Question 1

According to the text, which of the following is an objection to rule consequentialism?

Accepted Answer

A)  The theory often requires actions that are considered injustices. 
B)  The theory requires that we obey rules that are not optimific. 
C)  The theory demands that we obey rules even when we know that breaking them would yield better results. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  The theory often requires actions that are considered injustices. 
B)  The theory requires that we obey rules that are not optimific. 
C)  The theory demands that we obey rules even when we know that breaking them would yield better results. 
D)  None of the above C

Question 2

How would most utilitarians characterize the principle of utility?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a standard of rightness. 
B)  It is a decision procedure. 
C)  It describes the single appropriate motivation when making choices. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  It is a standard of rightness. 
B)  It is a decision procedure. 
C)  It describes the single appropriate motivation when making choices. 
D)  All of the above A

Question 3

Exemplary punishment is

Accepted Answer

A)  punishment that makes an example of someone. 
B)  punishment that is a model for other punishments. 
C)  punishment that rehabilitates the criminal. 
D)  punishment that is targets innocent people. 
A)  punishment that makes an example of someone. 
B)  punishment that is a model for other punishments. 
C)  punishment that rehabilitates the criminal. 
D)  punishment that is targets innocent people. A

Question 4

What is a decision procedure in ethics?

Accepted Answer

A)  A theory that tells us which actions are right and which are wrong 
B)  A calculation of the total benefits of an action 
C)  A method for making moral decisions 
D)  A theory that tells us when intentions are morally good or bad 
A)  A theory that tells us which actions are right and which are wrong 
B)  A calculation of the total benefits of an action 
C)  A method for making moral decisions 
D)  A theory that tells us when intentions are morally good or bad

Question 5

What do rule consequentialists demand when breaking a moral rule would yield better results?

Accepted Answer

A)  Break the moral rule. 
B)  Obey the moral rule. 
C)  Re-write the moral rules. 
D)  Obey the moral rule unless it results in an injustice. 
A)  Break the moral rule. 
B)  Obey the moral rule. 
C)  Re-write the moral rules. 
D)  Obey the moral rule unless it results in an injustice.

Question 6

Why is the lack of a method for measuring well-being a problem for utilitarians?

Accepted Answer

A)  It shows that utilitarianism requires immorality. 
B)  It renders utilitarianism incapable of giving concrete advice. 
C)  It proves that the theory is excessively committed to impartiality. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  It shows that utilitarianism requires immorality. 
B)  It renders utilitarianism incapable of giving concrete advice. 
C)  It proves that the theory is excessively committed to impartiality. 
D)  All of the above

Question 7

According to the text, how should we regard utilitarianism's commitment to impartiality?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is entirely a strength of the theory. 
B)  It is entirely a weakness of the theory. 
C)  It is irrelevant to the merits of the theory. 
D)  It is in some ways a strength and in others a weakness. 
A)  It is entirely a strength of the theory. 
B)  It is entirely a weakness of the theory. 
C)  It is irrelevant to the merits of the theory. 
D)  It is in some ways a strength and in others a weakness.

Question 8

Some claim that utilitarianism demands more calculation than we are capable of. John Stuart Mill responded to this by claiming that

Accepted Answer

A)  with training, people can learn to make such complicated calculations well. 
B)  calculations are often unnecessary because we can usually rely on common wisdom. 
C)  this is equally a problem for every moral theory. 
D)  this explains why no one has moral knowledge. 
A)  with training, people can learn to make such complicated calculations well. 
B)  calculations are often unnecessary because we can usually rely on common wisdom. 
C)  this is equally a problem for every moral theory. 
D)  this explains why no one has moral knowledge.

Question 9

Write an essay developing what you take to be the most powerful objection to utilitarianism. Explain the objection in detail, and then describe how you think a utilitarian would reply. Is the utilitarian reply satisfactory? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The most powerful objection to utilitari

Question 10

What role does measuring well-being play in utilitarianism? What problems does such measurement present? How serious do you think these problems are for the theory? Explain and defend your response.

Accepted Answer

Measuring well-being plays a crucial rol

Question 11

Which of the following would the utilitarian regard as wrong in all possible circumstances?

Accepted Answer

A)  Violating someone's rights 
B)  Performing an action that is not optimific 
C)  Killing an innocent person 
D)  None of the above 
A)  Violating someone's rights 
B)  Performing an action that is not optimific 
C)  Killing an innocent person 
D)  None of the above

Question 12

Utilitarians can completely avoid the problem of adding up well-being by claiming that well-being consists in

Accepted Answer

A)  how happy you are. 
B)  how much your desires are satisfied. 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above 
A)  how happy you are. 
B)  how much your desires are satisfied. 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above

Question 13

Describe a case in which utilitarianism seems to require that someone behave unjustly. Do you think utilitarianism nonetheless gives the correct moral verdict in this case? Why or why not? How might a utilitarian reply to the objection that the theory wrongly licenses injustice?

Accepted Answer

One case in which utilitarianism may see

Question 14

What is supererogation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Behaving in a self-interested manner 
B)  Doing what is morally required of you 
C)  Violating another person's rights 
D)  Doing something that is admirable and praiseworthy but not morally required 
A)  Behaving in a self-interested manner 
B)  Doing what is morally required of you 
C)  Violating another person's rights 
D)  Doing something that is admirable and praiseworthy but not morally required

Question 15

According to utilitarianism, the preferences and well-being of people with deep-seated prejudices

Accepted Answer

A)  matter much less than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
B)  matter slightly less than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
C)  matter equally to the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
D)  matter more than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
A)  matter much less than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
B)  matter slightly less than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
C)  matter equally to the preferences and well-being of oppressed people. 
D)  matter more than the preferences and well-being of oppressed people.

