Question 1

What is the difference between a moral agent and a moral patient? And why is rationality relevant to one but not the other?

Accepted Answer

A moral agent is a being who has the cap

Question 2

Dershowitz argues that opposition to nonlethal torture is based in part on the nonrational association of nonlethal torture with famous incidents of lethal torture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

According to Dershowitz, the rights of a torture subject would be better protected were there to be a legal procedure for torture, such as a torture warrant.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

According to Nell, the unavoidable deaths of those in underequipped lifeboats may be justifiable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following best defines McMahan's notion of a subjectively permissible action?

Accepted Answer

A)  An action that an individual correctly and justifiably believes to be objectively permissible. 
B)  An action that would be objectively permissible if the epistemically justified beliefs underlying the action were, in fact, true. 
C)  An action that is justified by an individual's personal code of conduct, but not by universal codes of morality. 
D)  An action that would be objectively permissible if the epistemically justified beliefs underlying the action were, in fact, false. 
A)  An action that an individual correctly and justifiably believes to be objectively permissible. 
B)  An action that would be objectively permissible if the epistemically justified beliefs underlying the action were, in fact, true. 
C)  An action that is justified by an individual's personal code of conduct, but not by universal codes of morality. 
D)  An action that would be objectively permissible if the epistemically justified beliefs underlying the action were, in fact, false.

Question 6

What role does the claim that it would be wrong to kill nonhumans who have futures like ours play in Marquis's argument?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is entailed by his theory about what makes killing a human being wrong. 
B)  It is entailed by his distinction between fetuses and adults. 
C)  It is entailed by his distinction between human beings and persons. 
D)  It is presupposed by his theory about what makes killing a human being wrong. 
A)  It is entailed by his theory about what makes killing a human being wrong. 
B)  It is entailed by his distinction between fetuses and adults. 
C)  It is entailed by his distinction between human beings and persons. 
D)  It is presupposed by his theory about what makes killing a human being wrong.

Question 7

Thomson argues that only some but not all persons have the right to life.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which Kant expresses the categorical imperative in the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals?

Accepted Answer

A)  Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. 
B)  Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means. 
C)  Act only according to subjective principles whose universalized consequences are compatible with your ends themselves. 
D)  All maxims proceeding from a person's own legislation ought to harmonize with a possible kingdom of ends. 
A)  Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. 
B)  Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means. 
C)  Act only according to subjective principles whose universalized consequences are compatible with your ends themselves. 
D)  All maxims proceeding from a person's own legislation ought to harmonize with a possible kingdom of ends.

Question 9

Which of the following best explains, according to Metz, the justification for killing in defense of oneself or others?

Accepted Answer

A)  Aggressors, having degraded themselves by their actions, would not be deprived of dignity by the killing. 
B)  Killing in such cases is behaving in an unfriendly manner that is proportional to the aggressor's own unfriendliness. 
C)  Killing in defense, unlike the death penalty, has significant consequentialist benefits for the community at large. 
D)  The individual who kills in defense of self or others does not have impermissibly disrespectful intentions. 
A)  Aggressors, having degraded themselves by their actions, would not be deprived of dignity by the killing. 
B)  Killing in such cases is behaving in an unfriendly manner that is proportional to the aggressor's own unfriendliness. 
C)  Killing in defense, unlike the death penalty, has significant consequentialist benefits for the community at large. 
D)  The individual who kills in defense of self or others does not have impermissibly disrespectful intentions.

Question 10

Eaton argues that seeing pornography as one salient component in a more complex causal story does not fit with current legal practice in tort law determining liability for injury.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Mencius thinks that the story of King Xuan and the ox shows that King Xuan can never become virtuous because he does not understand ritual.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

What, according to Rachels, is most responsible for the widespread belief that killing is inherently morally worse than merely allowing one to die?

Accepted Answer

A)  The belief that death is a great evil that should always be avoided as long as possible. 
B)  The fact that aside from euthanasia, most cases of killing are more reprehensible than most cases of letting die. 
C)  The belief that being allowed to die is generally less painful to the subject than being killed. 
D)  The fact that killing involves an unnatural means of causing an individual's death, whereas allowing one to die does not. 
A)  The belief that death is a great evil that should always be avoided as long as possible. 
B)  The fact that aside from euthanasia, most cases of killing are more reprehensible than most cases of letting die. 
C)  The belief that being allowed to die is generally less painful to the subject than being killed. 
D)  The fact that killing involves an unnatural means of causing an individual's death, whereas allowing one to die does not.

Question 13

What is the Akan view of marriage and having children?

Accepted Answer

A)  Marriage and procreation are generally seen as social obligations. 
B)  Marriage is regarded as central to developing a social identity, but procreation is regarded as optional. 
C)  The Akan support both marriage and having children but do not regard the two as closely connected. 
D)  The Akan reserve marriage and having children only for those who have achieved sufficient ethical maturity. 
A)  Marriage and procreation are generally seen as social obligations. 
B)  Marriage is regarded as central to developing a social identity, but procreation is regarded as optional. 
C)  The Akan support both marriage and having children but do not regard the two as closely connected. 
D)  The Akan reserve marriage and having children only for those who have achieved sufficient ethical maturity.

Question 14

Which of the following most accurately illustrates the idea of a "marginal case"?

Accepted Answer

A)  A human being with a normally functioning brain and average upbringing. 
B)  A nonhuman animal that lacks the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status. 
C)  A nonhuman animal that possesses the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status. 
D)  A nonhuman animal who, under factory-farm conditions, has marginally more pleasures than pain over a lifetime. 
A)  A human being with a normally functioning brain and average upbringing. 
B)  A nonhuman animal that lacks the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status. 
C)  A nonhuman animal that possesses the rationality we take to be central to human-level moral status. 
D)  A nonhuman animal who, under factory-farm conditions, has marginally more pleasures than pain over a lifetime.

