Question 1

Which of the following best captures Estes's argument for the existence of human dignity and how humans should be treated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Since humans have the free capacity to conceive and will their own goals, they have invaluable dignity, and since they have dignity, they deserve to be treated with respect. 
B)  Since humans are self-conscious and can think for themselves, they have moral worth and they should respect the mental capacities of each other. 
C)  Since humans, unlike robots, have their own emotional lives, they have invaluable dignity and their feelings and bodies deserve respect. 
D)  If humans want to be considered beings with dignity and be treated with respect, then they should treat other humans as beings with dignity and as deserving respect. 
A)  Since humans have the free capacity to conceive and will their own goals, they have invaluable dignity, and since they have dignity, they deserve to be treated with respect. 
B)  Since humans are self-conscious and can think for themselves, they have moral worth and they should respect the mental capacities of each other. 
C)  Since humans, unlike robots, have their own emotional lives, they have invaluable dignity and their feelings and bodies deserve respect. 
D)  If humans want to be considered beings with dignity and be treated with respect, then they should treat other humans as beings with dignity and as deserving respect.

Question 2

How do people come to be virtuous, according to Aristotle?

Accepted Answer

According to Aristotle, people come to b

Question 3

According to Nathanson, proportional retributivism cannot entail a requirement that murderers be executed because:

Accepted Answer

A)  Proportional retributivism only entails that murder should be punished more seriously than other crimes. 
B)  Proportional retributivism focuses too closely on the intentions and motivations of the murder. 
C)  Proportional retributivism is a crude application of the more nuanced principles of "payback" retributivism. 
D)  Proportional relativism does not provide a sufficiently general criterion for ranking the severity of crimes. 
A)  Proportional retributivism only entails that murder should be punished more seriously than other crimes. 
B)  Proportional retributivism focuses too closely on the intentions and motivations of the murder. 
C)  Proportional retributivism is a crude application of the more nuanced principles of "payback" retributivism. 
D)  Proportional relativism does not provide a sufficiently general criterion for ranking the severity of crimes.

Question 4

Which of the following would count as an objection to Garcia's argument that individual racism has more explanatory importance than institutional racism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Since institutions exist over and above the sum of their individual parts, they can develop racist properties even if individuals did not input racist aims or plans into them. 
B)  Racist institutions are only explained by their creators who constituted them in racist forms since subsequent members only partake in but do not make those institutions. 
C)  Racism is a cycle in which racist individuals pass on and instill their ideologies and hatred into other individuals. 
D)  Institutional racism has important effects that systematically and disproportionately advantage certain races at the expense of others. 
A)  Since institutions exist over and above the sum of their individual parts, they can develop racist properties even if individuals did not input racist aims or plans into them. 
B)  Racist institutions are only explained by their creators who constituted them in racist forms since subsequent members only partake in but do not make those institutions. 
C)  Racism is a cycle in which racist individuals pass on and instill their ideologies and hatred into other individuals. 
D)  Institutional racism has important effects that systematically and disproportionately advantage certain races at the expense of others.

Question 5

Metz argues that both the use of deadly force against aggressors and capital punishment would be forbidden according to a conception of dignity rooted in proportional friendliness.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Singer thinks that there is a morally relevant distinction between cases in which you are the only person who can prevent something very bad from happening and cases in which you are one among millions who can also do so.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following best captures Liu's main argument for the claim that racial looksism is wrong?

Accepted Answer

A)  Racial looksism is wrong because it is an overgeneralization that disrespects people's individuality and denies them the appreciation to which they are entitled. 
B)  Racial looksism is wrong because all looksisms are wrong and value people only for their physical appearance rather than their morally important qualities. 
C)  Racial looksism is wrong because it worsens race relations by discouraging people from getting to know others who are of different races. 
D)  Racial looksism is wrong because it ignores the fact that people's attractiveness may not simply be based on their physical appearances but could be based on their other qualities. 
A)  Racial looksism is wrong because it is an overgeneralization that disrespects people's individuality and denies them the appreciation to which they are entitled. 
B)  Racial looksism is wrong because all looksisms are wrong and value people only for their physical appearance rather than their morally important qualities. 
C)  Racial looksism is wrong because it worsens race relations by discouraging people from getting to know others who are of different races. 
D)  Racial looksism is wrong because it ignores the fact that people's attractiveness may not simply be based on their physical appearances but could be based on their other qualities.

