Deck 9: Deontology

Question 1

Deontology

A) grants that consequences can be morally relevant.
B) bases many claims on consequences.
C) rejects a dependency on consequences.
D) focuses entirely on intentions.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What we should do in a given situation, according to Ross, is called our _______ moral duty.

A) actual
B) absolute
C) prima facie
D) deontological

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Ross's duty of beneficence entails that we

A) do not harm others.
B) show our thanks to those who do something for us.
C) treat others fairly.
D) extend generosity and kindness to people.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Ross believes that if several people sincerely and thoughtfully consult their moral intuitions, they would

A) arrive at the same foundational moral duties.
B) agree about some foundational moral duties but also disagree about some.
C) arrive at different fundamental moral duties.
D) arrive at different fundamental moral duties, but be able to compromise on what is ultimately best for society.

Question 5

The Good Will resides in any person who

A) sincerely means well, regardless of what they do.
B) does what they believe is right.
C) is not doing something wrong.
D) None of the above

Question 6

In discussing intrinsic or foundational goods, Kant argues that

A) adding pleasure to certain situations can make them worse.
B) if we add knowledge to certain situations, those situations will only become better.
C) adding pleasure or knowledge (or both) to certain situations will always make them better.
D) None of the above

Question 7

A hypothetical imperative applies to someone

A) depending on their circumstances and purpose.
B) in every possible situation.
C) whenever obeying it leads to happiness.
D) who believes that is their duty.

Question 8

According to Kant, an act is wrong if it treats someone as a(n)

A) end only and not as a means.
B) end and means both.
C) means only and not as an end.
D) entity with foundational value.

Question 9

According to Kant's Principle of universal law, a theft is wrong because

A) you would not want to have your things taken.
B) it leads to hurt and further complications.
C) if people are all permitted to take things to make them their own, their owning things would become meaningless.
D) it is viewed as wrong in all human cultures.

Question 10

According to Kant, the principle of universal law is _______ the Principle of ends and so should always yield _______ conclusions.

A) equivalent to; the same
B) not equivalent to; the same
C) equivalent to; different
D) not equivalent to; different

Question 11

Which of the following is the most Kantian reason for reporting a person who cheats on a test?

A) If no one reports cheaters, then more will become cheaters, making the world worse for everyone.
B) Reporting a cheater will ultimately achieve more good than harm.
C) if no one ever reports cheaters, then high grades will lose their value.
D) Kant's theories would not support reporting a cheater.

Question 12

Kant considers a duty to show kindness and to act generously a(n) _______ duty.

A) perfect
B) imperfect
C) limited
D) universal

Question 13

When two duties come into apparent conflict, you should fulfill

A) an imperfect duty before a perfect duty.
B) a perfect duty before an imperfect duty.
C) the more important perfect duty before the less important perfect duty.
D) whichever better serves your self-interest.

Question 14

Which of the following is an objection to Kant's theory?

A) It never considers any consequences.
B) The very same act can be described to yield consistency or inconsistency when it's universalized.
C) It seems to put infants, young children, and advanced Alzheimer patients out of the moral community.
D) All of the above

Question 15

Kant insists that we can have _______ toward animals.

A) only direct duties
B) only indirect duties
C) both direct and indirect duties
D) Kant does not believe we can have any duties toward nonhumans.

Question 16

Kant maintains that each person "makes" the moral law for themself. This means that each person should arrive at _______ set of moral principles.

A) their own
B) the exact same
C) vastly different
D) mostly the same

Question 17

Deontology takes _______ into account when determining what is right or wrong.

A) an act's effects and the actor's intentions
B) the kind of act and the act's effects
C) the kind of act and the actor's intentions
D) the consequences of a particular kind of act

Question 18

Ross's duty of gratitude requires that individuals

A) pay back what they owe.
B) show appreciation to those who do something for them.
C) keep their promises to those who also keep their promises.
D) are not obligated to one another in any way.

Question 19

According to Kant, if the universalization of a maxim would conflict with our purpose for acting as the maxim describes, then acting that way is

A) ethical.
B) unethical.
C) either ethical or unethical, depending on the results.
D) only hypothetical.

Question 20

To determine the maxim an act falls under, one should

A) just describe the act itself.
B) just describe why one would act that way.
C) describe both the act and one's intention for acting that way.
D) complete Kant's calculations.

Question 21

A perfect duty describes

A) an ideal that few can ever measure up to.
B) something you can do to a greater or lesser degree.
C) something that you can only do or not do.
D) none of the preceding.

Question 22

Kant calls the duties to not steal and not lie _______ duties.

A) perfect
B) imperfect
C) limited
D) universal

Question 23

Kant provides his Kingdom of Ends

A) as a basis for another version of the categorical imperative.
B) to prove that people can really live up to his theory's requirements.
C) to show his moral ideals can only be imagined but can never become real.
D) because his publisher paid him by the word.

Question 24

A categorical imperative holds unconditionally.

Question 25

Kant insists that the consequences of our actions are ultimately our moral responsibility.

Question 26

Ross's intuitionism is identical to subjectivism because, by his theory, whatever anyone thinks is right is right for that person.

Question 27

Although two people might do essentially the same thing and produce essentially the same utility, it still seems possible for one to be acting immorally while the other is acting morally.

Question 28

It is never okay, according to Kant, to use another person as a means to attain something you want-for instance, asking your brother to pick up some groceries for you.

Question 29

Kant rejects any moral role for consequences except that when two duties conflict, instead thinking that we should do whichever one will yield the best consequences.

Question 30

It seems possible for Kantian theory to allow an abortion or even infanticide, since these do not kill rational agents.