The following questions will be on the exam, and you will be required to answer
The following questions will be on the exam, and you will be required to answer those questions.
(Each question is worth 35 marks) Recommended length 8-10 paragraphs. Be sure to provide direct
quotations from the assigned article(s) when explaining the relevant views and arguments. References
can be in text, (author last name and page number)
The questions are:
1. Explain Judith Thomson’s views on the moral rights of the fetus. What is the conservative
argument that she is questioning? What is the violinist analogy, and what exactly is the point
of this analogy? Discuss two objections to her analogy (no straw man objections). Consider
how she might best reply to those objections. Explain whether you think those replies to the
objections are successful. (Defend your answer.)
2. A common argument against active euthanasia is that it is morally wrong because it involves
killing, and killing is morally worse than letting die. Explain Jeff McMahan’s response to
this argument. Explain James Rachels’ responses to the argument that active euthanasia is
morally worse than passive euthanasia because one involves killing and the other involves
merely letting die. Explain Philippa Foot’s views on what typically makes it wrong to bring
about the death of another. Apply her views to the moral difference between killing and
letting die generally. Explain Foot’s argument on the morality of voluntary and non-
voluntary active and passive euthanasia. Evaluate her argument against non-voluntary
active euthanasia.
I am attaching all the required readings to answer these questions below as files.Â
Please follow the instructions. The bold text above is imperative