Deck 7: Right and Wrong Thomas Nagel

Question 1

If something is right, it is not necessarily

A) in one's own personal interest.
B) in compliance with the rules.
C) against the rules.
D) All of the above

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Nagel believes that a persuasive argument for not harming others is implicit in which of the following questions?

A) "How would you like it if someone did that to you?"
B) "What were you thinking?"
C) "Is that how you were raised?"
D) "What if you get caught?"

Answer 2

A

Question 3

To admit that you would feel resentment toward someone who hurt you, Nagel argues, is to admit that

A) morality is based in emotion.
B) there is a reason the person who harmed you shouldn't have done what they did.
C) forgiveness is impossible.
D) we care more about ourselves than about others.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

According to Nagel, morality is based in which of the following beliefs?

A) Good and harm to particular individuals is good or bad not just from their point of view but from a general point of view that every thinking person can understand.
B) Certain rules must be applied universally for society to function at all.
C) Good will be rewarded and wickedness punished, either in this life or the next.
D) All human beings are created equal.

Question 5

To resist Nagel's argument, someone must

A) admit that they are fundamentally selfish.
B) admit that their interests are of no concern to others.
C) deny that they care about others' interests.
D) deny that breaking the law is wrong.

Question 6

Nagel denies that whether something is right or wrong depends entirely one one's own interests.

Question 7

The thought that an action is wrong usually depends on the impact that action has on other people.

Question 8

Nagel assumes that everyone has at least some degree of concern for other people.

Question 9

According to Nagel, if you think your own interests provide others with reasons not to treat you badly, then you have reason not to treat others badly.

Question 10

Nagel claims that the basis of morality is a belief that good and harm to particular people is good or bad just from their point of view.

Question 11

According to Nagel, what follows from the belief that others have a good reason to care not just about their own interests but about our interests as well? Explain his position. Do you agree with his claim that virtually all of us share this belief? Why or why not?

Question 12

What difference, if any, is there between something being wrong and something being against the law?

Question 13

Nagel claims that answering the question "How would you like it if someone did that to you?" reveals why you should not treat others badly. Suppose someone answers: "I wouldn't like it if someone did that to me. But luckily no one is doing it to me. I'm doing it to someone else, and I don't mind that at all!" How does this response miss the point of the question?