Exam 5: Religion and Natural Law

Imagine that a student was told she could either drop out of college or declare a major in underwater basket weaving.Which of the following is the best explanation for why this is a false dilemma?

Divine command theory differs from natural law theory in that divine command

Why is the belief that God knows morality better than humans do problematic for a religiously based morality?

Kant believed that it was possible for God to have chosen different moral standards.

One position that Glaucon puts forward in the "Ring of Gyges" story is that if given the chance to take actions without the possibility of being observed,we would act in unjust manners.Briefly discuss if you believe that Glaucon is right about this,and why.

During the Second World War,John Osborn,a sergeant major in the Canadian army,threw his body onto an enemy grenade.He and one other solider died in the explosion,though his sacrifice saved the lives of others.How might a psychological egoist interpret Osborn's actions?

Briefly explain the difference between psychological and ethical egoism.

Several studies have shown that when we perform charitable actions,the regions of our brains known colloquially as "pleasure centers" show heightened activity.Discuss the impact of these results on the acceptance of a morality of selflessness.

On what basis does Aquinas argue that masturbation,homosexuality,and bestiality are wrong?

Maritain quotes Antigone on the origin of moral laws in order to show that

A difficulty for natural law theorists is which of the following?

Natural law theory generally assumes which of the following?

A claim sometimes made by vegans against the consumption of milk products is that humans are the only animals to ingest the milk of another species.Recently scientists have reported observing feral cats on Isla de Guadalupe nursing from elephant seals (and thus depriving seal pups of nutrition).If this nursing is understood as "natural," what impact does it have on the vegan argument?

Briefly explain the differences between group altruism,reciprocal altruism,and kin altruism.

The notion that morality is based upon a larger purpose or meaning to life is referred to as ________ reasoning.

Religiously based prohibitions on what sorts of food can be consumed,such as those practiced by those who keep kosher or follow halal,are examples of which sort of moral belief?

The book of Job in the Jewish Tanakh provides the story of God allowing Satan to remove the blessings of Job's life in order to see if Job is pious only because he is well off.The defender of divine command theory would say which of the following about the story?