Question 1

Why, according, to Metz, is it wrong to argue against capital punishment on the grounds of potential miscarriages of justice?

Accepted Answer

A)  The empirical evidence that miscarriages of justice frequently occur is ambiguous and inconclusive. 
B)  The execution of the innocent can still be justified on the basis of the death penalty's overall deterrent value. 
C)  Miscarriages of justice are inherent to any form of punishment and are not unique to the death penalty. 
D)  This would wrongly entail that just cases of the use of deadly force for defensive purposes would be unjustified. 
A)  The empirical evidence that miscarriages of justice frequently occur is ambiguous and inconclusive. 
B)  The execution of the innocent can still be justified on the basis of the death penalty's overall deterrent value. 
C)  Miscarriages of justice are inherent to any form of punishment and are not unique to the death penalty. 
D)  This would wrongly entail that just cases of the use of deadly force for defensive purposes would be unjustified.

Question 2

Singer thinks that giving money to famine relief is not a supererogatory act or an act that is good to do but not wrong not to do.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

On what does Wiredu base his claims about African morality?

Accepted Answer

A)  His knowledge of his native Akan culture. 
B)  Anthropological studies of cultures across sub-Saharan African. 
C)  Folk sayings from the cultures of West Africa. 
D)  A long tradition of philosophical debate among Akan scholars. 
A)  His knowledge of his native Akan culture. 
B)  Anthropological studies of cultures across sub-Saharan African. 
C)  Folk sayings from the cultures of West Africa. 
D)  A long tradition of philosophical debate among Akan scholars.

Question 4

What is the concept of ubuntu, as Metz explains it in "African Values and Capital Punishment"? What is wrong with existing arguments against the death penalty based on ubuntu?

Accepted Answer

In "African Values and Capital Punishmen

Question 5

What is the difference between something's having a price and something's having a dignity, according to Kant? What has dignity?

Accepted Answer

According to Kant, the difference betwee

Question 6

Which of the following is a key premise in van dan Haag's argument for the conclusion that miscarriages of justice do not undermine the morality of the death penalty?

Accepted Answer

A)  The system of mandatory appeals that exists for death sentences makes the execution of the innocent highly unlikely in reality. 
B)  The moral benefits of doing justice via the death penalty outweigh the unintended consequence of executing the innocent. 
C)  Although unfortunate, the possible execution of the innocent is a necessary cost of deterring future violent criminals. 
D)  It is far worse to allow an innocent person to spend his or her natural life in prison than to execute him or her in error. 
A)  The system of mandatory appeals that exists for death sentences makes the execution of the innocent highly unlikely in reality. 
B)  The moral benefits of doing justice via the death penalty outweigh the unintended consequence of executing the innocent. 
C)  Although unfortunate, the possible execution of the innocent is a necessary cost of deterring future violent criminals. 
D)  It is far worse to allow an innocent person to spend his or her natural life in prison than to execute him or her in error.

Question 7

Estes argues that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Sadomasochism always results in disrespectful sexual encounters because sexual activity should result in pleasure and not involve any pain. 
B)  Casual sex is unlikely to violate the criteria for mutually respectful sex because it is not as serious as sex with partners with whom one is in a long-term relationship. 
C)  We should insist on direct, explicit, and specific communication when having casual sex because there is more risk of miscommunication that could undermine mutually respectful sex. 
D)  Casual sex will violate the criteria for mutually respectful sex because it involves irreconcilable sexual expectations and goals as a result of subtle and implicit communications about consent. 
A)  Sadomasochism always results in disrespectful sexual encounters because sexual activity should result in pleasure and not involve any pain. 
B)  Casual sex is unlikely to violate the criteria for mutually respectful sex because it is not as serious as sex with partners with whom one is in a long-term relationship. 
C)  We should insist on direct, explicit, and specific communication when having casual sex because there is more risk of miscommunication that could undermine mutually respectful sex. 
D)  Casual sex will violate the criteria for mutually respectful sex because it involves irreconcilable sexual expectations and goals as a result of subtle and implicit communications about consent.

