Deck 21: Eleven Arguments Against Moral Objectivity

Question 1

Does ethical objectivism license intolerance or dogmatism? Explain why many have thought that it does, and explain how an objectivist might reply to this accusation.

Answer 1

No Answer.

Question 2

Is belief in the objectivity of morality compatible with atheism? If so, explain why you think this is. If not, which should we reject?

Answer 2

No Answer.

Question 3

Explain the argument from disagreement. How does the objectivist respond to this argument? Is there a way to modify the argument to avoid the objectivist's response? Explain and defend your answer.

Answer 3

No Answer.

Question 4

What is a categorical reason? Does morality require the existence of categorical reasons? Do categorical reasons actually exist? Defend your answers.

Question 5

Many people have thought that the fact that we are motivated by our moral beliefs undermines the notion that morality is objective. Explain this argument in detail. Do you think it is a good one? Why or why not?

Question 6

Is ethical objectivism incompatible with science? Why might someone think that it is, and how might an ethical objectivist respond? Which side is correct?

Question 7

The three possible accounts of the status of ethics are

A) utilitarianism, Kantianism, and contractarianism.
B) objectivism, relativism, and nihilism.
C) hedonism, desire satisfaction theory, and objective theories.
D) absolutism, pluralism, and particularism.

Question 8

Ethical objectivism supports

A) absolutism.
B) dogmatism.
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 9

The claim that there are no objective truths

A) has been well confirmed by social science.
B) is so deep that we cannot say whether it is true or false.
C) cannot possibly be true.
D) cannot possibly be false.

Question 10

If everyone has an equal right to hold his or her own moral opinions, then

A) ethical objectivism is true.
B) ethical objectivism is false.
C) ethical objectivism is incoherent.
D) this does not tell us anything about whether ethical objectivism is true.

Question 11

According to the text, if tolerance is valuable, then

A) this supports ethical objectivism.
B) this supports cultural relativism.
C) this supports ethical subjectivism.
D) this supports expressivism.

Question 12

If ethical objectivism is true, then

A) the application of basic moral principles must be identical in all cultures and societies.
B) the application of basic moral principles might vary among different cultures and societies.
C) cultures and societies determine which basic moral principles are true.
D) None of the above

Question 13

One problem for the claim that if there is deep and persistent disagreement about something, it cannot be true is that

A) it fails to pass its own test.
B) it implies that relativism is true.
C) it licenses intolerance.
D) None of the above

Question 14

The fact that there is deep and persistent disagreement among scientists shows that

A) scientific claims are not objective.
B) that there can be deep and persistent disagreement about objective truths.
C) ethical objectivism is false.
D) None of the above

Question 15

If atheism is true, then

A) morality does not exist.
B) some laws do not have lawmakers.
C) morality is a human creation.
D) None of the above

Question 16

The argument from categorical reasons claims that

A) there are no reasons that apply to us regardless of what we care about.
B) ethical objectivism does not imply that there are categorical reasons.
C) categorical reasons apply to us only if we care about them.
D) All of the above

Question 17

One way for an objectivist to reply to the argument from categorical reasons is to

A) deny that categorical reasons exist.
B) deny that moral requirements must provide us with reasons for action.
C) deny that moral judgments are intrinsically motivating.
D) deny that only desires can be intrinsically motivating.

Question 18

Many people think that if moral judgments motivate us, then

A) moral judgments are not beliefs.
B) moral judgments cannot be true.
C) ethical objectivism is false.
D) All of the above

Question 19

How can the ethical objectivist respond to the motivational argument?

A) By arguing that moral judgments alone aren't able to motivate us
B) By arguing that beliefs alone are able to motivate us
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 20

Occam's razor tells us to

A) always maximize utility.
B) never multiply entities beyond necessity.
C) accept only claims that can be proven beyond doubt.
D) always trust our senses.

Question 21

How might an objectivist respond to the argument that ethical objectivism is false because values have no place in a scientific world?

