Deck 1: An Introduction to Ethics

Question 1

The soundness of a moral standard depends on the reasoning that supports it.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Morality refers to the norms of correct conduct in polite society or, more generally, to any special code of social behavior or courtesy.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Cultural relativism is the theory that what is right is determined by what a culture or society say is right.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Utilitarianism is the theory that the morally right action is the one that achieves the most happiness for everyone involved.

Question 5

Egoism is aptly characterized by the expression, "Eat, drink and be happy."

Question 6

Psychological egoism is the theory that contends that self-interest is the only thing that ever motivates anyone.

Question 7

Utilitarianism is based on the concept of majority rule.

Question 8

Utilitarianism focuses on the results of an action, not on the character of the action itself.

Question 9

According to Kant, rational agents should be treated as ends in themselves and never merely as a means to an end.

Question 10

Kant's theory is consequentialist in nature.

Question 11

An action can be legal and yet immoral and, contrariwise, an action can be illegal and yet moral.

Question 12

All moral standards are based on etiquette.

Question 13

All moral principles are based on religion.

Question 14

According to the Divine Command Theory, murder is wrong because God commands us not to do it.

Question 15

There are two kinds of normative theories: consequentialist and nonconsequentialist.

Question 16

Which of the following expressions best captures the theory of egoism?

A) When in Rome, do as the Romans do
B) Always look out for 'Number One"
C) Do onto others as you would have them do onto you
D) The ends justify the means

Question 17

According to the theory of Utilitarianism, what makes right acts right?

A) They are based on self-interest.
B) They maximize happiness.
C) They accord with God's commands.
D) They accord with the social norms of one's society.

Question 18

Which of the following is a common objection to Utilitarianism?

A) The theory requires us to compare alternative courses of action, but the outcomes of the various alternatives are often uncertain.
B) The theory concerns itself with the total amount of happiness, and not with how that happiness is distributed.
C) The theory may require that some people's happiness be sacrificed in order to achieve the greatest overall amount of happiness.
D) All of the above

Question 19

The fundamental principle of Kant's ethics is called the __________.

A) Greatest Happiness Principle
B) Principle of Utility
C) Categorical Imperative
D) All of the above

Question 20

Which of the following is a characteristic of moral principles, according to Kant?

A) They are based on the norms of one's society
B) They can be overridden by other more stringent duties
C) They function without exception
D) All of the above

Question 21

What would Kant say about the case of breaking a deathbed promise?

A) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote our self-interest.
B) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote the happiness of everyone involved.
C) It is permissible to break a promise only if necessary to uphold a more stringent moral principle, such as cause no harm.
D) The maxim permitting you to break a promise cannot be universalized, and hence breaking your promise would be immoral.

Question 22

What would W.D. Ross say about the case of breaking a deathbed promise?

A) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote our self-interest.
B) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote the happiness of everyone involved.
C) It is permissible to break a promise only if necessary to uphold a more stringent moral principle, such as cause no harm.
D) The maxim permitting you to break your promise cannot be universalized, and hence breaking your promise would be immoral.

Question 23

What would the Utilitarian about the case of breaking a deathbed promise?

A) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote our self-interest.
B) We are justified in breaking a promise if necessary to promote the happiness of everyone involved.
C) It is permissible to break a promise only if necessary to uphold a more stringent moral principle, such as cause no harm.
D) The maxim permitting you to break your promise cannot be universalized, and hence breaking your promise would be immoral.

Question 24

W.D. Ross bases his theory on __________.

A) God
B) Happiness
C) Duty
D) Prima facie duties

Question 25

According to Cultural Relativism, what makes right acts right?

A) They are based on self-interest
B) They maximize happiness
C) They accord with God's commands
D) They accord with the social norms of one's society

Question 26

How are moral standards different from other types of standards?

A) Moral standards seriously affect human well-being.
B) Moral standards take priority over other standards.
C) Moral standards must be justified with reasons.
D) All of the above

Question 27

One way to criticize a moral theory is to ask what it would be like if that theory was true. What would it be like if ethical relativism were true?

A) We could not criticize the practices of other societies.
B) There could be no coherent notion of moral progress.
C) It would be senseless to criticize the practices of one's own society.
D) All of the above

Question 28

According to egoism, what makes right acts right?

A) They are based on self-interest
B) They maximize happiness
C) They accord with God's commands
D) They accord with the social norms of one's society

Question 29

According to Utilitarianism, what makes right acts right?

A) They are based on self-interest
B) They maximize happiness
C) They accord with God's commands
D) They accord with the social norms of one's society

Question 30

What is ethics? What is the difference between morality and etiquette? What is the relation between morality and legality? What is the relation between morality and religion?

Question 31

Why have some philosophers thought that morality is relative to particular cultures? Explain the central difficulties with the theory of ethical relativism.

Question 32

What is the difference between Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism. Discuss the problems each theory faces.

Question 33

The authors lay out six points in explaining the theory of Utilitarianism. Explain each.

Question 34

The authors raise three objections to Utilitarianism. Explain each.

Question 35

What does Kant mean by the term "the good will"? What makes a will good?

Question 36

State Kant's Categorical Imperative. Explain both formulations (the universalizability formulation and the ends-in-themselves formulation) in your own words.

Question 37

The authors raise three objections to Kant's theory. Explain each objection.

Question 38

Explain W.D. Ross's theory.

Question 39

The authors raise two objections to Ross's theory. Explain both.