Deck 1: Hedonism: Its Powerful Appeal

Question 1

Explain the difference between normative ethics and metaethics. Give an example of a claim from each area, and explain why each claim falls into the category it does. Do you think that theories about metaethics have any bearing on claims about normative ethics, or are the two areas basically independent? Defend your answer.

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

Define moral skepticism and present what you take to be the strongest argument for the view. How do you think someone who is not a skeptic would respond to this argument? Do you think moral skepticism is true? Why or why not?

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

What are the two ways that a moral argument can go wrong? Give an example of an argument with the first failing and another example of an argument with the second. Explain what is wrong with each argument, and show how these defects could be corrected.

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

Give an example of a moral principle that you take to be plausible, and explain how the principle gives guidance about how to act in a variety of different situations. Do you think there are any exceptions to the principle you cite? Why or why not?

Question 5

Give an example of a particular action that you take to be morally right or morally wrong. What do you take to be the morally relevant features of that action? What implications does your discussion have for the morality of other actions?

Question 6

How would you define moral philosophy? How does moral philosophy differ from other disciplines that sometimes give advice, such as economics or psychology?

Question 7

A moral agent is

A) someone who acts morally all the time.
B) someone who acts in accordance with the ethics of his or her profession.
C) anyone who is capable of controlling his or her behavior through moral reasoning.
D) any individual whose interests we must consider in order to act morally.

Question 8

Moral theorizing essentially involves

A) trying to decide what is right or wrong on a case-by-case basis.
B) trying to come up with general moral principles that apply to many different cases.
C) consulting the relevant laws and the Constitution.
D) trying to explain what causes people to make the moral judgments they do.

Question 9

The desire for "unification" in ethics is a desire for

A) everyone to agree on moral principles.
B) everyone to treat each other well.
C) a single general moral principle.
D) a scientific account of morality.

Question 10

Which of the following commonly motivates people to be skeptical about morality?

A) The existence of moral disagreement
B) The belief that science is the only way of discovering truth
C) The view that all moral rules have exceptions
D) All of the above

Question 11

According to the text, how should moral philosophy begin?

A) From a set of moral principles that cannot be doubted
B) From a set of moral rules that is clear enough so as to not require interpretation
C) From a set of plausible ethical claims that is subject to revision
D) None of the above

Question 12

According to the text, what is moral philosophy primarily concerned with?

A) Figuring out which particular actions are right or wrong in everyday life
B) Explaining why people make the moral judgments they do
C) Examining the attractions of various ethical theories
D) Learning about the differing moral codes of different societies

Question 13

Explain the difference between intrinsic value and instrumental value, and give examples of things you take to be valuable in each way. Next, define hedonism. What does the hedonist claim is intrinsically valuable and what does she claim is instrumentally valuable?

Question 14

Hedonists distinguish between two types of pleasure. Explain this distinction and give examples of each type of pleasure. Which type of pleasure do hedonists claim is more important? Why do you think they say this? Do you agree with this claim?

Question 15

It is often claimed that hedonism allows for many types of valuable life, and that if hedonism is true, then what benefits us is "up to us." How would a hedonist defend these two claims? Do you think they are true? If so, are these strong considerations in favor of hedonism?

Question 16

What does it mean to say that "explanation must stop somewhere"? How might this be used to argue for hedonism?

Question 17

Most people would not desire their loved ones to get lobotomies, even if such a procedure would make the loved ones happier as a result. Explain how this fact might be taken to raise a challenge to hedonism. How do you think the hedonist would respond? Do you find such a response convincing?

Question 18

Briefly describe an example of an intuitively valuable life (it can be someone you know personally or someone you just know of). Explain what makes their life valuable. Does Hedonism do a good job of capturing all the dimensions of value in the life in your example? Why or why not?

Question 19

Getting a vaccine that prevents illness is an example of something that is

A) instrumentally valuable.
B) intrinsically valuable.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 20

An example of attitudinal pleasure would be

A) the excitement of riding a roller coaster.
B) the delicious sensation of eating chocolate cake.
C) the enjoyment of listening to your favorite song.
D) the feeling of a warm bath.

