Spring 2013 Ethics Course Practice Exam Questions

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We'll use this page for you to post some practice exam answers. Please follow the pattern below in posting your answers:

(pseudonym)

(Answer)

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Hannah Montana

Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence because it is an end, not a means. Things like wealth and status are a means to make a person happy-so how can these things be a goal of existence? He also argues that an end goal should come from within yourself, it shouldn't be granted to you by another person. People may argue against it by saying that reaching an afterlife(like the Christian Heaven) is the goal to life. This argument, however, is not necessarily plausible because you are trying to reach happiness- whether is be your own or trying to make God happy.

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Muhammad

Happiness is the goal of human existence because everything we do works up to it. Little goals we have ultimately are aimed toward our happiness and even when these smaller goals change over our lives, happiness as a goal remains. Someone could argue against it.

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Party Joe

One could argue that another goal to human existence is experience. People need experiences whether good or bad to learn. Bad experiences are not define with happiness, but one could say they are necessary to learn about life. People often say how they learned more about themselves or got more out of experiencing hardships and coming back from it, than just coasting through life without these experiences.

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Plato Jr.

Aristotle sees human beings as pleasure seeking organisms and each of us are only concerned with our plearure (happiness). This view defines human existance of self serving.

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Marshawn Lynch

Aristotle aruges that happiness is the goal of human existence by demonstrating that if it is the only objective in the world that can be worked towards as an ed in itself. One stirves to make money so that they can buy things, and one practices and instrument so that they can be a good musician. Everything that one does in life could considered both a means and an end, but happiness is the only thing that could be purely considered an end. There is nothing further in life than pure happiness. Therefore Aristotle argues that this overarching gaol is in fact the one true goal of human existence.

This argument seems to make sense. Happiness itself is a large goal, and if a person were to die "happy" many might say that his or her life was fulfilled. However, one might counter this argument by proposing a similar notion, such as peace. Couldn't the ultimate goal of human life be to find peace? this might be similar to the happiness argument, but it is not happiness per say. Peace itself is an ultimate goal. in a likewise manner, one might argue that the goal of an individual's existence is to completely fulfill their unique talents. happiness is not universal by definition, and may look different to different people. However, one could argue that if a person worked to the best of their abilities and talents then their life could be counted as fulfilled.

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Chalupa Batman

Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human existence by first trying to show that perfection in whatever action you do is trying to achieve happiness. For example, a carpenter wishes to be the best carpenter he/she can be, and by achieving this is achieving happiness. Aristotle goes on to show that money, fame, etc., aren't really happiness, furthering that point that perfection is happiness and is the goal of all human beings.

Aristotle also argues against this by raising arguments such as one cannot achieve happiness by this definition, since no one can achieve perfection. When a person is dead, they can say they achieved happiness, but saying a dead man is happy is an illogical thought in itself. Another way to argue against it is by looking at infants. They don't appear to be pursuing perfection, but to say that they aren't capable of happiness is illogical as well.

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Ben

Aristotle believes that a non-virtuous life is a pointless life. He says that you strive to be happy in life and that you try your whole life to achieve it. One good thing about this view is that money is not a component to happiness, which shows that you don't have to be rich to be happy. One argument against Aristotle might be that in order to achieve certain aspects of happiness, certain material needs are required.

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Latisha

Aristotle argues that happiness is the goal of human experience by suggesting that one must find their strengths, work to perfect them, and become the best possible version of themself. Looking at Aristotle's view of society, this would be a strength because humans are entirely unique, we have differing passions and skills. If one focuses on their own individual traits and aims to perfect them, a society will be granted with many differing, real and potential beneficial civilians. The system will work as a whole, while individuals like their best life, best profession, happily.

Another strength is that by encouraging people to look within themselves to determine their own strengths and passions, they do not feel external pressure to conform in a society. This sticks out to me, especially because at home in America, we are less likely to be encouraged to lead a life that is focused around ones passions. If one loves coffee, they may be judged and ridiculed for "settling" for a job as a barista. Even when they themselves are entirely content with that position.

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