Deck 10: Moral Philosophy

Question 1

St. Thomas Aquinas held that there were two sets of virtues, one set directing us to happiness on earth and the other directing us to everlasting happiness.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

St. Augustine believed that the existence of the Devil is the best explanation of why there is evil in a world created by a totally good God.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Which of the following ideas was central to Thomas Hobbes's philosophy of values?

A) Good and evil simply denote that which a person desires or hates.
B) Human happiness consists of pleasure and reason.
C) Moral evil is a case of misdirected love.
D) A natural law governs all morality, and human behavior must conform to it.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

According to John Stuart Mill, why should we seek to raise the general happiness rather than just our own?

A) Our own happiness coincides with the general happiness.
B) God commands us to further the general happiness.
C) No one can rationally will that everyone ignore the general happiness.
D) By its very nature, morality singles out no one for preferential treatment.

Question 5

According to Plato, _____ is the virtue that obtains when all elements of the soul function as they should in obedience to reason.

A) temperance
B) justice
C) wisdom
D) courage

Question 6

According to Plato, Form goodness is apprehended by:

A) the senses.
B) reason.
C) emotions.
D) mystical vision.

Question 7

Which of the following pieces of advice is more likely to come from a Stoic?

A) Have as much fun as possible.
B) Become self-reliant and accept your fate in life with serenity and calm indifference.
C) The best life is the cautious pursuit of simple pleasures.
D) Live in a barrel in the streets.

Question 8

According to Plato, when the intellect itself is governed by reason, we exhibit:

A) temperance.
B) courage.
C) wisdom.
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 9

The Epicureans and the Stoics agreed that the good life is the pleasant life.

Question 10

Socrates believed that non-virtuous conduct is usually the result of willing evil.

Question 11

According to Immanuel Kant, principles of morality can only be ascertained by:

A) reason.
B) God.
C) consequences.
D) nature.

Question 12

According to the Stoics, _____ is the vital force that activates or energizes all things.

A) natural law
B) divine law
C) God
D) morality

Question 13

Plato held that the ultimate source of reality and goodness lies beyond the physical, natural world.

Question 14

Aristotle thought that the key to happiness is having a soul that is well ordered.

Question 15

According to Aristotle, human happiness consists of:

A) pleasure.
B) danger.
C) pain.
D) devotion.

Question 16

According to St. Augustine, moral evil comes from _____.

A) misdirected love
B) misguided education
C) a force of darkness
D) the body and its urges

Question 17

Which of the following is considered a moral evil by Plato?

A) willful disobedience of God
B) unnaturalness
C) ignorance of the good
D) desiring what is known to be bad

Question 18

St. Hildegard believed that mystical experience was a source of knowledge as certain as reason.

Question 19

According to Epicurus, which desires may be occasionally satisfied when doing so does not lead to discomfort or pain?

A) desires that are both natural and necessary
B) desires that are natural but not necessary
C) desires that are neither natural nor necessary
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 20

For Nietzsche, who or what is the source of ethical truth?

A) God
B) the Superman
C) the ruler of a state
D) slaves

Question 21

David Hume believed that moral judgments are based on reasoning from the observed facts of a situation.

Question 22

Thomas Hobbes thought that one has the natural right to use all means necessary to defend oneself or otherwise ensure one's survival.

Question 23

Unlike the utilitarians, who based morality on consequences, Kant held that morality is categorical and thus must be based solely on reason.