Deck 1: Moral Theory

Question 1

Talk about:
-Atheism

Answer 1

the view that God does not exist.

Question 2

Talk about:
-Conventional morality

Answer 2

the system of widely accepted rules and principles that members of a culture or society use to govern their own lives and to assess the actions and the motivations of others.

Question 3

Talk about:
-Critical morality

Answer 3

a set of moral norms that (i) does not have its origin in social agreements; (ii) is untainted by mistaken beliefs, irrationality, or popular prejudices; and (iii) can serve as the true standard for determining when conventional morality has got it right and when it has fallen into error.

Question 4

Talk about:
-Divine command theory

Question 5

Talk about:
-Norms

Question 6

Talk about:
-Normative system

Question 7

Talk about:
-Omniscient

Question 8

Talk about:
-Theists

Question 9

According to the text, the three core areas of moral philosophy are normative ethics, value theory, and

A) moral skepticism.
B) conventional morality.
C) applied ethics.
D) metaethics.

Question 10

Which of the following is not true of critical morality?

A) It can serve as the true standard for evaluating conventional morality.
B) It necessarily generates moral skepticism.
C) It does not have its origin in social agreements.
D) It is untainted by mistaken beliefs, irrationality, or popular prejudices.

Question 11

According to the text, moral skepticism is

A) possibly true.
B) a core area of moral philosophy.
C) absurd or self-defeating.
D) the default view of ethics.

Question 12

The view that an act is morally obligatory just because it is required by God, and that it is immoral just because God forbids it, is known as

A) theism.
B) conventional morality.
C) the divine command theory.
D) value theory.

Question 13

The Argument from Religious Authority faces difficulties because

A) there are multiple sacred texts.
B) it requires justifying claims that God exists.
C) there are multiple interpretations of sacred texts.
D) All of the above

Question 14

According to the conclusion of the Divine Perfection Argument,

A) God exists.
B) the divine command theory is false.
C) God is omniscient.
D) theism is false.

Question 15

The divine command theory falls within the domain of

A) value theory.
B) normative ethics.
C) applied ethics.
D) moral skepticism.

Question 16

According to the Divine Perfection Argument, if the divine command theory is true, then

A) God is morally perfect.
B) God does not exist.
C) God is morally imperfect.
D) moral skepticism is justified.

Question 17

Are you satisfied with what the text says about the definition of morality? Why or why not? Can you think of a definition of morality? Do you think your definition successfully captures what morality is?

Question 18

Do you think there are any elements of conventional morality that are mistaken? If so, which ones, and why?

Question 19

Explain and discuss the Divine Perfection Argument. Do you think this argument is sound? Why or why not?

Question 20

Explain and discuss the Argument from Religious Authority. Do you think this argument is sound? Why or why not?

Question 21

Explain and discuss the starting points for moral thinking considered in the chapter. Do you agree that these are all plausible starting points for moral thinking? If not, which ones are not, and why? Can you think of any other plausible starting points not considered in the chapter?