Question 1

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is related to the modern-day practice of cost-benefit analysis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Which of the following best captures the meaning of the phrase "other things being equal" in the claim that one state of affairs is better than another, other things being equal?

Accepted Answer

A)  That except for the differences identified in describing the two states of affairs, the states of affairs do not differ in any relevant ways. 
B)  That except for the differences identified in describing the two states of affairs, the states of the affairs do not differ at all. 
C)  That except for the normative difference between the two states of affairs, there are no descriptive differences between them. 
D)  That except for the descriptive differences between the two states of affairs, there are no normative differences between them. 
A)  That except for the differences identified in describing the two states of affairs, the states of affairs do not differ in any relevant ways. 
B)  That except for the differences identified in describing the two states of affairs, the states of the affairs do not differ at all. 
C)  That except for the normative difference between the two states of affairs, there are no descriptive differences between them. 
D)  That except for the descriptive differences between the two states of affairs, there are no normative differences between them. A

Question 3

According to David Hume's PROPERTY argument, stealing is wrong because:

Accepted Answer

A)  The state of affairs in which people respect one another's property rights is better than the state of affairs in which people do not respect one another's property rights. 
B)  Stealing violates a universal obligation against harming others because taking another person's property is a way of harming that person. 
C)  Each act of stealing does more harm than good once you factor in the harm stealing does to the integrity of the person who steals. 
D)  Most acts of stealing do more harm than good once you factor in the psychological harm that stealing does to the victim. 
A)  The state of affairs in which people respect one another's property rights is better than the state of affairs in which people do not respect one another's property rights. 
B)  Stealing violates a universal obligation against harming others because taking another person's property is a way of harming that person. 
C)  Each act of stealing does more harm than good once you factor in the harm stealing does to the integrity of the person who steals. 
D)  Most acts of stealing do more harm than good once you factor in the psychological harm that stealing does to the victim. A

Question 4

The concept of expected value is useful in reasoning about consequences because:

Accepted Answer

A)  It gives you a way to compare the consequences of different actions when you aren't sure what the consequences of the actions will be. 
B)  It is more mathematically precise than other ways of comparing consequences. 
C)  It forces you to convert all consequences into a dollar value, which makes them easy to compare and understand. 
D)  It is the only way to compare consequences of different kinds, as in Dan Brock's HUMAN CLONING argument. 
A)  It gives you a way to compare the consequences of different actions when you aren't sure what the consequences of the actions will be. 
B)  It is more mathematically precise than other ways of comparing consequences. 
C)  It forces you to convert all consequences into a dollar value, which makes them easy to compare and understand. 
D)  It is the only way to compare consequences of different kinds, as in Dan Brock's HUMAN CLONING argument.

Question 5

The expected value of a risky bet is the amount of money that you should expect to win or lose if you make that bet once.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Why do many moral arguments involving consequences include an "other things being equal" clause?

Accepted Answer

Many moral arguments involving consequen

Question 7

Give an example of a slippery slope argument. Does that argument commit the slippery slope fallacy? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

An example of a slippery slope argument

Question 8

A good slippery slope argument includes three things: a clearly identified "first step" that ought to be avoided, an explanation of why that "first step" is bad or wrong, and a plausible analogy with another unacceptable or unwise action.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

In your own words, explain the idea of expected value. How is the idea of expected value used in reasoning about consequences?

Accepted Answer

Expected value is a concept used in prob

Question 10

How can asking which rules have the best consequences lead to different moral conclusions than asking which actions have the best consequences?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because rules help people decide what to do when it's unclear what actions will have the best consequences, thereby helping them avoid mistakes. 
B)  Because rules can change people's incentives and expectations, thereby changing their behavior. 
C)  Both (a) and (b). 
D)  Neither (a) nor (b). 
A)  Because rules help people decide what to do when it's unclear what actions will have the best consequences, thereby helping them avoid mistakes. 
B)  Because rules can change people's incentives and expectations, thereby changing their behavior. 
C)  Both (a) and (b). 
D)  Neither (a) nor (b).

Question 11

In your own words, explain the idea of a deontological constraint. Give an example of a deontological constraint.

Accepted Answer

Deontological constraints are moral prin

Question 12

When comparing two states of affairs, arguments often include an "other things being equal" clause to specify that the two states of affairs do not differ at all.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

In your own words, explain David Hume's PROPERTY argument.

Accepted Answer

David Hume's PROPERTY argument is a phil

Question 14

What is a state of affairs, as defined in Chapter 4?

Accepted Answer

A)  The way the world is. 
B)  A way the world could be. 
C)  A government policy. 
D)  An evaluation of some event. 
A)  The way the world is. 
B)  A way the world could be. 
C)  A government policy. 
D)  An evaluation of some event.

Question 15

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument shows that torture is generally permissible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following arguments involves a deontological constraint?

Accepted Answer

A)  The kidnapper would suffer more from being tortured than the victim will suffer from waiting longer to be rescued. Therefore, the police shouldn't torture the kidnapper. 
B)  Torturing the kidnapper could save his victim, but it violates the police officer's obligation not to break the law. Therefore, the police officer shouldn't torture the kidnapper. 
C)  Stealing this loaf of bread would help feed my starving family, but if I get caught, my family would definitely starve. Therefore, I shouldn't steal this load of bread. 
D)  Stealing this loaf of bread would help feed my starving family, and the baker probably won't even realize that it's missing. Therefore, I should steal this loaf of bread. 
A)  The kidnapper would suffer more from being tortured than the victim will suffer from waiting longer to be rescued. Therefore, the police shouldn't torture the kidnapper. 
B)  Torturing the kidnapper could save his victim, but it violates the police officer's obligation not to break the law. Therefore, the police officer shouldn't torture the kidnapper. 
C)  Stealing this loaf of bread would help feed my starving family, but if I get caught, my family would definitely starve. Therefore, I shouldn't steal this load of bread. 
D)  Stealing this loaf of bread would help feed my starving family, and the baker probably won't even realize that it's missing. Therefore, I should steal this loaf of bread.

