PHIL 338: FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS

Not all of these questions apply to all the philosophers we have studied. Ignore those questions that do not apply. In considering how these questions apply to Marx, consider how they would apply to two different positions, the views of Historical Marx and the views we attributed to the hypothetical philosopher Normative Marx.

1. State of Nature. What is the philosopher's conception of the State of Nature? What constraints on action, if any, are there in the State of Nature. If there are constraints, are they merely rational constraints? Or are there recognizably moral constraints?

2. Moral Motivation. Does the author believe there is any genuinely moral motivation in human beings? Explain.

3. Route from the State of Nature: How do people become citizens of a civil society? What is the role of Original Agreement, if any? What is the role of consent? [Think especially of how Locke, Smith, and Kant represent three different ways of understanding the importance of consent.] Is consent due to fear of death binding? Is the morally important type of consent actual or hypothetical?

4. Civil Society. What defines a civil society? Are there any moral constraints on the government? If so, what is their source?

5. Justice/Legitimacy. What makes a civil society just or legitimate? What sort of binding force do laws in civil society have? When, if at all, are laws morally binding—that is, supported by moral constraints as well as by force? When, if at all, is the exercise of executive power morally binding?

6. Justice/Legitimacy and Utility. Is there a connection between justice or legitimacy of a government and utility? Explain.

7. Democracy: Must a legitimate government be some sort of democracy? If so, what kind?

8. The Potential for Tyranny of the Majority: Are there moral constraints on majority decisions? Do individuals have any individual rights against majority decisions?

9. Rebellion: Under what circumstances is it permissible for citizens to rebel against the government? If there is a right to rebel, what is its source?

10. International Government. Does the author believe there should be some form of international government? Explain.

11. Individual Rights. Must a government protect individual rights in order to be just or legitimate? Explain. If so, what rights? Explain. Should the state guarantee some category of freedom of expression? Why or why not? Do individuals have some kind of individual right to freedom of expression? Why or why not?

12. Invisible Hand process. Is History an invisible hand process? Explain. Make sure you identify the goal of the process and explain why the process is an invisible hand process.

13. Epistemology. Does the author criticize the epistemology of his opponents? Explain. What is the author's epistemology for his own political theory? Is his reasoning for the most part a priori or a posteriori? [Hint: Would the author acknowledge he could be mistaken?]