Question 1

Three models of ethical theory include top-down reasoning, bottom-up reasoning, and reasoning based on coherence and considered judgments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Beauchamp and Childress reject the use of the casuistical method and of analogy in moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

According to John Rawls, as quoted by Beauchamp and Childress, the moral convictions in which we have the highest confidence and believe to have the least bias are _________ _________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to John Rawls, as quoted by...

Question 4

What is a feature of all common-morality theories, according to Beauchamp and Childress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Common-morality theories rely on ordinary, shared moral beliefs for their starting content. 
B)  Common-morality theories hold that an ethical theory that cannot be made consistent with pretheoretical moral values falls under suspicion. 
C)  Common-morality theories are pluralistic, containing two or more nonabsolute moral principles. 
D)  All of the above

Question 5

A top-down model of ethical reasoning:

Accepted Answer

A)  Holds that we reach justified moral judgments through a structure of normative precepts that cover the judgments 
B)  Is inspired by disciplines such as mathematics, in which a claim follows logically from a credible set of premises 
C)  Involves applying a general norm to a clear case falling under the norms 
D)  All of the above

Question 6

At what point can a moral judge claim to have reached a considered judgment, according to Beauchamp and Childress?

Accepted Answer

A)  The judgment has been framed from an impartial perspective that reins in conflicts of interest and other temptations of self-interest. 
B)  The evaluator exhibits attitudes of sympathy and compassion for the welfare of others. 
C)  The evaluator possesses pertinent information about the relevant matters. 
D)  All of the above

Question 7

_________ ________, as a form of ethical reasoning, is a way of bringing principles, judgments, and background theories into a state of equilibrium or harmony.

Accepted Answer

The answer of _________ ________, as a form of ethical...

Question 8

Beauchamp and Childress call their own model of ethical reasoning a form of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Principlism 
B)  Utilitarianism 
C)  Foundationalism 
D)  Reflective equilibrium

Question 9

What is one way Beauchamp and Childress describe the method of casuistry in ethical reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Casuistic thinkers exclude rules and principles from moral thinking. 
B)  Casuistic thinkers seek a unified theory with universal principles as a foundation for making moral judgments. 
C)  Casuistic thinkers believe that appropriate moral judgments occur through an intimate acquaintance with particular situations and the historical record of similar cases. 
D)  Casuistic thinkers focus only on the case at hand when making moral judgments.

Question 10

Which of the following do Beauchamp and Childress say about justification in ethical reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Justification in ethics is a demonstration in court. 
B)  To justify an ethical position, it is enough to list reasons for that position. 
C)  Someone who wishes to justify her ethical position must present cases that show why her position is appropriate. 
D)  To justify an ethical position, reasons must be given that are both relevant to and sufficient to support the position.

Question 11

Proponents of reflective equilibrium in ethical thinking argue that a theory or set of moral beliefs is justified if it maximizes the coherence of the overall set of beliefs that are accepted upon reflective examination.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Beauchamp and Childress argue that a theory of the common morality should remain open to the possibility that the common morality may incorporate more substantially a rule of nondiscrimination by including rules of _______ moral consideration for groups such as women, people of every ethnicity, the great apes, and other parties currently excluded from some kinds of moral considerations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Beauchamp and Childress argue that a theory...

Question 13

Why is the common morality better suited to play a vital role in biomedical ethics than other theories discussed by Beauchamp and Childress?

Accepted Answer

A)  The common morality presents a comprehensive ethical theory. 
B)  The common morality captures a pretheoretical moral point of view and gives us a way to test our moral claims against this point of view. 
C)  The specified moral norms brought to light by a common morality theory never change. 
D)  The common morality is consistent with all customary moralities of various groups.

Question 14

What is the main thesis of thinkers who embrace reflective equilibrium as their method for moral thinking?