Question 17

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument is only meant to show that torture might be permissible in an extremely unusual scenario, not that it is permissible in the kinds of cases that interrogators usually encounter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Briefly explain Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument in your own words. Why does Shue believe that we cannot draw general lessons about torture from this argument?

Accepted Answer

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument

Question 19

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is:

Accepted Answer

A)  A way to calculate the expected value of an action's possible consequences. 
B)  A way to measure and compare the various consequences of an action. 
C)  A way to calculate how happy someone is. 
D)  A way to compare one person's happiness to another person's happiness. 
A)  A way to calculate the expected value of an action's possible consequences. 
B)  A way to measure and compare the various consequences of an action. 
C)  A way to calculate how happy someone is. 
D)  A way to compare one person's happiness to another person's happiness.

Question 20

Why, in constructing his TICKING TIME BOMB argument, does Henry Shue describe a case that even he regards as unrealistic?

Accepted Answer

A)  Shue wants to show that although the consequences of torture could conceivably make torture permissible in some circumstances, those circumstances would have to be unrealistic. 
B)  Shue believes that such extreme cases bring out strong reactions that help us see our truest moral convictions. 
C)  Shue is simply trying to be dramatic to make his topic interesting. 
D)  Shue wants to establish that torture is permissible in principle as a way of arguing that it is permissible in less extreme cases. 
A)  Shue wants to show that although the consequences of torture could conceivably make torture permissible in some circumstances, those circumstances would have to be unrealistic. 
B)  Shue believes that such extreme cases bring out strong reactions that help us see our truest moral convictions. 
C)  Shue is simply trying to be dramatic to make his topic interesting. 
D)  Shue wants to establish that torture is permissible in principle as a way of arguing that it is permissible in less extreme cases.

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is related to the modern-day practice of cost-benefit analysis.

Which of the following best captures the meaning of the phrase "other things being equal" in the claim that one state of affairs is better than another, other things being equal?

According to David Hume's PROPERTY argument, stealing is wrong because:

The concept of expected value is useful in reasoning about consequences because:

The expected value of a risky bet is the amount of money that you should expect to win or lose if you make that bet once.

Why do many moral arguments involving consequences include an "other things being equal" clause?

Give an example of a slippery slope argument. Does that argument commit the slippery slope fallacy? Why or why not?

A good slippery slope argument includes three things: a clearly identified "first step" that ought to be avoided, an explanation of why that "first step" is bad or wrong, and a plausible analogy with another unacceptable or unwise action.

In your own words, explain the idea of expected value. How is the idea of expected value used in reasoning about consequences?

How can asking which rules have the best consequences lead to different moral conclusions than asking which actions have the best consequences?

In your own words, explain the idea of a deontological constraint. Give an example of a deontological constraint.

When comparing two states of affairs, arguments often include an "other things being equal" clause to specify that the two states of affairs do not differ at all.

In your own words, explain David Hume's PROPERTY argument.

What is a state of affairs, as defined in Chapter 4?

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument shows that torture is generally permissible.

Which of the following arguments involves a deontological constraint?

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument is only meant to show that torture might be permissible in an extremely unusual scenario, not that it is permissible in the kinds of cases that interrogators usually encounter.

Briefly explain Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument in your own words. Why does Shue believe that we cannot draw general lessons about torture from this argument?

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is:

Why, in constructing his TICKING TIME BOMB argument, does Henry Shue describe a case that even he regards as unrealistic?

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

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Exam 4: Reasoning About Consequences

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is related to the modern-day practice of cost-benefit analysis.

Which of the following best captures the meaning of the phrase "other things being equal" in the claim that one state of affairs is better than another, other things being equal?

According to David Hume's PROPERTY argument, stealing is wrong because:

The concept of expected value is useful in reasoning about consequences because:

The expected value of a risky bet is the amount of money that you should expect to win or lose if you make that bet once.

Why do many moral arguments involving consequences include an "other things being equal" clause?

Give an example of a slippery slope argument. Does that argument commit the slippery slope fallacy? Why or why not?

A good slippery slope argument includes three things: a clearly identified "first step" that ought to be avoided, an explanation of why that "first step" is bad or wrong, and a plausible analogy with another unacceptable or unwise action.

In your own words, explain the idea of expected value. How is the idea of expected value used in reasoning about consequences?

How can asking which rules have the best consequences lead to different moral conclusions than asking which actions have the best consequences?

In your own words, explain the idea of a deontological constraint. Give an example of a deontological constraint.

When comparing two states of affairs, arguments often include an "other things being equal" clause to specify that the two states of affairs do not differ at all.

In your own words, explain David Hume's PROPERTY argument.

What is a state of affairs, as defined in Chapter 4?

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument shows that torture is generally permissible.

Which of the following arguments involves a deontological constraint?

Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument is only meant to show that torture might be permissible in an extremely unusual scenario, not that it is permissible in the kinds of cases that interrogators usually encounter.

Briefly explain Henry Shue's TICKING TIME BOMB argument in your own words. Why does Shue believe that we cannot draw general lessons about torture from this argument?

Jeremy Bentham's felicific calculus is:

Why, in constructing his TICKING TIME BOMB argument, does Henry Shue describe a case that even he regards as unrealistic?

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

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