Question 8

In your own words, state Thomas's main conclusion in "What Good Am I?" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Thomas's main conclusion in "What Good A

Question 9

What of the following best captures Singer's response to Sidgwick and Urmson's objection that if we tell people not to murder others and to give to famine relief, they will do neither, but if we tell them not to murder, they will at least do that?

Accepted Answer

A)  Singer argues that if we tell people to give to famine relief, then they will do that, whereas we need not tell people not to murder because the norms against murder are already firmly entrenched. 
B)  Singer argues that what people actually do is completely independent of what they ought to do, and so Sidgwick and Urmson's objection is irrelevant. 
C)  Singer argues that the norms against murder and the norms to give to famine relief are intertwined and cannot be separated because both are about preventing deaths. 
D)  Singer argues that moral standards themselves set expectations that affect people's decisions and actions, so setting expectations to give everything you don't need to famine relief may lead to people doing so. 
A)  Singer argues that if we tell people to give to famine relief, then they will do that, whereas we need not tell people not to murder because the norms against murder are already firmly entrenched. 
B)  Singer argues that what people actually do is completely independent of what they ought to do, and so Sidgwick and Urmson's objection is irrelevant. 
C)  Singer argues that the norms against murder and the norms to give to famine relief are intertwined and cannot be separated because both are about preventing deaths. 
D)  Singer argues that moral standards themselves set expectations that affect people's decisions and actions, so setting expectations to give everything you don't need to famine relief may lead to people doing so.

Question 10

Why does Strawser discuss the example of the bomb squad using robots to defuse bombs?

Accepted Answer

A)  To argue for part of his central claim, OP. 
B)  To argue for the Principle of Unnecessary Risk. 
C)  To rebut an objection to his central claim, OP. 
D)  To prove that remotely controlled devices reduce risk. 
A)  To argue for part of his central claim, OP. 
B)  To argue for the Principle of Unnecessary Risk. 
C)  To rebut an objection to his central claim, OP. 
D)  To prove that remotely controlled devices reduce risk.

Question 11

Which of the following would count as an objection to Woollard's argument that requiring people to make substantial sacrifices to save others in all cases does not treat people's bodies and other resources as belonging to them?

Accepted Answer

A)  A precondition to entitlement to one's body and other resources is that others around the world are not dying from easily preventable causes because property rights and one's right to full control over one's body are not as fundamental as others' right to life. 
B)  Having a personal encounter with a victim is another factor in addition to proximity that may create a close connection with a victim and generate duties to help him or her, even if it requires substantial sacrifice. 
C)  One is still sometimes, although not always, required to use one's body or resources to save others, even if this involves considerable sacrifice from oneself. 
D)  People earn their salaries through labor and hard work and therefore have the freedom to spend their money however they want without necessarily donating to charities. 
A)  A precondition to entitlement to one's body and other resources is that others around the world are not dying from easily preventable causes because property rights and one's right to full control over one's body are not as fundamental as others' right to life. 
B)  Having a personal encounter with a victim is another factor in addition to proximity that may create a close connection with a victim and generate duties to help him or her, even if it requires substantial sacrifice. 
C)  One is still sometimes, although not always, required to use one's body or resources to save others, even if this involves considerable sacrifice from oneself. 
D)  People earn their salaries through labor and hard work and therefore have the freedom to spend their money however they want without necessarily donating to charities.

Question 12

Nell thinks that aboard a well-equipped lifeboat, any distribution of food and water that leads to a death is a killing and not just a case of permitting a death.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Why would promising someone money to get them to give you a loan violate the categorical imperative, according to Kant?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the categorical imperative requires you to develop your talents and if you develop your talents enough, you will be able to convince someone to loan you money without lying. 
B)  Because the categorical imperative tells you how to achieve your goals, and assuming that your goal involves not breaking the law, the categorical imperative will not tell you to commit fraud. 
C)  Because you would be willing both that the person loans you money on the basis of your promise and that such promises would never work because no one would believe anyone's promises. 
D)  Because if you willed that everyone made false promises to secure loans, the financial system would collapse, causing even worse problems for you than you already had. 
A)  Because the categorical imperative requires you to develop your talents and if you develop your talents enough, you will be able to convince someone to loan you money without lying. 
B)  Because the categorical imperative tells you how to achieve your goals, and assuming that your goal involves not breaking the law, the categorical imperative will not tell you to commit fraud. 
C)  Because you would be willing both that the person loans you money on the basis of your promise and that such promises would never work because no one would believe anyone's promises. 
D)  Because if you willed that everyone made false promises to secure loans, the financial system would collapse, causing even worse problems for you than you already had.