Question 15

The Akan identify a person in terms of his or her social relations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Warren argues that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Abortion is morally permissible since human fetuses satisfy none of the criteria for personhood and therefore are not members of the moral community. 
B)  Abortion is morally obligatory since human fetuses are merely a clump of cells. 
C)  Abortion is morally wrong because human fetuses are persons and therefore are members of the moral community. 
D)  Abortion is morally permissible since most people in the moral community would argue that abortion should be legal. 
A)  Abortion is morally permissible since human fetuses satisfy none of the criteria for personhood and therefore are not members of the moral community. 
B)  Abortion is morally obligatory since human fetuses are merely a clump of cells. 
C)  Abortion is morally wrong because human fetuses are persons and therefore are members of the moral community. 
D)  Abortion is morally permissible since most people in the moral community would argue that abortion should be legal.

Question 17

Eaton's main conclusion in this paper is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Antiporn feminism can be a sensible position supported by intuitive arguments and sensitive to the complexities of the data about pornography's effects. 
B)  Antiporn feminism is best understood as establishing a causal relation between pornography and harm that is probabilistic in nature rather than deterministic. 
C)  Antiporn feminism exaggerates the harms of pornography and the solutions it offers violate the freedom of speech. 
D)  Antiporn feminism characterizes pornography too broadly and rejects forms of pornography that are potentially liberatory for women. 
A)  Antiporn feminism can be a sensible position supported by intuitive arguments and sensitive to the complexities of the data about pornography's effects. 
B)  Antiporn feminism is best understood as establishing a causal relation between pornography and harm that is probabilistic in nature rather than deterministic. 
C)  Antiporn feminism exaggerates the harms of pornography and the solutions it offers violate the freedom of speech. 
D)  Antiporn feminism characterizes pornography too broadly and rejects forms of pornography that are potentially liberatory for women.

Question 18

In your own words, explain the Formula of Universal Law version of the categorical imperative.

Accepted Answer

The Formula of Universal Law version of

Question 19

Mill argues that although many regard telling minor lies as immoral, utilitarianism shows that it is not.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Liu argues that racial looksism is not only offensive but also morally wrong because it constantly denies certain people fair consideration for appreciation respect since race is not directly contributive to one's physical appearance or aesthetic appeal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

What is the difference between a moral agent and a moral patient? And why is rationality relevant to one but not the other?

Dershowitz argues that opposition to nonlethal torture is based in part on the nonrational association of nonlethal torture with famous incidents of lethal torture.

According to Dershowitz, the rights of a torture subject would be better protected were there to be a legal procedure for torture, such as a torture warrant.

According to Nell, the unavoidable deaths of those in underequipped lifeboats may be justifiable.

Which of the following best defines McMahan's notion of a subjectively permissible action?

What role does the claim that it would be wrong to kill nonhumans who have futures like ours play in Marquis's argument?

Thomson argues that only some but not all persons have the right to life.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which Kant expresses the categorical imperative in the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals?

Which of the following best explains, according to Metz, the justification for killing in defense of oneself or others?

Eaton argues that seeing pornography as one salient component in a more complex causal story does not fit with current legal practice in tort law determining liability for injury.

Mencius thinks that the story of King Xuan and the ox shows that King Xuan can never become virtuous because he does not understand ritual.

What, according to Rachels, is most responsible for the widespread belief that killing is inherently morally worse than merely allowing one to die?

What is the Akan view of marriage and having children?

Which of the following most accurately illustrates the idea of a "marginal case"?

The Akan identify a person in terms of his or her social relations.

Warren argues that:

Eaton's main conclusion in this paper is:

In your own words, explain the Formula of Universal Law version of the categorical imperative.

Mill argues that although many regard telling minor lies as immoral, utilitarianism shows that it is not.

Liu argues that racial looksism is not only offensive but also morally wrong because it constantly denies certain people fair consideration for appreciation respect since race is not directly contributive to one's physical appearance or aesthetic appeal.

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 is the difference between a moral agent and a moral patient? And why is rationality relevant to one but not the other?

Dershowitz argues that opposition to nonlethal torture is based in part on the nonrational association of nonlethal torture with famous incidents of lethal torture.

According to Dershowitz, the rights of a torture subject would be better protected were there to be a legal procedure for torture, such as a torture warrant.

According to Nell, the unavoidable deaths of those in underequipped lifeboats may be justifiable.

Which of the following best defines McMahan's notion of a subjectively permissible action?

What role does the claim that it would be wrong to kill nonhumans who have futures like ours play in Marquis's argument?

Thomson argues that only some but not all persons have the right to life.

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which Kant expresses the categorical imperative in the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals?

Which of the following best explains, according to Metz, the justification for killing in defense of oneself or others?

Eaton argues that seeing pornography as one salient component in a more complex causal story does not fit with current legal practice in tort law determining liability for injury.

Mencius thinks that the story of King Xuan and the ox shows that King Xuan can never become virtuous because he does not understand ritual.

What, according to Rachels, is most responsible for the widespread belief that killing is inherently morally worse than merely allowing one to die?

What is the Akan view of marriage and having children?

Which of the following most accurately illustrates the idea of a "marginal case"?

The Akan identify a person in terms of his or her social relations.

Warren argues that:

Eaton's main conclusion in this paper is:

In your own words, explain the Formula of Universal Law version of the categorical imperative.

Mill argues that although many regard telling minor lies as immoral, utilitarianism shows that it is not.

Liu argues that racial looksism is not only offensive but also morally wrong because it constantly denies certain people fair consideration for appreciation respect since race is not directly contributive to one's physical appearance or aesthetic appeal.

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