Question 1

What role does the claim that genetic humanity is not sufficient for personhood play in Warren's paper?

Accepted Answer

A)  It allows Warren to claim that some persons (e.g., aliens) are not humans. 
B)  It allows Warren to claim that some humans (e.g., fetuses) are not persons. 
C)  Warren uses this claim to argue that fetuses lack consciousness. 
D)  Warren argues against this claim. 
A)  It allows Warren to claim that some persons (e.g., aliens) are not humans. 
B)  It allows Warren to claim that some humans (e.g., fetuses) are not persons. 
C)  Warren uses this claim to argue that fetuses lack consciousness. 
D)  Warren argues against this claim.

Question 2

In your own words, state Rachels's main conclusion about the "conventional doctrine" regarding active and passive euthanasia. Summarize his main argument for this conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Rachels's main conclusion about the "con

Question 3

What is the point of Mencius's analogy between water and human nature in 6A1?

Accepted Answer

A)  That, as with water, just because humans can be forced to behave in a certain way does not mean they are naturally like that. 
B)  That, just as water naturally flows downhill, so humans' virtue naturally declines unless it is protected through study and reflection. 
C)  That, just as water will flow whichever way it is channeled, human nature can be changed by different customs and behaviors. 
D)  That, as with water, humans will always find a way to reveal their true nature eventually. 
A)  That, as with water, just because humans can be forced to behave in a certain way does not mean they are naturally like that. 
B)  That, just as water naturally flows downhill, so humans' virtue naturally declines unless it is protected through study and reflection. 
C)  That, just as water will flow whichever way it is channeled, human nature can be changed by different customs and behaviors. 
D)  That, as with water, humans will always find a way to reveal their true nature eventually.

Question 4

What role do pleasure and pain play in human psychology, according to Bentham?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are one of several factors that guide our decision making. 
B)  They determine everything that humans do. 
C)  They are caused by our choices but do not guide our choices. 
D)  They determine our preferences but not our actions. 
A)  They are one of several factors that guide our decision making. 
B)  They determine everything that humans do. 
C)  They are caused by our choices but do not guide our choices. 
D)  They determine our preferences but not our actions.

Question 5

Why does Sinnott-Armstrong reject the principle that it is wrong to perform an action if it would make things worse if everyone were to perform that action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because that principle is a misinterpretation of the universalizability criterion. 
B)  Because that principle does not show that individuals should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 
C)  Because that principle prohibits some clearly permissible actions, such as refraining from having children. 
D)  Because that principle requires some clearly forbidden actions, such as preventing other people from having too many children. 
A)  Because that principle is a misinterpretation of the universalizability criterion. 
B)  Because that principle does not show that individuals should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 
C)  Because that principle prohibits some clearly permissible actions, such as refraining from having children. 
D)  Because that principle requires some clearly forbidden actions, such as preventing other people from having too many children.

Question 6

Marquis's purpose in "Why Abortion Is Immoral" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  To undermine the general belief that the antiabortion position is correct. 
B)  To undermine the general belief that the antiabortion position relies on religion or confused argument. 
C)  To undermine Warren's claim that a fetus is not a person. 
D)  To explain why philosophers arrive at a standoff in the debate over abortion. 
A)  To undermine the general belief that the antiabortion position is correct. 
B)  To undermine the general belief that the antiabortion position relies on religion or confused argument. 
C)  To undermine Warren's claim that a fetus is not a person. 
D)  To explain why philosophers arrive at a standoff in the debate over abortion.

Question 7

According to Bentham, we should base all of our decisions about what to do on pleasure and pain.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following would count as an objection to Warren's argument that abortion is morally permissible?

Accepted Answer

A)  Human fetuses satisfy the criteria for personhood. Therefore, they have full and equal moral rights, including the right to life. 
B)  One's body is one's property. The fetus's body is its property. So, abortion is morally wrong since it involves destroying another human's property. 
C)  There is no evidence that nonhuman persons exist. Until there is, we should treat genetic humanity and the moral community as the same thing. It follows that human fetuses are members of the moral community. And it is therefore wrong to kill them. 
D)  The criterion for humanity is to be conceived by human parents. Since fetuses are human in this sense, abortion is morally wrong. 
A)  Human fetuses satisfy the criteria for personhood. Therefore, they have full and equal moral rights, including the right to life. 
B)  One's body is one's property. The fetus's body is its property. So, abortion is morally wrong since it involves destroying another human's property. 
C)  There is no evidence that nonhuman persons exist. Until there is, we should treat genetic humanity and the moral community as the same thing. It follows that human fetuses are members of the moral community. And it is therefore wrong to kill them. 
D)  The criterion for humanity is to be conceived by human parents. Since fetuses are human in this sense, abortion is morally wrong.

