Introduction to Ethics Essay Exam First part: Definitions of the Sources of Moral Value (25 points) Give precise definition of (5 points each) Ethical Relativism Ethical Egoism Objectivism Situationalism Fundamentalism   Second part: Essay (75 points) Write an essay in response to the following prompt using each of the definitions provided in the “First part” above. Think thoroughly through the relative advantages, disadvantages, and challenges that each viewpoint might face as they consider the scenario. Just as Plato did through his characters in The Republic, please imagine the viewpoints defined as real human beings engaged in the project of devising the most just society that would be consistent with their beliefs. You need to think about what understanding of “human nature” must be involved in the viewpoint each of these people have. In some cases, by virtue of the view itself, the society they imagine might need to encourage and enhance human nature or it might need to discourage and diminish human nature. Note this and explain why you think so as you move along in the paper. In the end, you may find yourself leaning towards acceptance of one view over the others or you may not, instead seeing some relative advantages to each view. The essay should be of sufficient length to demonstrate your understanding of the viewpoints. Note: this is not about your opinion. It is about what the definition guides you to see must be the viewpoint relative to creating a just society.

In the antebellum period, the “Old Northwest” became the leading producer of    a.  fresh fruits and vegetables.   b.  cotton.   c.  pork.   d.  dairy products.

The Rhode Island System   a.  employed whole families to work in textile mills.   b.  employed young women in their late teens and early twenties.   c.  banned the use of child workers in factories.   d.  relied on a workforce mainly consisting of former slaves.

What was not one of the primary reasons why people opposed the First and Second Banks of the United States?    a.  They printed too much money and triggered a substantial inflation.   b.  They had monopoly control over some banking activities.   c.  They were unconstitutional.   d.  They did not provide sufficiently generous lending policies.

In the antebellum period, the largest source of employment was   a.  the agricultural sector.   b.  the manufacturing sector.   c.  government (local, state and federal)   d.  the service industry.

A _________ is an agreement under which stockholders of several formerly-competing companies turn over their shares to a group that exercises voting control over the companies.   a.  trust   b.  gentleman’s agreement   c.  holding company   d.  pooling arrangement

“Automatic stabilizers” played a part in reducing the length and severity of the recession of 1953-54.  This term refers to   a.  deficit spending by the federal government.   b.  spending on education by local and state governments.   c.  programs like unemployment insurance and Social Security.   d.  actions by the Federal Reserve aimed at reducing interest rates.

“Economic exploitation” is measured by   a.  the sum of all input costs, both direct and indirect.   b.  the difference between the value of output a worker adds and what she receives.   c.  the difference between a monopoly’s profit and the profit of a competitive firm.   d.  the average wage of a skilled worker divided by the average wage of an unskilled worker.

Advertising to differentiate your product most often occurs in what type of industry?   a.  Industries that produce agricultural crops.   b.  Industries with monopolies.   c.  Industries with monopolistic competition.   d.  Perfectly competitive industries. 

Which of the following is most  accurate about Europe during World War I?   a.  Long-standing nationalistic and imperialistic rivalries produced a dangerous political situation.    b.  The continent had experienced several major wars in the preceding decades.    c.  Industrialization and a greater commitment to international trade had created rapidly rising standards of living.    d.  There was rising solidarity among the labor movements of different nations.