Question 16

What is the primary motivation for rule consequentialism?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is thought to solve the problem of injustice. 
B)  It avoids the irrational rule worship of act utilitarianism. 
C)  It allows for more moral flexibility than act utilitarianism. 
D)  It vindicates all actually existing social norms. 
A)  It is thought to solve the problem of injustice. 
B)  It avoids the irrational rule worship of act utilitarianism. 
C)  It allows for more moral flexibility than act utilitarianism. 
D)  It vindicates all actually existing social norms.

Question 17

According to utilitarianism, it is intrinsically morally right to

Accepted Answer

A)  donate to charity. 
B)  make someone happy. 
C)  act in your self-interest. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  donate to charity. 
B)  make someone happy. 
C)  act in your self-interest. 
D)  None of the above

Question 18

Write an essay comparing and contrasting act utilitarianism with rule consequentialism. Define each theory, and then explain why rule consequentialism is often thought to provide a solution to the problem of injustice that faces act utilitarianism. What objection can be levelled against rule consequentialism? Which theory do you think is preferable?

Accepted Answer

Act utilitarianism and rule consequentia

Question 19

Develop a utilitarian decision procedure-given utilitarianism, how should we decide what to do? Does your account help utilitarianism avoid any of the objections from this chapter? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is a moral theory that su

Question 20

An optimific social rule is a rule which

Accepted Answer

A)  is optimific whenever it's followed. 
B)  is optimific when nearly everyone follows it. 
C)  is optimific most of the time. 
D)  is optimific for a certain society. 
A)  is optimific whenever it's followed. 
B)  is optimific when nearly everyone follows it. 
C)  is optimific most of the time. 
D)  is optimific for a certain society.

According to the text, which of the following is an objection to rule consequentialism?

How would most utilitarians characterize the principle of utility?

Exemplary punishment is

What is a decision procedure in ethics?

What do rule consequentialists demand when breaking a moral rule would yield better results?

Why is the lack of a method for measuring well-being a problem for utilitarians?

According to the text, how should we regard utilitarianism's commitment to impartiality?

Some claim that utilitarianism demands more calculation than we are capable of. John Stuart Mill responded to this by claiming that

Write an essay developing what you take to be the most powerful objection to utilitarianism. Explain the objection in detail, and then describe how you think a utilitarian would reply. Is the utilitarian reply satisfactory? Defend your answer.

What role does measuring well-being play in utilitarianism? What problems does such measurement present? How serious do you think these problems are for the theory? Explain and defend your response.

Which of the following would the utilitarian regard as wrong in all possible circumstances?

Utilitarians can completely avoid the problem of adding up well-being by claiming that well-being consists in

Describe a case in which utilitarianism seems to require that someone behave unjustly. Do you think utilitarianism nonetheless gives the correct moral verdict in this case? Why or why not? How might a utilitarian reply to the objection that the theory wrongly licenses injustice?

What is supererogation?

According to utilitarianism, the preferences and well-being of people with deep-seated prejudices

What is the primary motivation for rule consequentialism?

According to utilitarianism, it is intrinsically morally right to

Develop a utilitarian decision procedure-given utilitarianism, how should we decide what to do? Does your account help utilitarianism avoid any of the objections from this chapter? Why or why not?

An optimific social rule is a rule which

Hedonism: Its Powerful Appeal

Is Happiness All That Matters

Getting What You Want

Problems for the Desire Theory

Morality and Religion

Natural Law

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Consequentialism: Its Nature and Attractions

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

Exam 10: Consequentialism: Its Difficulties

According to the text, which of the following is an objection to rule consequentialism?

How would most utilitarians characterize the principle of utility?

Exemplary punishment is

What is a decision procedure in ethics?

What do rule consequentialists demand when breaking a moral rule would yield better results?

Why is the lack of a method for measuring well-being a problem for utilitarians?

According to the text, how should we regard utilitarianism's commitment to impartiality?

Some claim that utilitarianism demands more calculation than we are capable of. John Stuart Mill responded to this by claiming that

Write an essay developing what you take to be the most powerful objection to utilitarianism. Explain the objection in detail, and then describe how you think a utilitarian would reply. Is the utilitarian reply satisfactory? Defend your answer.

What role does measuring well-being play in utilitarianism? What problems does such measurement present? How serious do you think these problems are for the theory? Explain and defend your response.

Which of the following would the utilitarian regard as wrong in all possible circumstances?

Utilitarians can completely avoid the problem of adding up well-being by claiming that well-being consists in

Describe a case in which utilitarianism seems to require that someone behave unjustly. Do you think utilitarianism nonetheless gives the correct moral verdict in this case? Why or why not? How might a utilitarian reply to the objection that the theory wrongly licenses injustice?

What is supererogation?

According to utilitarianism, the preferences and well-being of people with deep-seated prejudices

What is the primary motivation for rule consequentialism?

According to utilitarianism, it is intrinsically morally right to

Develop a utilitarian decision procedure-given utilitarianism, how should we decide what to do? Does your account help utilitarianism avoid any of the objections from this chapter? Why or why not?

An optimific social rule is a rule which

Hedonism: Its Powerful Appeal

Is Happiness All That Matters

Getting What You Want

Problems for the Desire Theory

Morality and Religion

Natural Law

Psychological Egoism

Ethical Egoism

Consequentialism: Its Nature and Attractions

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