PHIL 305 Study Questions

Core Concepts

1. How do ethicists distinguish the right/wrong from the Good/Bad (or Evil or whatever)?  
Which theories emphasize which of these?
2. Why do different ethicists emphasize rules or character as the appropriate basis of moral 
reasoning?  How might someone who emphasizes one accommodate the other?
3. How does virtue theory differ from utilitarianism and deontology?  What role could you 
ascribe to it in bioethics?
4. What is meant by the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence?  
5. What do we mean by autonomy in ethics?  How is it important to bioethics?

Informed Consent and Disclosure

1. What are the five conditions generally included as necessary and sufficient for informed 
consent?  How is each one defined and defended?
2. How could we characterize the role of physicians and health care professionals in establishing 
understanding for their patients?  What might we do to make this burden fair to all the parties 
involved?
3. How do we justify the use of proxy consent, as in the case of children who must undergo 
treatments?  What sorts of exceptions might arise?
4. How do Faden and Beauchamp differentiate autonomous authorization and effective consent?  
What role does each one play and how might conflict emerge between the two conceptions?
5. Milgram's study presents a classic case of problems about disclosure.  Disclosing all of the 
information involved would have undercut the study entirely, thereby erasing its potential 
benefits, while withholding the nature of the study apparently led to the harm of some subjects.  
What sorts of positions could we stake out in terms of obligations to disclose information in this 
case?  (i.e. How might we formulate a disclosure statement in advance of conducting the study?)

Genetics and Cloning

1. What is meant by "eugenics" and "genomics?"  How might critics accuse contemporary 
genomics as having eugenic implications or intentions?
2. What is the human genome?  What is its role in the biological account of human development?  
What other factors are in play?
3. What dilemmas might arise for someone who can have genetic tests done in light of the way in 
which health insurance is handled in the US?
4. Some have argued that health insurance (as we practice it in the US) is a voluntary contractual 
service, and so no injustice is entailed by a refusal to offer coverage.  What might critics say of 
this argument?
5. Capron argues that the nature of scientific inquiry into genomics effectively entails 
discrimination against some people.  Why is this?
6. What case might be made for the right to control one's genetic information?
7. What are somatic cells and what are germ-line (or stem-line) cells?  How do they play 
different roles in gene therapy?
8. How do some argue for the defense of stem-line cells in terms of potential?  What do 
opponents say?
9. What does Glover say about the ethics of gene therapies in light of its effects on future 
generations (or 'future persons')?
10. What cases can be made for the right to clone oneself or a family member in terms of rights 
to control genetic information?  What arguments can be made against it?

Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

1. How do we define voluntary and non-voluntary euthanasia?
2. How do we define active and passive euthanasia?
3. What is an advanced directive?
4. What do various authors say about what should count as "extraordinary measures"?
5. How does Kass make an argument against the right to die from the perspective of rationality in 
decision making?
6. How do utilitarian arguments for voluntary active euthanasia lead to "slippery slope" 
problems, according to their critics?
7. What concerns are there about institutional and economic pressures surrounding the autonomy 
of one's choices in questions of voluntary active euthanasia?
8. How do our various authors treat the balance between a physician's obligation to preserve life 
and an obligation to alleviate suffering in the terminally ill who are suffering great pain?

Social Justice Issues

1. What is meant by "distributive justice?"
2. What are strict egalitarian theories of justice?  What criticisms do they face?
3. What is the "difference principle" offered by Rawls and what sort of theory of justice does it 
suggest?  What criticisms does it face?
4. What are libertarian theories of justice?  What criticisms do they face?
5. What do different authors mean by a "decent minimum of health care?"  Why does Buchanan 
oppose such a standard?  What arguments does he offer instead?
6. How does Veatch use a Rawlsian theory of justice to argue for a decent minimum standard of 
health care?