Accepted Answer

A)  Principles need to be applied and balanced when confronted with an ethical case. 
B)  Moral maxims arise from description of and ethical reflection upon particular cases. 
C)  Justification in ethics and political philosophy occurs through a reflective testing of moral beliefs, moral principles, judgments, and theoretical postulates with the goal of making them coherent. 
D)  Principles should be informed by on-the-ground ethical judgments.

Question 15

According to Beauchamp and Childress, what is the usual process by which societal moral norms undergo change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Basic norms of morality are found to be morally suspect and are rejected or altered. 
B)  A new theory of morality is developed in the intellectual life of a society and is adopted in place of the old. 
C)  Norms are changed and specified in order to develop moral rules with no exceptions. 
D)  As circumstances change, people find reasons for saying that a norm has new specifications or valid exceptions or can be outweighed by other norms.

Question 16

How do Beauchamp and Childress's four principles of biomedical ethics relate to what they describe as the common morality?

Accepted Answer

A)  The principles are drawn from the common morality for the purpose of reasoning about biomedical ethics. 
B)  The principles provide a description of the main content of the common morality. 
C)  The common morality is derived by various groups and cultures from the principles. 
D)  Nonmaleficence and beneficence are derived straightforwardly from the common morality, but respect for autonomy and justice need further justification.

Question 17

As discussed by Beauchamp and Childress, when some feature in a person's or group's prevailing structure of moral views conflicts with one or more of their considered judgments, they must modify something in their viewpoint in order to achieve equilibrium.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Even when abstract moral norms do not change, often the ________ of their application can change, meaning that moral principles are deemed to apply to more or different groups than previously.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Even when abstract moral norms do not...

Question 19

Beauchamp and Childress claim that the four basic principles they describe in their book are an expression of the full moral content of the common morality.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The common morality anchors moral theory by capturing the _________ moral point of view, or the judgments and norms that make up moral thinking prior to systematization in a general ethical theory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The common morality anchors moral theory by...

Exam 10: Method and Moral Justification

Three models of ethical theory include top-down reasoning, bottom-up reasoning, and reasoning based on coherence and considered judgments.

Beauchamp and Childress reject the use of the casuistical method and of analogy in moral reasoning.

According to John Rawls, as quoted by Beauchamp and Childress, the moral convictions in which we have the highest confidence and believe to have the least bias are _ _.

What is a feature of all common-morality theories, according to Beauchamp and Childress?

A top-down model of ethical reasoning:

At what point can a moral judge claim to have reached a considered judgment, according to Beauchamp and Childress?

_ , as a form of ethical reasoning, is a way of bringing principles, judgments, and background theories into a state of equilibrium or harmony.

Beauchamp and Childress call their own model of ethical reasoning a form of:

What is one way Beauchamp and Childress describe the method of casuistry in ethical reasoning?

Which of the following do Beauchamp and Childress say about justification in ethical reasoning?

Proponents of reflective equilibrium in ethical thinking argue that a theory or set of moral beliefs is justified if it maximizes the coherence of the overall set of beliefs that are accepted upon reflective examination.

Why is the common morality better suited to play a vital role in biomedical ethics than other theories discussed by Beauchamp and Childress?

What is the main thesis of thinkers who embrace reflective equilibrium as their method for moral thinking?

According to Beauchamp and Childress, what is the usual process by which societal moral norms undergo change?

How do Beauchamp and Childress's four principles of biomedical ethics relate to what they describe as the common morality?

As discussed by Beauchamp and Childress, when some feature in a person's or group's prevailing structure of moral views conflicts with one or more of their considered judgments, they must modify something in their viewpoint in order to achieve equilibrium.

Even when abstract moral norms do not change, often the ________ of their application can change, meaning that moral principles are deemed to apply to more or different groups than previously.

Beauchamp and Childress claim that the four basic principles they describe in their book are an expression of the full moral content of the common morality.

The common morality anchors moral theory by capturing the _________ moral point of view, or the judgments and norms that make up moral thinking prior to systematization in a general ethical theory.