Deck 9: Ethics and Moral Decision Making

Question 1

Carol Gilligan maintained which of the following?

A) Kohlberg's theory of moral development was entirely correct.
B) Men and women do not differ in how they develop morally.
C) Men tend to focus on caring for others rather than on rules.
D) Women in the postconventional stage adopt what Gilligan calls the care perspective.

Answer 1

D
Explanation: Gilligan noted that Kohlberg's studies of moral development all relied on data collected from men. She maintained that men and women differ in the ways in which they develop morally. In the postconventional stage, men tend to adhere to strict rules of duty, while women focus more on maintaining relationships and balancing the needs of others with their own needs. This latter style of moral reasoning Gilligan called the care perspective.

Question 2

Which of the following is associated with morality throughout the world?

A) happiness
B) self-interest
C) the death penalty for murder
D) All of these answers are correct.

Answer 2

A
Explanation: Many moral thinkers and moral philosophies throughout the world associate morality and happiness. Being moral is quite often thought to be a necessary component of being happy. Studies show that those who emphasize moral values in their life tend to be happier than those that do not.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes cultural relativism?

A) a moral theory that claims that different cultures have different moral beliefs
B) a moral theory that claims all cultures have a commonly held set of moral beliefs
C) a moral theory that claims that the standards of a culture determine what is right or wrong for members of that culture
D) a moral theory that claims that you should always show respect for other people by helping them when they are in need and by never violating their rights

Answer 3

C
Explanation: The cultural relativist maintains that morality is relative to cultural standards. What is right for the members of one culture is what that culture believes to be right. For example, if one culture believes that euthanasia is morally acceptable, then it is morally acceptable for members of that culture. If a different culture thinks it is wrong, then it is wrong for members of that culture.

Question 4

Which of the following is a conflict between moral values?

A) a moral theory
B) a moral sentiment
C) a moral argument
D) a moral dilemma

Question 5

Which of the following best describes a virtue?

A) something that brings you pleasure
B) something you are morally required to do
C) an admirable character trait
D) a disposition to harm others

Question 6

Which of the following is true of conscience?

A) Conscience has an emotional component.
B) Conscience cannot provide you with knowledge.
C) A person's conscience is unaffected by how that person is raised.
D) Your moral reasoning cannot benefit from listening to your conscience.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of moral theories?

A) They all claim that morality is relative.
B) They help us to explain why some actions are right or wrong.
C) They have no effect on our actions.
D) They cannot help us to rank our moral concerns.

Question 8

Which of the following is a moral value?

A) popularity
B) wealth
C) compassion
D) independence

Question 9

Which of the following is the inclination to imagine the feelings and needs of others?

A) sympathy
B) guilt
C) resentment
D) None of these answers is correct.

Question 10

Which of the following is true of utilitarianism?

A) Utilitarianism is a moral theory originated by Immanuel Kant.
B) The utilitarian pays little attention to the rights of the individual.
C) Utilitarianism claims there are no universal moral truths.
D) All of these answers are true.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a moral argument?

A) a set of considerations in favor of a conclusion
B) an argument that contains a description conclusion
C) an argument that contains a prescriptive premise
D) an argument attempting to prove that you are morally superior to others

Question 12

Which of the following best describes ethical subjectivism?

A) a moral theory that claims that moral truth is relative to a cultural background
B) a moral theory that claims that morality is universal
C) a moral theory that claims that pleasure and pain are the subject of all moral thought
D) a moral theory that claims that moral truth is relative to the individual

Question 13

Which of the following is Kant's second formulation of the categorical imperative?

A) Treat humanity always as a category of educated beings.
B) Never treat humanity as a means.
C) Never treat humanity as an end in itself.
D) Treat humanity always as an end in itself, never as a mere means.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a prima facie duty?

A) a moral requirement that can be ignored
B) a moral requirement that can be overridden by other moral considerations
C) a moral requirement that cannot be violated
D) a moral requirement that can be violated to promote the interests of the state

Question 15

Which of the following best describes utilitarianism?

A) the moral theory that claims you should do what is most useful for you
B) the moral theory that claims that you should never violate the rights of others
C) the moral theory that claims you should do what will best promote general happiness
D) the moral theory that claims that rights are more important that duties

Question 16

Which of the following is Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative?

A) Act only on that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law.
B) Choose the action among the possible actions open to you whereby you can most reasonably expect it to lead the best consequences for all.
C) Act virtuously.
D) Maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

Question 17

Which of the following is a moral sentiment felt when an injustice happens to you?

A) anger
B) resentment
C) guilt
D) shame

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a moral sentiment?

A) empathy
B) guilt
C) fear
D) resentment

Question 19

According to Lawrence Kohlberg,which of the following is a stage of moral development?

A) the preconventional stage
B) the conventional stage
C) the postconventional stage
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 20

Which of the following is a right to be allowed to pursue our legitimate interests?

A) welfare rights
B) liberty rights
C) legitimate rights
D) legal rights

Question 21

The ethical subjectivist claims that we all have a duty to be tolerant of others.

Question 22

Moral reasoning is reasoning only about what others should do.

Question 23

A moral tragedy is always involves failing to take a morally appropriate action.

Question 24

Kant argued that if it is ever wrong for one person to lie,then it is always wrong to for anyone to lie.

Question 25

Aristotle believed that morality is the most fundamental expression of human nature.

Question 26

Moral arguments can contain descriptive premises.

Question 27

Moral outrage is the capacity for imagining the feelings of others.

Question 28

Guilt is a moral sentiment.

Question 29

Utilitarians hold that the interests of an individual should never be sacrificed for the greater good.

Question 30

Gratitude is one of W.D.Ross's seven prima facie duties.

Question 31

The pursuit of fame is the pursuit of something of moral value.

Question 32

Shame is a moral sentiment.

Question 33

The ethical subjectivist claims that your believing that something is right makes it right for you.

Question 34

Conscience is based purely on reason and has no emotional component.

Question 35

The cultural relativist claims that what is morally required varies from culture to culture.

Question 36

Kant believed that the interests of the individual should be sacrificed for the sake of the greater good.

Question 37

Cultural relativists and ethical subjectivists both believe that morality can change over time.

Question 38

The virtue ethicist claims that principles of duty are the fundamental concern of ethical philosophy.

Question 39

Moral relativists claim that there are moral principles shared by all people.

Question 40

The approval of others is very important to those in what Kohlberg calls the postconventional stage of moral development.