Question 1

The fact that there is deep and persistent disagreement among scientists shows that

Accepted Answer

A)  scientific claims are not objective. 
B)  that there can be deep and persistent disagreement about objective truths. 
C)  ethical objectivism is false. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  scientific claims are not objective. 
B)  that there can be deep and persistent disagreement about objective truths. 
C)  ethical objectivism is false. 
D)  None of the above

Question 2

According to Hume's argument, we can have no _______ knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A)  conceptual 
B)  empirical 
C)  moral 
D)  All of the above 
A)  conceptual 
B)  empirical 
C)  moral 
D)  All of the above

Question 3

According to Hume's argument, moral claims are

Accepted Answer

A)  not conceptual truths. 
B)  not empirical truths. 
C)  empirical truths. 
D)  Both a and b 
A)  not conceptual truths. 
B)  not empirical truths. 
C)  empirical truths. 
D)  Both a and b

Question 4

_______ is the view that we cannot have moral knowledge.

Accepted Answer

A)  Moral skepticism 
B)  Moral objectivism 
C)  Empiricism 
D)  Conceptualism 
A)  Moral skepticism 
B)  Moral objectivism 
C)  Empiricism 
D)  Conceptualism

Question 5

Evolutionary pressures work to instill beliefs that are

Accepted Answer

A)  true. 
B)  good. 
C)  adaptive. 
D)  evil. 
A)  true. 
B)  good. 
C)  adaptive. 
D)  evil.

Question 6

What is an empirical truth?

Accepted Answer

A)  A necessary truth. 
B)  A truth known just by understanding its meaning. 
C)  A truth known only by relying on evidence from our five senses. 
D)  A controversial truth. 
A)  A necessary truth. 
B)  A truth known just by understanding its meaning. 
C)  A truth known only by relying on evidence from our five senses. 
D)  A controversial truth.

Question 7

According to the Argument from Disagreement, if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about some claim, then

Accepted Answer

A)  we are justified in believing that claim. 
B)  we are not justified in believing that claim. 
C)  it is not a moral claim. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  we are justified in believing that claim. 
B)  we are not justified in believing that claim. 
C)  it is not a moral claim. 
D)  None of the above

Question 8

How might an objectivist respond to the argument that ethical objectivism is false because values have no place in a scientific world?

Accepted Answer

A)  By maintaining that moral properties are natural properties 
B)  By denying that science is the ultimate measure of morality 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above-there is no way for the objectivist to respond. 
A)  By maintaining that moral properties are natural properties 
B)  By denying that science is the ultimate measure of morality 
C)  Both of the above 
D)  None of the above-there is no way for the objectivist to respond.

Question 9

Is ethical objectivism incompatible with science? Why might someone think that it is, and how might an ethical objectivist respond? Which side is correct?

Accepted Answer

Ethical objectivism is the belief that t

Question 10

If everyone has an equal right to hold his or her own moral opinions, then

Accepted Answer

A)  ethical objectivism is true. 
B)  ethical objectivism is false. 
C)  ethical objectivism is incoherent. 
D)  this does not tell us anything about whether ethical objectivism is true. 
A)  ethical objectivism is true. 
B)  ethical objectivism is false. 
C)  ethical objectivism is incoherent. 
D)  this does not tell us anything about whether ethical objectivism is true.

Question 11

To get knowledge in any area is to have some beliefs about it that are

Accepted Answer

A)  true. 
B)  justified. 
C)  certain. 
D)  Both a and b 
A)  true. 
B)  justified. 
C)  certain. 
D)  Both a and b

Question 12

According to the No Certainty Argument, moral knowledge is

Accepted Answer

A)  possible. 
B)  easy to come by. 
C)  justified. 
D)  impossible. 
A)  possible. 
B)  easy to come by. 
C)  justified. 
D)  impossible.

Question 13

If atheism is true, then

Accepted Answer

A)  morality does not exist. 
B)  some laws do not have lawmakers. 
C)  morality is a human creation. 
D)  None of the above 
A)  morality does not exist. 
B)  some laws do not have lawmakers. 
C)  morality is a human creation. 
D)  None of the above

Question 14

Reflect on your own moral upbringing. What has had the greatest influence over your personal moral beliefs? Do you believe your own moral beliefs to be justified? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Reflecting on my own moral upbringing, I

Question 15

According to the text, what is wrong with thinking that a claim is true only if science can verify it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Such a claim does not pass its own test. 
B)  Such a claim does not make room for religious knowledge. 
C)  Such a claim ignores the failings of science. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Such a claim does not pass its own test. 
B)  Such a claim does not make room for religious knowledge. 
C)  Such a claim ignores the failings of science. 
D)  All of the above

Question 16

Knowledge requires beliefs that are not only true but also

Accepted Answer

A)  false. 
B)  certain. 
C)  justified. 
D)  irrelevantly influenced. 
A)  false. 
B)  certain. 
C)  justified. 
D)  irrelevantly influenced.

Question 17

If it is true that we are not justified in believing some claim if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about it, then knowledge about which of the following subjects could be called into doubt?

Accepted Answer

A)  Whether God exists. 
B)  Whether morality is objective. 
C)  Whether we have free will. 
D)  All of the above 
A)  Whether God exists. 
B)  Whether morality is objective. 
C)  Whether we have free will. 
D)  All of the above

Question 18

Explain the skeptical No Certainty Argument. How can the premises in the argument be defended? Which premise do you take to be the weakest, and why? Do you find the argument to be compelling overall? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The skeptical No Certainty Argument is a

Question 19

To be certain is to have a belief that

Accepted Answer

A)  one feels extremely confident about. 
B)  everybody agrees about. 
C)  cannot be false and cannot rationally be doubted. 
D)  is well-supported. 
A)  one feels extremely confident about. 
B)  everybody agrees about. 
C)  cannot be false and cannot rationally be doubted. 
D)  is well-supported.

Question 20

Justified beliefs are

Accepted Answer

A)  certain. 
B)  doubtful. 
C)  always true. 
D)  well-supported. 
A)  certain. 
B)  doubtful. 
C)  always true. 
D)  well-supported.

Exam 21: Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity

The fact that there is deep and persistent disagreement among scientists shows that

According to Hume's argument, we can have no _______ knowledge.

According to Hume's argument, moral claims are

_______ is the view that we cannot have moral knowledge.

Evolutionary pressures work to instill beliefs that are

What is an empirical truth?

According to the Argument from Disagreement, if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about some claim, then

How might an objectivist respond to the argument that ethical objectivism is false because values have no place in a scientific world?

Is ethical objectivism incompatible with science? Why might someone think that it is, and how might an ethical objectivist respond? Which side is correct?

If everyone has an equal right to hold his or her own moral opinions, then

To get knowledge in any area is to have some beliefs about it that are

According to the No Certainty Argument, moral knowledge is

If atheism is true, then

Reflect on your own moral upbringing. What has had the greatest influence over your personal moral beliefs? Do you believe your own moral beliefs to be justified? Why or why not?

According to the text, what is wrong with thinking that a claim is true only if science can verify it?

Knowledge requires beliefs that are not only true but also

If it is true that we are not justified in believing some claim if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about it, then knowledge about which of the following subjects could be called into doubt?

Explain the skeptical No Certainty Argument. How can the premises in the argument be defended? Which premise do you take to be the weakest, and why? Do you find the argument to be compelling overall? Why or why not?

To be certain is to have a belief that

Justified beliefs are

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

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

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