. By pursuing the American dream, he basically falls in the same trap as many others: the eternal fascination of wealth, of money that needs to be acquired no matter the means. The society the poor Cuban immigrant enters flaunts its riches and beautiful women in front of him, and, as any other man, he falls to temptation. Of course, his own credulity and ignorance lead him to the inevitable finish line, but the circumstances that contribute to his fate cannot be ignored. The restaurant scene from the last part of the movie must be among the most revealing.