Question 21

An example of a physical pleasure would be

A) the enjoyment of your favorite book.
B) the pleasure of good company.
C) the sensation of a relaxing back massage.
D) the sense of accomplishment after finishing a marathon.

Question 22

Hedonists believe that

A) pleasure is not very important to having a good life.
B) physical pleasure and attitudinal pleasure are equally valuable.
C) physical pleasure is more important than attitudinal pleasure.
D) attitudinal pleasure is more important than physical pleasure.

Question 23

The first great hedonist in Western philosophy was

A) Epicurus.
B) Plato.
C) Aristotle.
D) John Stuart Mill.

Question 24

According to hedonism

A) there are many different ways to live a good life.
B) what is good for us is largely a matter of personal choice.
C) most rules for living a good life have exceptions.
D) All of the above

Question 25

Some people enjoy their own physical pain in certain circumstances. Hedonists would say

A) that their physical pain is good for them in those circumstances.
B) that their physical pain is always bad for them.
C) that their physical pain in those circumstances is both good and bad.
D) that the situation just described is impossible.

Question 26

The fact that parents typically want their children to be happy

A) proves that hedonism is true.
B) proves that hedonism is false.
C) doesn't prove that hedonism is either true or false.
D) has no relation to the theory of hedonism.

Question 27

The fact that we don't want our (cognitively normal) loved ones to get lobotomies

A) is often cited in arguments in favor of hedonism.
B) is thought to raise a problem for hedonism.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 28

John Stuart Mill's critics claimed that hedonism was

A) "plausible but incomplete."
B) "an opiate of the masses."
C) "elitist."
D) "a doctrine of swine."

Question 29

According to Epicurus, the ideal state of tranquility comes largely from

A) ccording to Epicurus, the ideal state of tranquility comes largely from ...moderation in all physical matters.
B) intellectual clarity about wha intellectual clarity about what is truly important.
C) haphhhhslkjpleasurable sensations.
D) Both a and b

Question 30

According to Mill

A) all pleasure is equally valuable.
B) intellectual and artistic pleasures are better than physical pleasures.
C) physical pleasures are better than intellectual and artistic pleasures.
D) only pleasures resulting from had work are valuable.

Question 31

According to hedonism, your life is good for you to the extent that

A) you experience pleasure and avoid pain.
B) you accomplish your goals.
C) you live morally.
D) All of the above

Question 32

Which of the following is an important distinction for hedonists?

A) Present vs. future pleasure
B) Physical vs. attitudinal pleasure
C) Aesthetic vs. emotional pleasure
D) Analytic vs. synthetic pleasure

Question 33

Who is widely regarded as the first great hedonist in Western philosophy?

A) Plato
B) Aristotle
C) John Stuart Mill
D) Epicurus

Question 34

Which of the following is an attraction of hedonism?

A) It allows us to explain why people fear lobotomies.
B) Accepting it frees us from moral obligations to others.
C) It explains why there are many different types of good life.
D) All of the above

Question 35

How do hedonists typically support the claim that happiness has intrinsic value?

A) They claim that it can be proven on the basis of other principles.
B) They admit it cannot be proven, but must be accepted based on faith.
C) They claim it is self-evident, and is a starting point for thinking about well-being.
D) They admit that it is not true, but recommend that we believe it because it is useful.

Question 36

How do hedonists regard most rules about how to live a good life?

A) Such rules are not very useful, but not necessarily harmful.
B) Many such rules are correct, and have no exceptions.
C) Such rules are merely tools of those in power, used to subordinate others.
D) Many such rules are useful, but they have exceptions.

Question 37

What is the point of Philippa Foot's example about the lobotomized patients?

A) Lobotomies make people unhappy and therefore are to be avoided.
B) Lobotomies make people happy and therefore are to be encouraged.
C) People with lobotomies are sometimes happy, and this is evidence for hedonism.
D) People with lobotomies are sometimes happy, and this is a problem for hedonism.