Question 1

According to the text, why can't the desire satisfaction theorist maintain that what's good for us is the pleasure we feel when certain desires are satisfied?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because this is to say the pleasure rather than the desire satisfaction is what makes us better off 
B)  Because not all pleasure is good for us 
C)  Because sometimes we're better off when our desires are satisfied and we don't know it 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Because this is to say the pleasure rather than the desire satisfaction is what makes us better off 
B)  Because not all pleasure is good for us 
C)  Because sometimes we're better off when our desires are satisfied and we don't know it 
D)  None of the above A

Question 2

A desire directed toward the interests of a distant stranger is an example of which kind of desire?

Accepted Answer

A)  An uninformed desire 
B)  An other-regarding desire 
C)  An impoverished desire 
D)  None of the above 
A)  An uninformed desire 
B)  An other-regarding desire 
C)  An impoverished desire 
D)  None of the above B

Question 3

According to the desire satisfaction theory, sacrificing your welfare for a cause that is of the utmost importance to you

Accepted Answer

A)  contributes very much to your well-being. 
B)  detracts strongly from your well-being. 
C)  is sometimes good and sometimes bad for you. 
D)  is impossible. 
A)  contributes very much to your well-being. 
B)  detracts strongly from your well-being. 
C)  is sometimes good and sometimes bad for you. 
D)  is impossible. D

Question 4

What is the paradox of self-harm?

Accepted Answer

A)  Attempts to make yourself better off often ending up harming you. 
B)  According to the desire satisfaction theory, it is impossible to intentionally harm yourself. 
C)  Attempts to harm yourself often make you better off. 
D)  According to the desire satisfaction theory, all harm is self-harm. 
A)  Attempts to make yourself better off often ending up harming you. 
B)  According to the desire satisfaction theory, it is impossible to intentionally harm yourself. 
C)  Attempts to harm yourself often make you better off. 
D)  According to the desire satisfaction theory, all harm is self-harm.

Question 5

The satisfaction of even informed, self-interested desires doesn't seem to benefit us when

Accepted Answer

A)  we don't know the desire has been satisfied. 
B)  the desire was not formed autonomously. 
C)  the desire is merely a passing fancy. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  we don't know the desire has been satisfied. 
B)  the desire was not formed autonomously. 
C)  the desire is merely a passing fancy. 
D)  All of the above

Question 6

Which of the following is the desire satisfaction theory committed to?

Accepted Answer

A)  If something is good for us, then it fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires. 
B)  If something fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires, then it is good for us. 
C)  Nothing can be good for us unless it fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  If something is good for us, then it fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires. 
B)  If something fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires, then it is good for us. 
C)  Nothing can be good for us unless it fulfills (or helps fulfill) our desires. 
D)  All of the above

Question 7

Self-regarding desires are those desires that

Accepted Answer

A)  are genuinely your own. 
B)  are not based on any false beliefs. 
C)  concern only yourself. 
D)  make you happy when they're satisfied. 
A)  are genuinely your own. 
B)  are not based on any false beliefs. 
C)  concern only yourself. 
D)  make you happy when they're satisfied.

Question 8

Describe a case in which a desire is satisfied, but this desire is based on a false belief. Does the satisfaction of such a desire make one better off? What implications does such a case have for the desire satisfaction theory?

Accepted Answer

One example of a case in which a desire

Question 9

Write an essay critically examining the following claim: "Something is good for us only if it satisfies our desires." Are there any cases in which we can be benefited without having any of our desires satisfied? Present a couple of cases that might be thought to have this feature, and describe how you think a desire satisfaction theorist would respond.

Accepted Answer

The claim that "something is good for us

Question 10

According to the text, what does the existence of desires based on false beliefs show?

Accepted Answer

A)  We can become better off without having our desires satisfied. 
B)  The desire satisfaction theory needs to be modified. 
C)  The desire satisfaction theory is irreparably mistaken. 
D)  The desire satisfaction theory is plausible in many cases. 
A)  We can become better off without having our desires satisfied. 
B)  The desire satisfaction theory needs to be modified. 
C)  The desire satisfaction theory is irreparably mistaken. 
D)  The desire satisfaction theory is plausible in many cases.

