Difference Between Moral Realism & Moral Anti-Realism

Answer one of the following two questions. Your essay should be 6-7pp. in length (double-spaced, 12 point font). Make sure to answer every part of the question you choose and support your answer with textual evidence. Make sure to define all of the philosophical concepts that you use. It will take some time to adequately present these philosophical positions before you go on to criticize/defend them. To that end, essays should be (roughly) 80% descriptive and 20% evaluative. Do not simply state what a philosopher believes, but explain in detail why the philosopher believes what the philosopher believes. You may only use course materials (readings, notes, handouts) when writing your papers. Your papers will be assessed according to the attached rubric. Please pay careful attention to it when writing your papers.

 The course material is about two books.

<<Elementary of Moral Philosophy>>

<<Right Thing to Do>>

1. What is the difference between moral realism and moral anti-realism? Explain and provide reasons to accept one version of moral realism (i.e., moral naturalism or moral intuitionism) as well as one version of moral anti-realism (i.e., cultural relativism or divine command theory). What are the objections that the versions of moral realism and moral anti-realism you have discussed face? Defend one of these two views against the objections you raise.
2. Consider the following maxim: “When I need money that I cannot pay back, I make a lying promise to get it.” Test this maxim for moral permissibility by taking it through both formulations of the categorical imperative. Make sure to carefully explain each formulation of the categorical imperative when testing the maxim. According to act utilitarianism, would there be conditions under which making a lying promise is morally permissible? Explain the act utilitarian position using the three tenets of utilitarianism. Defend either the deontological or utilitarian position on the lying promise against possible objections (hint: consider other deontological or utilitarian positions you could use to avoid objections). Explain what is wrong with the position you reject.