Question 14

Estes argues that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Using danger or substances to enhance a sexual experience always violates the criteria of mutually respectful sex because partners will be incapable of giving consent when their judgment is impaired by drugs. 
B)  Using danger or substances to enhance a sexual experience presents risks to having mutually respectful sex, but such risks could potentially be reduced by being mutually informed and exercising extreme caution. 
C)  People should never use danger or substances to enhance their sexual experiences because people shouldn't engage in risky behaviors. 
D)  People should not use danger or substances to enhance their sexual experiences because they can have sexual experiences that are just as pleasurable without the use of danger or substances. 
A)  Using danger or substances to enhance a sexual experience always violates the criteria of mutually respectful sex because partners will be incapable of giving consent when their judgment is impaired by drugs. 
B)  Using danger or substances to enhance a sexual experience presents risks to having mutually respectful sex, but such risks could potentially be reduced by being mutually informed and exercising extreme caution. 
C)  People should never use danger or substances to enhance their sexual experiences because people shouldn't engage in risky behaviors. 
D)  People should not use danger or substances to enhance their sexual experiences because they can have sexual experiences that are just as pleasurable without the use of danger or substances.

Question 15

Why is Bentham interested in measuring the "value" of a pleasure or pain?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because he wants to prove that actions that most people regard as morally good tend to promote the happiness of all affected. 
B)  Because he needs to show that only pleasures and pains have genuine value to show that the principle of utility is the sole principle of morality. 
C)  Because he wants to prove that some pleasures have a greater value than others. 
D)  Because we must be able to calculate how much pleasure and pain a particular action would cause to determine whether it conforms to the principle of utility. 
A)  Because he wants to prove that actions that most people regard as morally good tend to promote the happiness of all affected. 
B)  Because he needs to show that only pleasures and pains have genuine value to show that the principle of utility is the sole principle of morality. 
C)  Because he wants to prove that some pleasures have a greater value than others. 
D)  Because we must be able to calculate how much pleasure and pain a particular action would cause to determine whether it conforms to the principle of utility.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT one of the similarities that Krakoff draws between parenting and people acting to reduce climate change?

Accepted Answer

A)  As with parenting, acting to reduce climate change involves constant actions for the sake of the next generation. 
B)  As with parenting, people acting to reduce climate change find meaning and happiness in their actions, even if the actions are sometimes difficult or frustrating. 
C)  As with parenting, acting to reduce climate change might not turn out well because of the actions of other people. 
D)  As with parenting, people acting to reduce climate change cannot know what effects their actions will have in the long run. 
A)  As with parenting, acting to reduce climate change involves constant actions for the sake of the next generation. 
B)  As with parenting, people acting to reduce climate change find meaning and happiness in their actions, even if the actions are sometimes difficult or frustrating. 
C)  As with parenting, acting to reduce climate change might not turn out well because of the actions of other people. 
D)  As with parenting, people acting to reduce climate change cannot know what effects their actions will have in the long run.

Question 17

How does Abbate respond to the objection that the military should not valorize obedience because that would encourage soldiers to obey unlawful orders?

Accepted Answer

Abbate, presumably referring to a schola

Question 18

According to McMahan, although there are cases in which torture would be morally justified, it should never be institutionalized as a practice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following best captures the basic question that Nell is trying to answer in this paper?

Accepted Answer

A)  Do people have a duty to prevent harm from happening to others? 
B)  Do people have a duty to try to prevent famine deaths? 
C)  Are unavoidable killings and self-defense cases of justifiable killings? 
D)  Should citizens try to convince their governments to help other countries suffering from famine? 
A)  Do people have a duty to prevent harm from happening to others? 
B)  Do people have a duty to try to prevent famine deaths? 
C)  Are unavoidable killings and self-defense cases of justifiable killings? 
D)  Should citizens try to convince their governments to help other countries suffering from famine?