Question 11

What is a disinterested desire?

Accepted Answer

A)  A desire that one doesn't care about very much 
B)  A desire that is not focused on oneself 
C)  A desire that is primarily the result of boredom 
D)  A desire that will lead to disappointment 
A)  A desire that one doesn't care about very much 
B)  A desire that is not focused on oneself 
C)  A desire that is primarily the result of boredom 
D)  A desire that will lead to disappointment

Question 12

A plausible case in which desire satisfaction is not sufficient for becoming better off is

Accepted Answer

A)  a passing fancy. 
B)  an infant getting a vaccine. 
C)  a pleasant surprise. 
D)  a desire for autonomy. 
A)  a passing fancy. 
B)  an infant getting a vaccine. 
C)  a pleasant surprise. 
D)  a desire for autonomy.

Question 13

A pleasant surprise is an example of something that

Accepted Answer

A)  makes someone better off but does not satisfy any existing desire. 
B)  satisfies a desire but does not make someone better off. 
C)  satisfies a desire and makes someone better off. 
D)  neither satisfies a desire nor makes someone better off. 
A)  makes someone better off but does not satisfy any existing desire. 
B)  satisfies a desire but does not make someone better off. 
C)  satisfies a desire and makes someone better off. 
D)  neither satisfies a desire nor makes someone better off.

Question 14

Which of the following shows that desire satisfaction is not necessary for becoming better off?

Accepted Answer

A)  The paradox of self-sacrifice 
B)  Desires that are satisfied without our knowledge 
C)  Pleasant surprises 
D)  Passing fancies 
A)  The paradox of self-sacrifice 
B)  Desires that are satisfied without our knowledge 
C)  Pleasant surprises 
D)  Passing fancies

Question 15

Which of the following claims is the desire satisfaction theorist unable to endorse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Health, wealth, and happiness are often instrumentally good for us. 
B)  Some desires are intrinsically better than others. 
C)  What is good for us is up to us. 
D)  Some desires are disinterested. 
A)  Health, wealth, and happiness are often instrumentally good for us. 
B)  Some desires are intrinsically better than others. 
C)  What is good for us is up to us. 
D)  Some desires are disinterested.

Question 16

According to the text, the satisfaction of a desire based on a false belief

Accepted Answer

A)  always makes us better off. 
B)  does not always make us better off. 
C)  always makes us worse off. 
D)  is impossible. 
A)  always makes us better off. 
B)  does not always make us better off. 
C)  always makes us worse off. 
D)  is impossible.

Question 17

According to the desire satisfaction theory

Accepted Answer

A)  no desire is intrinsically better than any other. 
B)  desire satisfaction is good for us but only when it makes us happy. 
C)  some things are objectively valuable. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  no desire is intrinsically better than any other. 
B)  desire satisfaction is good for us but only when it makes us happy. 
C)  some things are objectively valuable. 
D)  All of the above

Question 18

If the desire satisfaction theory is true, it is never good advice to tell someone to

Accepted Answer

A)  do what makes him happy. 
B)  change all his desires. 
C)  seek knowledge. 
D)  try to produce beautiful things. 
A)  do what makes him happy. 
B)  change all his desires. 
C)  seek knowledge. 
D)  try to produce beautiful things.

Question 19

Is it possible to desire to harm yourself and to succeed? Write an essay describing the "paradox of self-harm" that faces the desire satisfaction theory. Do you think the desire satisfaction theorist can solve this problem? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The paradox of self-harm presents a sign

Question 20

Suppose that you want something very much but that when you get it, you are completely disappointed. Why does this case raise a problem for the desire satisfaction theory? What might a desire satisfaction theorist say in response? Do you find this reply convincing?

Accepted Answer

The desire satisfaction theory states th

According to the text, why can't the desire satisfaction theorist maintain that what's good for us is the pleasure we feel when certain desires are satisfied?

A desire directed toward the interests of a distant stranger is an example of which kind of desire?

According to the desire satisfaction theory, sacrificing your welfare for a cause that is of the utmost importance to you

What is the paradox of self-harm?