A) By maintaining that moral properties are natural properties
B) By denying that science is the ultimate measure of morality
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above-there is no way for the objectivist to respond.

Question 22

What three types of theory exhaust all the possible views of the status of ethics?

A) Nihilism, relativism, and objectivism
B) Skepticism, dogmatism, and quietism
C) Monism, pluralism, and particularism
D) Utilitarianism, Kantianism, and contractarianism

Question 23

What is the relationship between ethical objectivism and ethical absolutism?

A) Ethical objectivism requires ethical absolutism.
B) Ethical objectivism is consistent with, but does not require, ethical absolutism.
C) Ethical objectivism is inconsistent with ethical absolutism.
D) If ethical absolutism is false, then so is ethical objectivism.

Question 24

According to the text, which of the following does ethical objectivism support?

A) Ethical absolutism
B) Ethical nihilism
C) Tolerance
D) Dogmatism

Question 25

If ethical objectivism is true, which of the following must be true?

A) We are permitted to force our moral views onto other people.
B) It is OK to be dogmatic about one's moral views.
C) Not all truths are subjective.
D) All of the above

Question 26

What is the key assumption behind the claim that atheism is incompatible with ethical objectivism?

A) God created absolutely everything.
B) All laws require a lawmaker.
C) Atheists are guaranteed to act immorally.
D) Religion is most people's only motivation for acting morally.

Question 27

What kind of reasons is the objectivity of morality often thought to require?

A) Categorical reasons
B) Hypothetical reasons
C) Prudential reasons
D) Theoretical reasons

Question 28

What is the conclusion of the motivational argument inspired by David Hume?

A) Morality is relative.
B) Morality is subjective.
C) Moral beliefs can't be true.
D) Ethical objectivism is true.

Question 29

What is the term for the view that moral features are just ordinary scientific features?

A) Moral nihilism
B) Moral scientism
C) Moral naturalism
D) Moral physicalism

Question 30

What kind of claims tell us how things ought to be?

A) Positive claims
B) Normative claims
C) Scientific claims
D) Theoretical claims

Question 31

According to the text, what is wrong with thinking that a claim is true only if science can verify it?

A) Such a claim does not pass its own test.
B) Such a claim does not make room for religious knowledge.
C) Such a claim ignores the failings of science.
D) All of the above

Question 32

Which skeptical argument do you find to be the most persuasive? Describe at least one objection to the argument. In light of the objection, do you find the argument to be compelling overall? Why or why not?

Question 33

Explain the skeptical argument from disagreement. How can the premises in the argument be defended? Which premise do you take to be the weakest, and why? Do you find the argument to be compelling overall? Why or why not?

Question 34

Explain the skeptical No Certainty Argument. How can the premises in the argument be defended? Which premise do you take to be the weakest, and why? Do you find the argument to be compelling overall? Why or why not?

Question 35

Explain the Argument from Authority. How can the notion of "moral authority" be interpreted? Does everyone lack moral authority? Why or why not?

Question 36

Explain the Irrelevant Influences Argument. Which influences over our moral beliefs are "irrelevant"? In light of these influences, are any of our moral beliefs justified? Why or why not?

Question 37

Reflect on your own moral upbringing. What has had the greatest influence over your personal moral beliefs? Do you believe your own moral beliefs to be justified? Why or why not?

Question 38

To get knowledge in any area is to have some beliefs about it that are

A) true.
B) justified.
C) certain.
D) Both a and b

Question 39

Justified beliefs are

A) certain.
B) doubtful.
C) always true.
D) well-supported.

Question 40

_______ is the view that we cannot have moral knowledge.

A) Moral skepticism
B) Moral objectivism
C) Empiricism
D) Conceptualism

Question 41

According to the Argument from Disagreement, if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about some claim, then

A) we are justified in believing that claim.
B) we are not justified in believing that claim.
C) it is not a moral claim.
D) None of the above

Question 42

If it is true that we are not justified in believing some claim if well-informed, rational people persistently disagree about it, then knowledge about which of the following subjects could be called into doubt?

