Deck 9: Challenges for Utilitarianism

Question 1

In what way does Sidgwick criticize utilitarian calculus?

A) The time to calculate the best action is infinitely long.
B) We need experience in order to perform the calculation.
C) Pleasure is not the only good we seek.
D) Utilitarianism excludes nonhuman animals from moral consideration.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Imagine that Brenden enjoyed being punished (which is referred to as masochism).Describe how Brenden's actions would be different if he followed the categorical imperative as opposed to the golden rule.

Answer 2

Answers will vary.A valid response would point to the golden rule requiring Brenden to punish others (because he desired punishment),while the categorical imperative will hold that he ought not punish others because we cannot universalize punishment for all,the nature of categorical imperatives,and/or the distinction between hypothetical and categorical imperatives.

Question 3

The problem of counterintuitive consequences highlights that in some instances,utilitarianism requires ________ actions.

A) difficult
B) unjust
C) unintelligible
D) random

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Imagine that you have been invited to go to the opera on the same day and time that a contestant on your favorite reality television show is making an appearance in your town.A utilitarian take on how to decide which event to attend would largely depend upon which of the following?

A) whether you had previously attended either event
B) the cost of each event
C) the relative qualities of the resultant happiness
D) which event you committed to attending first

Question 5

Why are Mill's responsibilities with India often pointed to as a difficulty for him?

A) His beliefs about emancipation do not correspond with his actions with India.
B) His travels to India interfered with his work as a member of Parliament.
C) His endorsement of Indian sovereignty put him on the fringes of British society.
D) He lacked the ability to separate his professional and philosophical roles.

Question 6

What is Mill's response to the objection that people seek things other than happiness?

A) Some people are not sufficiently developed to be moral agents.
B) Other things sought are desired because they lead to happiness.
C) We can choose ends for other reasons,but happiness is always the reason for morality.
D) This is a problem only in totalitarian regimes.

Question 7

Discuss the basis on which Kant might state that we have a duty to assist someone who is drowning.

Question 8

Making decisions for others based upon our own beliefs of what is best for them is best understood as which of the following?

A) fidelity
B) paternalism
C) beneficence
D) existentialism

Question 9

The difference between the two main variants of utilitarianism is what?

A) Act utilitarianism is based upon observation;rule utility is based upon conjecture.
B) Rawlsian utilitarianism is about social structures;act utility is about individual choices.
C) Rule utilitarianism applies to multiple individuals;act utility is only about one person.
D) Act utilitarianism looks at discrete actions;rule utility is a measure of the effectiveness of a standard.

Question 10

Assisted suicide,or helping another person end his or her life,is controversial.Key to most understandings is that the person must commit the action himself or herself,though one could aid him or her by providing a lethal dose of a drug,for example.How would Kant evaluate the morality of assisting with a suicide? Explain why you do or do not agree.

Question 11

Briefly describe the difference between a priori and a posteriori knowledge.

Question 12

In the United States,most automobile purchases involve a negotiation on the price of the vehicle.Imagine a car dealership that advertised that it was a "no haggle zone" and that the prices for each car were clearly labeled.In order to understand a Kantian analysis of the ethics of this action,what would we need to know?

Question 13

Government house utilitarianism holds which of the following?

A) Like a house needs a good foundation,morality must be based upon explicit standards.
B) It is important for those electing officers to utilize utilitarian standards in selection.
C) Elites can practice utilitarianism,while common people are told to follow explicit rules of morality.
D) To be successful,utilitarianism should be explicitly endorsed by the government of a given society.

Question 14

Utilitarianism is a part of which broader understanding of morality?

A) humanism
B) deontology
C) consequentialism
D) existentialism

Question 15

Imagine that you had received advanced confidential information about the impending release of a new product.It appears that this new technology is going to be a huge hit and very profitable for the company and its stockholders.No announcement has been made,so you would be able to purchase stock at a lower price.But such "insider trading" is illegal.You don't believe that anyone would be significantly financially harmed if you break this law.Which of the following topics is MOST relevant to your decision?

A) theory of the good
B) fallacy of scarcity
C) agency objections
D) counterintuitive consequences

Question 16

Those who enjoy roller coasters often describe that the thrill they get from a particular coaster is highest on the first ride.This is an example of which of the following?

A) primacy/recency effect
B) diminishing marginal utility
C) ennui
D) disenchantment

Question 17

Nozick's experience machine is used as an example of which objection to utilitarianism?

A) the agency objection
B) the quality objection
C) the evil pleasures objection
D) the irrelevance objection