Question 9

Abbate argues that the only defense for disobeying a lawful order is the protection of civilians.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Why, for Marquis, is it wrong to kill an adult human being? Can we say the same of killing a fetus? How, if at all, are the two cases different?

Accepted Answer

According to Marquis, it is wrong to kil

Question 11

What is Mencius's view of human nature? How does he use the example of the child about to fall down the well to argue for his view of human nature?

Accepted Answer

Mencius, a Chinese philosopher, believed

Question 12

Explain the traditional distinction between duty and charity and why Singer thinks that this distinction should be jettisoned.

Accepted Answer

The traditional distinction between duty

Question 13

What is Dougherty's main argument for his claim that it is wrong to deceive someone into sex by lying about run-of-the-mill personal features if such features would be a deal breaker for the victim of the deception?

Accepted Answer

A)  If one lies about a personal feature that is undesirable for the victim of the deception, then one is vitiating the victim's sexual consent, and having sex with someone while lacking his or her consent is seriously wrong. 
B)  If one lies about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception, then one is vitiating the victim's sexual consent, and having sex with someone while lacking his or her consent is seriously wrong. 
C)  Lying about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception is seriously wrong because it will cause serious harm to the victim. 
D)  Lying about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception is seriously wrong because one should always be explicitly honest about who one is to others. 
A)  If one lies about a personal feature that is undesirable for the victim of the deception, then one is vitiating the victim's sexual consent, and having sex with someone while lacking his or her consent is seriously wrong. 
B)  If one lies about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception, then one is vitiating the victim's sexual consent, and having sex with someone while lacking his or her consent is seriously wrong. 
C)  Lying about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception is seriously wrong because it will cause serious harm to the victim. 
D)  Lying about a personal feature that is a deal breaker for the victim of the deception is seriously wrong because one should always be explicitly honest about who one is to others.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a premise used by Nathanson to argue against equality retributivism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Individuals' moral deserts are determined purely by the nature of their actions. 
B)  Equality retributivism requires that barbaric actions be punished barbarically. 
C)  Equality retributivism offers no plausible guidance on how to punish many crimes. 
D)  Individuals should be punished based on their being deserving of the punishment. 
A)  Individuals' moral deserts are determined purely by the nature of their actions. 
B)  Equality retributivism requires that barbaric actions be punished barbarically. 
C)  Equality retributivism offers no plausible guidance on how to punish many crimes. 
D)  Individuals should be punished based on their being deserving of the punishment.

Question 15

Which of the following can we infer from Dougherty's claim that it is not always transparent to people whether they are giving their morally valid consent to a sexual encounter?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is possible that all parties to a sexual encounter think they are all validly consenting at the time of that encounter, but then later, after the sexual encounter, they discover that the valid consent of one of them was violated. 
B)  It is possible that all parties to a sexual encounter think they are all validly consenting at the time to that encounter, but then later, the law as an external third party judges that the valid consent of one of them was violated. 
C)  People are obligated to think beforehand about all of their deal breakers so that they can know whether having sex with others might break any of those deals. 
D)  People are obligated to disclose all of their deal breakers to their potential sexual partners so that their partners can know whether having sex with them involves any deception. 
A)  It is possible that all parties to a sexual encounter think they are all validly consenting at the time of that encounter, but then later, after the sexual encounter, they discover that the valid consent of one of them was violated. 
B)  It is possible that all parties to a sexual encounter think they are all validly consenting at the time to that encounter, but then later, the law as an external third party judges that the valid consent of one of them was violated. 
C)  People are obligated to think beforehand about all of their deal breakers so that they can know whether having sex with others might break any of those deals. 
D)  People are obligated to disclose all of their deal breakers to their potential sexual partners so that their partners can know whether having sex with them involves any deception.

Question 16

Why, according to Estes, do communications of consent, concern, and desire about sex not necessarily have to be direct, explicit, and specific?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is best that partners sign a legally binding contract to establish reciprocal consent, concern, and desire. 
B)  Explicit forms of communication can detract from the sexual or romantic nature of a sexual interaction. 
C)  Communications of consent, concern, and desire do not have to exist as long as partners love each other and are in a stable romantic relationship. 
D)  More subtle forms of communication can also lead to partners having reasonable conscientious belief that reciprocal consent, concern, and desire exist. 
A)  It is best that partners sign a legally binding contract to establish reciprocal consent, concern, and desire. 
B)  Explicit forms of communication can detract from the sexual or romantic nature of a sexual interaction. 
C)  Communications of consent, concern, and desire do not have to exist as long as partners love each other and are in a stable romantic relationship. 
D)  More subtle forms of communication can also lead to partners having reasonable conscientious belief that reciprocal consent, concern, and desire exist.