The satisfaction of even informed, self-interested desires doesn't seem to benefit us when

Which of the following is the desire satisfaction theory committed to?

Self-regarding desires are those desires that

Describe a case in which a desire is satisfied, but this desire is based on a false belief. Does the satisfaction of such a desire make one better off? What implications does such a case have for the desire satisfaction theory?

According to the text, what does the existence of desires based on false beliefs show?

What is a disinterested desire?

A plausible case in which desire satisfaction is not sufficient for becoming better off is

A pleasant surprise is an example of something that

Which of the following shows that desire satisfaction is not necessary for becoming better off?

Which of the following claims is the desire satisfaction theorist unable to endorse?

According to the text, the satisfaction of a desire based on a false belief

According to the desire satisfaction theory

If the desire satisfaction theory is true, it is never good advice to tell someone to

Is it possible to desire to harm yourself and to succeed? Write an essay describing the "paradox of self-harm" that faces the desire satisfaction theory. Do you think the desire satisfaction theorist can solve this problem? Why or why not?

Suppose that you want something very much but that when you get it, you are completely disappointed. Why does this case raise a problem for the desire satisfaction theory? What might a desire satisfaction theorist say in response? Do you find this reply convincing?

Hedonism: Its Powerful Appeal

Is Happiness All That Matters

Getting What You Want

Morality and Religion

Natural Law

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Consequentialism: Its Nature and Attractions

Consequentialism: Its Difficulties

The Kantian Perspective: Fairness and Justice

The Kantian Perspective: Autonomy, Free Will, and Respect

The Social Contract Tradition: the Theory and Its Attractions

The Social Contract Tradition: Problems and Prospects

Ethical Pluralism and Absolute Moral Rules

Ethical Pluralism: Prima Facie Duties and Ethical Particularism

Virtue Ethics

Feminist Ethics

Ethical Relativism

Moral Nihilism

Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity

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Exam 4: Problems for the Desire Theory

According to the text, why can't the desire satisfaction theorist maintain that what's good for us is the pleasure we feel when certain desires are satisfied?

A desire directed toward the interests of a distant stranger is an example of which kind of desire?

According to the desire satisfaction theory, sacrificing your welfare for a cause that is of the utmost importance to you

What is the paradox of self-harm?

The satisfaction of even informed, self-interested desires doesn't seem to benefit us when

Which of the following is the desire satisfaction theory committed to?

Self-regarding desires are those desires that

Describe a case in which a desire is satisfied, but this desire is based on a false belief. Does the satisfaction of such a desire make one better off? What implications does such a case have for the desire satisfaction theory?

According to the text, what does the existence of desires based on false beliefs show?

What is a disinterested desire?

A plausible case in which desire satisfaction is not sufficient for becoming better off is

A pleasant surprise is an example of something that

Which of the following shows that desire satisfaction is not necessary for becoming better off?

Which of the following claims is the desire satisfaction theorist unable to endorse?

According to the text, the satisfaction of a desire based on a false belief

According to the desire satisfaction theory

If the desire satisfaction theory is true, it is never good advice to tell someone to

Is it possible to desire to harm yourself and to succeed? Write an essay describing the "paradox of self-harm" that faces the desire satisfaction theory. Do you think the desire satisfaction theorist can solve this problem? Why or why not?

Suppose that you want something very much but that when you get it, you are completely disappointed. Why does this case raise a problem for the desire satisfaction theory? What might a desire satisfaction theorist say in response? Do you find this reply convincing?

Hedonism: Its Powerful Appeal

Is Happiness All That Matters

Getting What You Want

Morality and Religion

Natural Law

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Consequentialism: Its Nature and Attractions

Consequentialism: Its Difficulties

The Kantian Perspective: Fairness and Justice

The Kantian Perspective: Autonomy, Free Will, and Respect

The Social Contract Tradition: the Theory and Its Attractions

The Social Contract Tradition: Problems and Prospects

Ethical Pluralism and Absolute Moral Rules

Ethical Pluralism: Prima Facie Duties and Ethical Particularism

Virtue Ethics

Feminist Ethics

Ethical Relativism

Moral Nihilism

Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity

Filters