A) Whether God exists.
B) Whether morality is objective.
C) Whether we have free will.
D) All of the above

Question 43

According to the No Certainty Argument, we can know a claim is true only if we are certain of its

A) truth.
B) consequences.
C) structure.
D) None of the above

Question 44

According to the No Certainty Argument, moral knowledge is

A) possible.
B) easy to come by.
C) justified.
D) impossible.

Question 45

To be certain is to have a belief that

A) one feels extremely confident about.
B) everybody agrees about.
C) cannot be false and cannot rationally be doubted.
D) is well-supported.

Question 46

A problem with the No Certainty Argument is that

A) it sets the bar for knowledge too high.
B) it is invalid.
C) it is uncontroversial.
D) the premises are redundant.

Question 47

According to the Argument from Authority,

A) some moral authorities have moral knowledge.
B) morality has an author who is the moral authority.
C) no one has moral knowledge.
D) all rational beings have moral authority.

Question 48

According to the text, you can have moral knowledge

A) even if you are not a designated moral authority.
B) even if you are not the author of morality.
C) only if you are a moral authority.
D) Both a and b

Question 49

According to the Irrelevant Influences Argument,

A) no one's moral beliefs are justified.
B) only the beliefs of moral authorities are justified.
C) we don't have any beliefs.
D) moral beliefs are irrelevant.

Question 50

Knowledge requires beliefs that are not only true but also

A) false.
B) certain.
C) justified.
D) irrelevantly influenced.

Question 51

How could one defend the claim that your moral beliefs are not justified because they are influenced by your parents or culture?

A) Argue that it is extremely lucky if your parents or culture turned out to morally wise, and such luck is incompatible with knowledge.
B) Argue that it is extremely unlikely that your parents would have taught you morality even if they knew moral truths.
C) Argue that it is possible that your moral beliefs have other influences, too.
D) None of the above

Question 52

According to the Argument from Irrelevant Influences, which of the following influences over our beliefs are irrelevant?

A) parents
B) culture
C) evolution
D) All of the above

Question 53

Evolutionary pressures work to instill beliefs that are

A) true.
B) good.
C) adaptive.
D) evil.

Question 54

According to the text, we have reason to doubt whether someone's belief amounts to knowledge when the belief

A) is due entirely to parental, cultural or evolutionary influences, and not at all to attentive reflection.
B) is due in any part to parental, cultural, or evolutionary influences.
C) is due to attentive reflection.
D) Both a and b

Question 55

According to the text, even when our beliefs have irrelevant influences, moral knowledge remains possible so long as

A) we do not attentively reflect on our beliefs.
B) many of our beliefs have different origins.
C) God exists.
D) we learned from a designated moral authority.

Question 56

According to Hume's argument, moral claims are

A) not conceptual truths.
B) not empirical truths.
C) empirical truths.
D) Both a and b

Question 57

According to Hume's Argument,

A) we can only know two sorts of claims: conceptual truths or empirical truths.
B) we can only know empirical truths.
C) we can only know conceptual truths.
D) we cannot know any truths at all.

Question 58

According to Hume's argument, we can have no _______ knowledge.

A) conceptual
B) empirical
C) moral
D) All of the above

Question 59

A conceptual truth is one that has which of the following features?

A) It is a necessary truth.
B) It is true just in virtue of its meaning.
C) It can be known just by understanding it.
D) All of the above

Question 60

What is an empirical truth?

A) A necessary truth.
B) A truth known just by understanding its meaning.
C) A truth known only by relying on evidence from our five senses.
D) A controversial truth.

Question 61

Which of the following is an empirical truth?

A) The Pacific Ocean is larger than the Atlantic.
B) Squares are not circles.
C) Bachelors are unmarried.
D) Both b and c

Question 62

Which of the following is a conceptual truth?

A) The Pacific Ocean is larger than the Atlantic.
B) Squares are not circles.
C) Bachelors are unmarried.
D) Both b and c