Question 20

Dougherty argues that if deception vitiates someone's sexual consent, but is benign in other ways, such as it makes a date more romantic, then it is not seriously wrong.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Which of the following best captures Estes's argument for the existence of human dignity and how humans should be treated?

How do people come to be virtuous, according to Aristotle?

According to Nathanson, proportional retributivism cannot entail a requirement that murderers be executed because:

Which of the following would count as an objection to Garcia's argument that individual racism has more explanatory importance than institutional racism?

Metz argues that both the use of deadly force against aggressors and capital punishment would be forbidden according to a conception of dignity rooted in proportional friendliness.

Singer thinks that there is a morally relevant distinction between cases in which you are the only person who can prevent something very bad from happening and cases in which you are one among millions who can also do so.

Which of the following best captures Liu's main argument for the claim that racial looksism is wrong?

In your own words, state Thomas's main conclusion in "What Good Am I?" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

What of the following best captures Singer's response to Sidgwick and Urmson's objection that if we tell people not to murder others and to give to famine relief, they will do neither, but if we tell them not to murder, they will at least do that?

Why does Strawser discuss the example of the bomb squad using robots to defuse bombs?

Which of the following would count as an objection to Woollard's argument that requiring people to make substantial sacrifices to save others in all cases does not treat people's bodies and other resources as belonging to them?

Nell thinks that aboard a well-equipped lifeboat, any distribution of food and water that leads to a death is a killing and not just a case of permitting a death.

Why would promising someone money to get them to give you a loan violate the categorical imperative, according to Kant?

Estes argues that:

Why is Bentham interested in measuring the "value" of a pleasure or pain?

Which of the following is NOT one of the similarities that Krakoff draws between parenting and people acting to reduce climate change?

How does Abbate respond to the objection that the military should not valorize obedience because that would encourage soldiers to obey unlawful orders?

According to McMahan, although there are cases in which torture would be morally justified, it should never be institutionalized as a practice.

Which of the following best captures the basic question that Nell is trying to answer in this paper?

Dougherty argues that if deception vitiates someone's sexual consent, but is benign in other ways, such as it makes a date more romantic, then it is not seriously wrong.

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

Which of the following best captures Estes's argument for the existence of human dignity and how humans should be treated?

How do people come to be virtuous, according to Aristotle?

According to Nathanson, proportional retributivism cannot entail a requirement that murderers be executed because:

Which of the following would count as an objection to Garcia's argument that individual racism has more explanatory importance than institutional racism?

Metz argues that both the use of deadly force against aggressors and capital punishment would be forbidden according to a conception of dignity rooted in proportional friendliness.

Singer thinks that there is a morally relevant distinction between cases in which you are the only person who can prevent something very bad from happening and cases in which you are one among millions who can also do so.

Which of the following best captures Liu's main argument for the claim that racial looksism is wrong?

In your own words, state Thomas's main conclusion in "What Good Am I?" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

What of the following best captures Singer's response to Sidgwick and Urmson's objection that if we tell people not to murder others and to give to famine relief, they will do neither, but if we tell them not to murder, they will at least do that?

Why does Strawser discuss the example of the bomb squad using robots to defuse bombs?

Which of the following would count as an objection to Woollard's argument that requiring people to make substantial sacrifices to save others in all cases does not treat people's bodies and other resources as belonging to them?

Nell thinks that aboard a well-equipped lifeboat, any distribution of food and water that leads to a death is a killing and not just a case of permitting a death.

Why would promising someone money to get them to give you a loan violate the categorical imperative, according to Kant?

Estes argues that:

Why is Bentham interested in measuring the "value" of a pleasure or pain?

Which of the following is NOT one of the similarities that Krakoff draws between parenting and people acting to reduce climate change?

How does Abbate respond to the objection that the military should not valorize obedience because that would encourage soldiers to obey unlawful orders?

According to McMahan, although there are cases in which torture would be morally justified, it should never be institutionalized as a practice.

Which of the following best captures the basic question that Nell is trying to answer in this paper?

Dougherty argues that if deception vitiates someone's sexual consent, but is benign in other ways, such as it makes a date more romantic, then it is not seriously wrong.

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