Question 17

According to Dougherty, sexual autonomy should not permit people to pursue their own conception of the sexual good since there is only one objectively correct conception of the sexual good.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

According to van den Haag, a punishment can be considered unjust to one individual if other individuals deserving of the punishment have escaped it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

According to Metz, one principal reason that the death penalty is immoral is because of the potential for executing the innocent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

According to McMahan, the best explanation of why it would be permissible to torture a terrorist in a ticking bomb scenario but not his or her innocent child is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Torturing the child would never be the comparative lesser of two evils. 
B)  Inflicting pain on a child can never be morally justified as an act type. 
C)  The child has done nothing to make him or herself liable to be tortured. 
D)  Child abuse is currently condemned by both domestic and international law. 
A)  Torturing the child would never be the comparative lesser of two evils. 
B)  Inflicting pain on a child can never be morally justified as an act type. 
C)  The child has done nothing to make him or herself liable to be tortured. 
D)  Child abuse is currently condemned by both domestic and international law.

What role does the claim that genetic humanity is not sufficient for personhood play in Warren's paper?

In your own words, state Rachels's main conclusion about the "conventional doctrine" regarding active and passive euthanasia. Summarize his main argument for this conclusion.

What is the point of Mencius's analogy between water and human nature in 6A1?

What role do pleasure and pain play in human psychology, according to Bentham?

Why does Sinnott-Armstrong reject the principle that it is wrong to perform an action if it would make things worse if everyone were to perform that action?

Marquis's purpose in "Why Abortion Is Immoral" is:

According to Bentham, we should base all of our decisions about what to do on pleasure and pain.

Which of the following would count as an objection to Warren's argument that abortion is morally permissible?

Abbate argues that the only defense for disobeying a lawful order is the protection of civilians.

Why, for Marquis, is it wrong to kill an adult human being? Can we say the same of killing a fetus? How, if at all, are the two cases different?

What is Mencius's view of human nature? How does he use the example of the child about to fall down the well to argue for his view of human nature?

Explain the traditional distinction between duty and charity and why Singer thinks that this distinction should be jettisoned.

What is Dougherty's main argument for his claim that it is wrong to deceive someone into sex by lying about run-of-the-mill personal features if such features would be a deal breaker for the victim of the deception?

Which of the following is NOT a premise used by Nathanson to argue against equality retributivism?

Which of the following can we infer from Dougherty's claim that it is not always transparent to people whether they are giving their morally valid consent to a sexual encounter?

Why, according to Estes, do communications of consent, concern, and desire about sex not necessarily have to be direct, explicit, and specific?

According to Dougherty, sexual autonomy should not permit people to pursue their own conception of the sexual good since there is only one objectively correct conception of the sexual good.

According to van den Haag, a punishment can be considered unjust to one individual if other individuals deserving of the punishment have escaped it.

According to Metz, one principal reason that the death penalty is immoral is because of the potential for executing the innocent.

According to McMahan, the best explanation of why it would be permissible to torture a terrorist in a ticking bomb scenario but not his or her innocent child is that:

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

What role does the claim that genetic humanity is not sufficient for personhood play in Warren's paper?

In your own words, state Rachels's main conclusion about the "conventional doctrine" regarding active and passive euthanasia. Summarize his main argument for this conclusion.

What is the point of Mencius's analogy between water and human nature in 6A1?

What role do pleasure and pain play in human psychology, according to Bentham?

Why does Sinnott-Armstrong reject the principle that it is wrong to perform an action if it would make things worse if everyone were to perform that action?

Marquis's purpose in "Why Abortion Is Immoral" is:

According to Bentham, we should base all of our decisions about what to do on pleasure and pain.

Which of the following would count as an objection to Warren's argument that abortion is morally permissible?

Abbate argues that the only defense for disobeying a lawful order is the protection of civilians.

Why, for Marquis, is it wrong to kill an adult human being? Can we say the same of killing a fetus? How, if at all, are the two cases different?

What is Mencius's view of human nature? How does he use the example of the child about to fall down the well to argue for his view of human nature?

Explain the traditional distinction between duty and charity and why Singer thinks that this distinction should be jettisoned.

What is Dougherty's main argument for his claim that it is wrong to deceive someone into sex by lying about run-of-the-mill personal features if such features would be a deal breaker for the victim of the deception?

Which of the following is NOT a premise used by Nathanson to argue against equality retributivism?

Which of the following can we infer from Dougherty's claim that it is not always transparent to people whether they are giving their morally valid consent to a sexual encounter?

Why, according to Estes, do communications of consent, concern, and desire about sex not necessarily have to be direct, explicit, and specific?

According to Dougherty, sexual autonomy should not permit people to pursue their own conception of the sexual good since there is only one objectively correct conception of the sexual good.

According to van den Haag, a punishment can be considered unjust to one individual if other individuals deserving of the punishment have escaped it.

According to Metz, one principal reason that the death penalty is immoral is because of the potential for executing the innocent.

According to McMahan, the best explanation of why it would be permissible to torture a terrorist in a ticking bomb scenario but not his or her innocent child is that:

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