Question 1

Thomson's Trolley Problem thought experiment reveals

Accepted Answer

A)  the wisdom of utilitarianism. 
B)  a tension between utilitarianism and nonutilitarian theories or principles. 
C)  the impotence of all moral theories. 
A)  the wisdom of utilitarianism. 
B)  a tension between utilitarianism and nonutilitarian theories or principles. 
C)  the impotence of all moral theories. B

Question 2

Ewing's Innocent Criminal thought experiment is intended to show that

Accepted Answer

A)  utilitarianism could sanction punishing a person to increase overall happiness, even if he doesn't deserve punishment. 
B)  utility and justice amount to the same thing. 
C)  utilitarianism would never sanction punishing a person merely to increase overall happiness. 
D)  sometimes innocent people should be punished for the good of society. 
A)  utilitarianism could sanction punishing a person to increase overall happiness, even if he doesn't deserve punishment. 
B)  utility and justice amount to the same thing. 
C)  utilitarianism would never sanction punishing a person merely to increase overall happiness. 
D)  sometimes innocent people should be punished for the good of society. A

Question 3

According to libertarians, the government is justified in taxing its citizens only if those taxes are used for

Accepted Answer

A)  promoting trade and private business. 
B)  improving the social conditions of others. 
C)  supporting education and health care. 
D)  protecting individual rights. 
A)  promoting trade and private business. 
B)  improving the social conditions of others. 
C)  supporting education and health care. 
D)  protecting individual rights. D

Question 4

Is it necessarily TRUE that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

It is not necessarily true that people w

Question 5

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that concern for people you don't know is misguided.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Subjective absolutism fails as a moral theory because

Accepted Answer

A)  it violates the law of noncontradiction. 
B)  it relies too heavily on religion. 
C)  it is based on legal precedent. 
D)  it is objective. 
E)  all of these 
A)  it violates the law of noncontradiction. 
B)  it relies too heavily on religion. 
C)  it is based on legal precedent. 
D)  it is objective. 
E)  all of these

Question 7

Utilitarianism does not require that the guilty be punished or that the punishment fit the crime.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

For Aristotle, ethics is a matter of reason, whereas for Kant it's largely a matter of the emotion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Act utilitarianism claims that actions are morally right

Accepted Answer

A)  when they promote one's own best interests. 
B)  when they are in accord with the principles of justice. 
C)  when they are in accord with the wishes of society. 
D)  when they maximize happiness, everyone considered. 
A)  when they promote one's own best interests. 
B)  when they are in accord with the principles of justice. 
C)  when they are in accord with the wishes of society. 
D)  when they maximize happiness, everyone considered.

Question 10

According to Kant, an action that is based on a moral rule or maxim that cannot be universalized

Accepted Answer

A)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's beliefs. 
B)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's society. 
C)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's religion. 
D)  is immoral. 
A)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's beliefs. 
B)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's society. 
C)  might be moral or immoral depending on one's religion. 
D)  is immoral.

Question 11

Aristotle's doctrine of the golden mean says that you should always meet people half way.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

You have a ___ right to something if and only if others have a duty not to interfere with your pursuit of that thing.

Accepted Answer

A)  positive 
B)  negative 
C)  god-given 
D)  equal 
E)  inalienable 
A)  positive 
B)  negative 
C)  god-given 
D)  equal 
E)  inalienable

Question 13

Gilligan believes that we should put the ethics of care in place of the ethics of justice in all our moral decision-making.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Hare's Nazi Fanatic thought experiment is intended to show that

Accepted Answer

A)  the Nazi directive "Kill all the Jews" could not possibly be acceptable to a Kantian. 
B)  Nazis are amoral. 
C)  Kant's theory can withstand serious criticism. 
D)  Kant's theory is too subjective. 
A)  the Nazi directive "Kill all the Jews" could not possibly be acceptable to a Kantian. 
B)  Nazis are amoral. 
C)  Kant's theory can withstand serious criticism. 
D)  Kant's theory is too subjective.

Question 15

Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the hunting of mammals? Why?

Accepted Answer

Bentham would likely sanction the huntin

Question 16

Feinberg's Single-Minded Hedonist thought experiment is intended to show that psychological hedonism is a theory about love.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Godwin's Fire Rescue thought experiment illustrates Godwin's view that

Accepted Answer

A)  maximizing happiness is never as important as our special duties to others. 
B)  the life of his mother is of more value than the life of the archbishop. 
C)  maximizing happiness is more important than our special duties to others. 
D)  special duties trump utility. 
A)  maximizing happiness is never as important as our special duties to others. 
B)  the life of his mother is of more value than the life of the archbishop. 
C)  maximizing happiness is more important than our special duties to others. 
D)  special duties trump utility.