Question 8

Which of the following best captures Nell's main argument for the claim that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nell argues that famine deaths violate people's right not to be killed unjustifiably even when they are the result of the actions of many, not immediate, uncertain, and unintended. 
B)  Nell argues that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths because they are the intended consequences of our government's policies. 
C)  Nell argues that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths because we have a general duty to maximize happiness and minimize pain. 
D)  Nell argues that famine deaths kill people unjustifiably and are not similar to cases of self-defense or unavoidable deaths. 
A)  Nell argues that famine deaths violate people's right not to be killed unjustifiably even when they are the result of the actions of many, not immediate, uncertain, and unintended. 
B)  Nell argues that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths because they are the intended consequences of our government's policies. 
C)  Nell argues that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths because we have a general duty to maximize happiness and minimize pain. 
D)  Nell argues that famine deaths kill people unjustifiably and are not similar to cases of self-defense or unavoidable deaths.

Question 9

Strawser believes that most of the recent uses of uninhabited aerial vehicles (as of the time he wrote his paper) were morally permissible.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Norcross argues that animals should not be raised for consumption because it would outrage human sensibilities if we were trained to respond to their suffering in a particular way.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Rachels argues that a doctor who gives a patient a lethal injection for humane reasons is morally on par with a doctor who allows a patient to die for humane reasons.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Of the following four claims, exactly three summarize key claims of care ethics. Which of the following does NOT summarize one of Collins's "four key claims of care ethics?"

Accepted Answer

A)  People have strong moral reasons to promote and preserve valuable relationships, which can generate especially weighty moral duties. 
B)  People should act out of a motivation to satisfy the interests and (especially) the needs of people with whom they have or could have important relationships. 
C)  People should adopt caring attitudes toward people with whom they have personal relationships, even if those people do not themselves having caring attitudes. 
D)  When deliberating about what to do, people should rely heavily on sympathy and careful attention to the details of the situation. 
A)  People have strong moral reasons to promote and preserve valuable relationships, which can generate especially weighty moral duties. 
B)  People should act out of a motivation to satisfy the interests and (especially) the needs of people with whom they have or could have important relationships. 
C)  People should adopt caring attitudes toward people with whom they have personal relationships, even if those people do not themselves having caring attitudes. 
D)  When deliberating about what to do, people should rely heavily on sympathy and careful attention to the details of the situation.

Question 13

What is a categorical imperative?

Accepted Answer

A)  The specific principle on which someone acts, containing both their goal and their motivation. 
B)  The specific principle explaining why someone acts, whether that is from duty, immediate inclination, or selfish advantage. 
C)  A principle that tells people what to do independent of the particular goals and inclinations they have. 
D)  A principle that tells people what to do to achieve some specific goal or end. 
A)  The specific principle on which someone acts, containing both their goal and their motivation. 
B)  The specific principle explaining why someone acts, whether that is from duty, immediate inclination, or selfish advantage. 
C)  A principle that tells people what to do independent of the particular goals and inclinations they have. 
D)  A principle that tells people what to do to achieve some specific goal or end.

Question 14

What argument does Collins give for thinking that caring attitudes are important in themselves?

Accepted Answer

A)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that the son's action has greater value because of the son's attitude. 
B)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, the son is more likely to take the old man's needs seriously. 
C)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that both are equally valuable as long as they meet the old man's needs equally well. 
D)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that the social worker is more likely to fulfill the man's needs, since she is a professional caretaker. 
A)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that the son's action has greater value because of the son's attitude. 
B)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, the son is more likely to take the old man's needs seriously. 
C)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that both are equally valuable as long as they meet the old man's needs equally well. 
D)  When comparing a son who looks after his elderly father out of love with a social worker who looks after the man for a paycheck, she notes that the social worker is more likely to fulfill the man's needs, since she is a professional caretaker.

Question 15

Liu argues that we should not intentionally deny fair consideration to anyone whom we are already considering for appraisal or appreciation respect, and we should not consistently deny such consideration to someone we have encountered multiple times in our lives.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following best captures Garcia's main argument for why preferential treatment in affirmative action need not be racist?

