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Study Guide for the 1st Ethics/Global Studies Exam
Fall, 2009

 

Holly Graff and Richard Stacewicz
 

Ethics Portion

 

 

The quiz will consist of a number of short essay questions. For each of the philosophers that we have covered, you should be able to do the following:

 

1. Give an account of the basic claims and the arguments that support these claims. 

2. You should be able to apply the theories to a concrete situation. 

3. You should also know some major criticisms that can be offered of each philosopher and each theoretical perspective. 

4. You should be able to compare the claims and arguments of the philosophers that we have studied.

4.  You should be able to explain the meaning of quotations from the philosophers that we have studied.

 

 

1. You should review the material deductive arguments.  You should know what a premise is.  You should be able to indicate whether a particular deductive argument is valid and sound.

 

2.    Here is a list of basic claims made by Locke that you should review and for which you should know the arguments.

  1. Even in the state of nature, there are natural rights. 
  2. The purpose of the social contract is protecting the natural rights of its citizens. 
  3. The best government is a representative democracy with branches of government that check and balance one another’s powers. 
  4. In the state of nature something unclaimed becomes property when someone mixes his labor with it.  Certain conditions apply on how much can be claimed until money is in common use. 
  5. Only certain people have full rights of citizenship, and slavery is legitimate under some circumstances. 
  6. There is a right to revolution under certain circumstances.  (Under what circumstances does Locke see revolution as morally justified?  What is his argument for it?)
  7. War between states does not negate the natural rights.

     

3. Here is a list of basic claims made by Adam Smith that you should review and for which you should know the arguments.

            a. The accumulation of material wealth is one of the highest values presupposed.

            b. The division of labor promotes the accumulation of wealth.

c. An invisible hand guides the operation of markets so that the greed of individual capitalists works out to the advantage of everyone.

            d. The government should not be involved in the economy.

 

4.   Here is a list of basic claims made by Marx that you should review and for which you should know the arguments. (In terms of the philosophy assignments, only the theory of alienation will be on this exam.  The other readings will be on the next exam.)

a.   Marx presupposes two sets of assumptions about human beings: human beings as self-creating beings and human beings as ensembles of social relationships.

b.  Marx emphasizes the difference between natural or animal needs and powers and human or species needs and powers.

c.   The theory of alienation is primarily a description of the situation of workers under capitalism, and there are at least six aspects of this alienation.  

d. Marx clearly values self-determination and self-realization

e.  The theory of alienation provides the philosophical reasons for Marx’s most basic condemnation of capitalism.  The degradation and manipulation of human needs and powers is an important part of this.

f.   You can read Holly’s summaries of the theory of alienation on the website.

 

Here are some sample questions on Locke:

 

What defect in the state of nature does Locke say makes it desirable to move to enter into the social contract?


Explain Locke’s argument about how land can be justly claimed in the state of nature?  Be sure to discuss any limitation on land claims.  Next, describe two arguments that might be presented against his position.

 

What is Locke's argument against absolute monarchy?

 

Does Locke think slavery can ever be legitimate?  Why or why not?
 

 

Global Studies Portion

 

This part of the quiz will also include short answer and short essay questions. Make sure that you can address all of the following.

 

World Systems Theory:

 

            At roughly what date do world systems theorists see the system developing?

            What are the “cores” and what role do they play in the global system?

            What are the “peripheries” and what role do they play in the system?

            What are the “semi-peripheries?”

 

Colonization:

 

            What is the definition of Colonization?

            What is the periodization of colonization or what periods is the phenomenon broken into and what are the characteristics of each period? (For example, you should be able to describe the 19th century as the era of British dominance in the global system and their goal of pushing Free Trade through peaceful and not so peaceful means – Opium Wars)

            What are the types of colonies (Exploitation, Settlement, and Maritime) and be able to provide examples of each kind and differences among those in each category.

            How did colonization impact the economic life of the colonies (monocultural production, for example)?

            How did colonization impact the social and political structures of the colonies?

            What is decolonization? When did it happen? What were  some of the factors that led to this phenomenon?

            What is “informal” colonization or imperialism?

            What is the “Global Division of Labor?” Provide some examples to highlight how it is integrated under one global system.

 

Global Environment:

 

            Define and describe the formula I=PxTxA – what does each letter stand for and how does this formula describe the environmental impact?

            How did the integration of the global system impact the global environment? (describe some of the current problems as well as people’s diets (potatoes),   monocultural       production, etc.)

            How did imperialism/colonialism impact the environment of the colonies?

            Causes of ecological destruction in the former Soviet Union and how this related to the World System.   

 

Engels: 

 

            You should be able to describe the fundamental causes of capitalist economic crises as outlined by Engels      

 

Guatemala presentation:

 

            Have an understanding of Liberation Theology and when it emerged and the goals of Liberation Theologians.

            You should be able to discuss how the Mayan situation compares to the general history of colonization that we studied in the class.

            You should be able to explain the United States’ role in the country and its history of the past 50 years.
 

 

There will also be a map portion (blank map) where you will have to identify certain countries. You should be able to identify: Guatemala, the Caribbean, Congo, India, Indonesia, Algeria, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and China)

 

Extra credit: There will be a couple of extra credit questions that are based on current global developments.