Question 18

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that

Accepted Answer

A)  we should visit hospitalized patients only out of a sense of duty. 
B)  acting purely out of a sense of duty is always a good thing. 
C)  acting purely out of a sense of duty is not always a good thing. 
D)  no normal person acts solely out of a concern for other people. 
A)  we should visit hospitalized patients only out of a sense of duty. 
B)  acting purely out of a sense of duty is always a good thing. 
C)  acting purely out of a sense of duty is not always a good thing. 
D)  no normal person acts solely out of a concern for other people.

Question 19

Subjective relativism avoids the problem that plagues subjective absolutism by arguing that right and wrong are

Accepted Answer

A)  relations. 
B)  properties. 
C)  absolutes. 
D)  derived from the government. 
E)  none of these 
A)  relations. 
B)  properties. 
C)  absolutes. 
D)  derived from the government. 
E)  none of these

Question 20

For Kant to say that a moral imperative is "categorical" is to say that it must be followed in every situation no matter what.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Thomson's Trolley Problem thought experiment reveals

Ewing's Innocent Criminal thought experiment is intended to show that

According to libertarians, the government is justified in taxing its citizens only if those taxes are used for

Is it necessarily TRUE that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that concern for people you don't know is misguided.

Subjective absolutism fails as a moral theory because

Utilitarianism does not require that the guilty be punished or that the punishment fit the crime.

For Aristotle, ethics is a matter of reason, whereas for Kant it's largely a matter of the emotion.

Act utilitarianism claims that actions are morally right

According to Kant, an action that is based on a moral rule or maxim that cannot be universalized

Aristotle's doctrine of the golden mean says that you should always meet people half way.

You have a ___ right to something if and only if others have a duty not to interfere with your pursuit of that thing.

Gilligan believes that we should put the ethics of care in place of the ethics of justice in all our moral decision-making.

Hare's Nazi Fanatic thought experiment is intended to show that

Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the hunting of mammals? Why?

Feinberg's Single-Minded Hedonist thought experiment is intended to show that psychological hedonism is a theory about love.

Godwin's Fire Rescue thought experiment illustrates Godwin's view that

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that

Subjective relativism avoids the problem that plagues subjective absolutism by arguing that right and wrong are

For Kant to say that a moral imperative is "categorical" is to say that it must be followed in every situation no matter what.

The Philosophical Enterprise

The Mind-Body Problem

Free Will and Determinism

The Problem of Personal Identity

The Problem of Evil and the Existence of God

The Problem of Skepticism and Knowledge

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Exam 5: The Problem of Relativism and Morality

Thomson's Trolley Problem thought experiment reveals

Ewing's Innocent Criminal thought experiment is intended to show that

According to libertarians, the government is justified in taxing its citizens only if those taxes are used for

Is it necessarily TRUE that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that concern for people you don't know is misguided.

Subjective absolutism fails as a moral theory because

Utilitarianism does not require that the guilty be punished or that the punishment fit the crime.

For Aristotle, ethics is a matter of reason, whereas for Kant it's largely a matter of the emotion.

Act utilitarianism claims that actions are morally right

According to Kant, an action that is based on a moral rule or maxim that cannot be universalized

Aristotle's doctrine of the golden mean says that you should always meet people half way.

You have a ___ right to something if and only if others have a duty not to interfere with your pursuit of that thing.

Gilligan believes that we should put the ethics of care in place of the ethics of justice in all our moral decision-making.

Hare's Nazi Fanatic thought experiment is intended to show that

Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the hunting of mammals? Why?

Feinberg's Single-Minded Hedonist thought experiment is intended to show that psychological hedonism is a theory about love.

Godwin's Fire Rescue thought experiment illustrates Godwin's view that

Stocker's Hospitalized Patient thought experiment is intended to show that

Subjective relativism avoids the problem that plagues subjective absolutism by arguing that right and wrong are

For Kant to say that a moral imperative is "categorical" is to say that it must be followed in every situation no matter what.

The Philosophical Enterprise

The Mind-Body Problem

Free Will and Determinism

The Problem of Personal Identity

The Problem of Evil and the Existence of God

The Problem of Skepticism and Knowledge

Filters