Accepted Answer

A)  Discrimination on the basis of race is not equivalent to discrimination against people because of racial disregard. 
B)  Preferential treatment treats all races equally by trying to level out the playing field between whites and people of color. 
C)  Preferential treatment in affirmative action is positive, and only preferential treatment in negative action can be racist. 
D)  Although preferential treatment in affirmative action benefits one group over another group, it does not take race into account. 
A)  Discrimination on the basis of race is not equivalent to discrimination against people because of racial disregard. 
B)  Preferential treatment treats all races equally by trying to level out the playing field between whites and people of color. 
C)  Preferential treatment in affirmative action is positive, and only preferential treatment in negative action can be racist. 
D)  Although preferential treatment in affirmative action benefits one group over another group, it does not take race into account.

Question 17

Which of the following best captures the procedure that Bentham describes for calculating the total amount of pleasure or pain produced by an action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Calculate the intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent of the action for each person affected by it and then subtract the total amount of pain produced by the action. 
B)  For each person affected by the action, calculate the value of all of the pleasures the action will cause for that person in the long run and subtract the value of all of the pains it will cause for that person in the long run, and then add up the resulting values from each person affected. 
C)  Calculate how much pleasure the action will cause for the person performing it, including both immediate pleasures and pleasures that will occur later, and then subtract from that the total amount of pain that the action will cause for the person performing it, including both immediate pains and pains that will occur later. 
D)  For each person affected by the action, calculate the value of the pleasures that will be produced immediately, ignoring uncertain or distant pleasures, as well as the value of the pains that will be produced immediately, ignoring uncertain or distant pains, and then add up the resulting values from each person affected. 
A)  Calculate the intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent of the action for each person affected by it and then subtract the total amount of pain produced by the action. 
B)  For each person affected by the action, calculate the value of all of the pleasures the action will cause for that person in the long run and subtract the value of all of the pains it will cause for that person in the long run, and then add up the resulting values from each person affected. 
C)  Calculate how much pleasure the action will cause for the person performing it, including both immediate pleasures and pleasures that will occur later, and then subtract from that the total amount of pain that the action will cause for the person performing it, including both immediate pains and pains that will occur later. 
D)  For each person affected by the action, calculate the value of the pleasures that will be produced immediately, ignoring uncertain or distant pleasures, as well as the value of the pains that will be produced immediately, ignoring uncertain or distant pains, and then add up the resulting values from each person affected.

Question 18

According to Singer, a speciesist is someone who gives greater consideration to the interests of his or her own species and no or less consideration to the interests of other species.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Assume that Estes is correct that many seemingly innocuous activities could violate the criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire, while many seemingly harmful activities could satisfy them. Which of the following could you infer from that claim?

Accepted Answer

A)  Conventional norms of sex do not necessarily guarantee mutually respectful sex, and each sexual interaction should be individually evaluated to see whether and how it can meet the criteria of mutually respectful sex. 
B)  Some forms of sexual activity are inherently safe and ensure fulfillment of criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire. 
C)  Communication about voluntary participation does not need to be explicit to cause sexual partners to have a reasonable conscientious belief that reciprocal consent and desire exist. 
D)  Using drugs to enhance or alter sexual stimulation is always harmful and violates the criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire. 
A)  Conventional norms of sex do not necessarily guarantee mutually respectful sex, and each sexual interaction should be individually evaluated to see whether and how it can meet the criteria of mutually respectful sex. 
B)  Some forms of sexual activity are inherently safe and ensure fulfillment of criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire. 
C)  Communication about voluntary participation does not need to be explicit to cause sexual partners to have a reasonable conscientious belief that reciprocal consent and desire exist. 
D)  Using drugs to enhance or alter sexual stimulation is always harmful and violates the criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire.

Question 20

Under what conditions might Singer think that the human use of nonhuman animals for scientific experimentation might be morally justified? Identify a type of experiment on animals that would not violate the principle of equality and compare that hypothetical experiment to the experiments he describes.

Accepted Answer

Singer might think that the human use of

Why, according, to Metz, is it wrong to argue against capital punishment on the grounds of potential miscarriages of justice?

Singer thinks that giving money to famine relief is not a supererogatory act or an act that is good to do but not wrong not to do.

On what does Wiredu base his claims about African morality?

What is the concept of ubuntu, as Metz explains it in "African Values and Capital Punishment"? What is wrong with existing arguments against the death penalty based on ubuntu?

What is the difference between something's having a price and something's having a dignity, according to Kant? What has dignity?

Which of the following is a key premise in van dan Haag's argument for the conclusion that miscarriages of justice do not undermine the morality of the death penalty?

Estes argues that:

Which of the following best captures Nell's main argument for the claim that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths?

Strawser believes that most of the recent uses of uninhabited aerial vehicles (as of the time he wrote his paper) were morally permissible.

Norcross argues that animals should not be raised for consumption because it would outrage human sensibilities if we were trained to respond to their suffering in a particular way.

Rachels argues that a doctor who gives a patient a lethal injection for humane reasons is morally on par with a doctor who allows a patient to die for humane reasons.

Of the following four claims, exactly three summarize key claims of care ethics. Which of the following does NOT summarize one of Collins's "four key claims of care ethics?"

What is a categorical imperative?

What argument does Collins give for thinking that caring attitudes are important in themselves?

Liu argues that we should not intentionally deny fair consideration to anyone whom we are already considering for appraisal or appreciation respect, and we should not consistently deny such consideration to someone we have encountered multiple times in our lives.

Which of the following best captures Garcia's main argument for why preferential treatment in affirmative action need not be racist?

Which of the following best captures the procedure that Bentham describes for calculating the total amount of pleasure or pain produced by an action?

According to Singer, a speciesist is someone who gives greater consideration to the interests of his or her own species and no or less consideration to the interests of other species.

Assume that Estes is correct that many seemingly innocuous activities could violate the criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire, while many seemingly harmful activities could satisfy them. Which of the following could you infer from that claim?

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

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

Filters

Exam 13: Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

Why, according, to Metz, is it wrong to argue against capital punishment on the grounds of potential miscarriages of justice?

Singer thinks that giving money to famine relief is not a supererogatory act or an act that is good to do but not wrong not to do.

On what does Wiredu base his claims about African morality?

What is the concept of ubuntu, as Metz explains it in "African Values and Capital Punishment"? What is wrong with existing arguments against the death penalty based on ubuntu?

What is the difference between something's having a price and something's having a dignity, according to Kant? What has dignity?

Which of the following is a key premise in van dan Haag's argument for the conclusion that miscarriages of justice do not undermine the morality of the death penalty?

Estes argues that:

Which of the following best captures Nell's main argument for the claim that we have a duty to prevent famine deaths?

Strawser believes that most of the recent uses of uninhabited aerial vehicles (as of the time he wrote his paper) were morally permissible.

Norcross argues that animals should not be raised for consumption because it would outrage human sensibilities if we were trained to respond to their suffering in a particular way.

Rachels argues that a doctor who gives a patient a lethal injection for humane reasons is morally on par with a doctor who allows a patient to die for humane reasons.

Of the following four claims, exactly three summarize key claims of care ethics. Which of the following does NOT summarize one of Collins's "four key claims of care ethics?"

What is a categorical imperative?

What argument does Collins give for thinking that caring attitudes are important in themselves?

Liu argues that we should not intentionally deny fair consideration to anyone whom we are already considering for appraisal or appreciation respect, and we should not consistently deny such consideration to someone we have encountered multiple times in our lives.

Which of the following best captures Garcia's main argument for why preferential treatment in affirmative action need not be racist?

Which of the following best captures the procedure that Bentham describes for calculating the total amount of pleasure or pain produced by an action?

According to Singer, a speciesist is someone who gives greater consideration to the interests of his or her own species and no or less consideration to the interests of other species.

Assume that Estes is correct that many seemingly innocuous activities could violate the criteria of reciprocal consent, concern, and desire, while many seemingly harmful activities could satisfy them. Which of the following could you infer from that claim?

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

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

Filters