Question 1

A psychological egoist's modest argument against common morality would hold which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Morality is the basis for human dignity. 
B)  Humans are never capable of acting morally. 
C)  Humans are often not capable of acting morally. 
D)  Human dignity makes moral behavior mandatory. 
A)  Morality is the basis for human dignity. 
B)  Humans are never capable of acting morally. 
C)  Humans are often not capable of acting morally. 
D)  Human dignity makes moral behavior mandatory. C

Question 2

Which stance holds that we take actions in order to make things better for ourselves?

Accepted Answer

A)  ethical egoism 
B)  kin egoism 
C)  sociopathy egoism 
D)  psychological egoism 
A)  ethical egoism 
B)  kin egoism 
C)  sociopathy egoism 
D)  psychological egoism D

Question 3

An egoist defender of capitalism's free market would say which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Capitalism accentuates selfishness by transferring the means of production from private ownership to state ownership. 
B)  In order to maximize one's own profit,a shopkeeper must provide what the customers want. 
C)  Capitalists have absolute freedom in their decision making;they are not beholden to the various wants and needs of their workers or consumers. 
D)  Free market capitalism allows for maximum consideration of the goods of the many. 
A)  Capitalism accentuates selfishness by transferring the means of production from private ownership to state ownership. 
B)  In order to maximize one's own profit,a shopkeeper must provide what the customers want. 
C)  Capitalists have absolute freedom in their decision making;they are not beholden to the various wants and needs of their workers or consumers. 
D)  Free market capitalism allows for maximum consideration of the goods of the many. B

Question 4

Defenses of and refutations of psychological egoism often reduce to what?

Accepted Answer

A)  relativism 
B)  nihilism 
C)  pragmatism 
D)  dogmatism 
A)  relativism 
B)  nihilism 
C)  pragmatism 
D)  dogmatism

Question 5

Which of the following is true of Ayn Rand's view of morality?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a form of egoism that allows for generous behavior toward friends and family. 
B)  It is a form of egoism that focuses on advancing the common good by pursuing actions in the agent's self-interest. 
C)  It is the view that value is found only in promoting the interests of others at one's own cost. 
D)  It is the view that might best be expressed as "If you scratch my back,I'll scratch yours." 
A)  It is a form of egoism that allows for generous behavior toward friends and family. 
B)  It is a form of egoism that focuses on advancing the common good by pursuing actions in the agent's self-interest. 
C)  It is the view that value is found only in promoting the interests of others at one's own cost. 
D)  It is the view that might best be expressed as "If you scratch my back,I'll scratch yours."

Question 6

Occasionally one will hear of long sequences of people patronizing a coffee shop who will anonymously pay in advance for the next person in line,who in turn may pay for the next person.In one instance,a continuous chain of paying for the next person lasted for eleven hours.To which aspect of morality does this practice MOST closely relate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Smithian capitalism 
B)  selfless altruism 
C)  kin altruism 
D)  reciprocal altruism 
A)  Smithian capitalism 
B)  selfless altruism 
C)  kin altruism 
D)  reciprocal altruism

Question 7

The selfish gene theory is based upon which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Our genes are programmed to behave in selfish manners. 
B)  We are programmed by a gene that causes us to act selfishly. 
C)  We are genetically programmed to preserve our genes. 
D)  We can reprogram our genes in order to behave less selfishly. 
A)  Our genes are programmed to behave in selfish manners. 
B)  We are programmed by a gene that causes us to act selfishly. 
C)  We are genetically programmed to preserve our genes. 
D)  We can reprogram our genes in order to behave less selfishly.

Question 8

Briefly explain the argument that social contract theory diminishes the impact of morality.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Question 9

In Leviathan,Hobbes describes people living in the absence of a social contract.What would your campus be like if there was no social contract in place?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Question 10

Imagine that a girl assists an elderly woman to get from one corner of an intersection to another.How might a psychological egoist best explain this action?

Accepted Answer

A)  She is acting altruistically. 
B)  She could be trying to get a "helping an old lady cross the street" merit badge from scouting. 
C)  Assisting the elderly is good in itself. 
D)  This is an instance of acting in the interests of efficiency. 
A)  She is acting altruistically. 
B)  She could be trying to get a "helping an old lady cross the street" merit badge from scouting. 
C)  Assisting the elderly is good in itself. 
D)  This is an instance of acting in the interests of efficiency.

Question 11

An important debate in moral philosophy concerns the question of whether an action has moral worth if it is not done for moral reasons.This debate is about which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  moral motivation 
B)  selfish gene theory 
C)  dogmatism 
D)  group egoism 
A)  moral motivation 
B)  selfish gene theory 
C)  dogmatism 
D)  group egoism

Question 12

Briefly explain what tensions the prisoner dilemma displays for rational decision making.Which option do you believe you should take? Why?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Question 13

Garrett Hardin popularized the term tragedy of the commons to refer to the negative impact of human action on shared and unregulated resources,like air or oceans.Briefly discuss the tension in contract theory between self-interest and cooperation with others when it comes to the sharing of these commons.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Question 14

As noted in the chapter,theorists Pateman and Mills have both objected to social contract theory for distinct but related reasons.Briefly describe their criticisms and provide a possible response.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Question 15

Which of the following is the best summary of ethical egoism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ethical agents have the duty to pursue their self-interests even at the expense of others. 
B)  Ethical agents form their moral compasses by reflecting upon their own ideals. 
C)  We are driven to achieve our self-interests because of biological mechanisms. 
D)  Self-identity together with our instincts and consciences form the totality of our beings. 
A)  Ethical agents have the duty to pursue their self-interests even at the expense of others. 
B)  Ethical agents form their moral compasses by reflecting upon their own ideals. 
C)  We are driven to achieve our self-interests because of biological mechanisms. 
D)  Self-identity together with our instincts and consciences form the totality of our beings.

Question 16

A kin altruist would hold which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  There are special obligations we have to family members that we don't have to nonfamily members. 
B)  Above all else,we are required to be kind to others. 
C)  We are morally required to treat all of humanity as if they were kin. 
D)  The more closely we are related to someone,the more altruistic we are toward him or her. 
A)  There are special obligations we have to family members that we don't have to nonfamily members. 
B)  Above all else,we are required to be kind to others. 
C)  We are morally required to treat all of humanity as if they were kin. 
D)  The more closely we are related to someone,the more altruistic we are toward him or her.

Question 17

An objection to altruistic moralities is that such systems allow for some to participate in society in a manner unequal to their contributions to society.This objection is known as what?

Accepted Answer

A)  pure egoism 
B)  free riding 
C)  private vices 
D)  selfish genes 
A)  pure egoism 
B)  free riding 
C)  private vices 
D)  selfish genes

A psychological egoist's modest argument against common morality would hold which of the following?

Which stance holds that we take actions in order to make things better for ourselves?

An egoist defender of capitalism's free market would say which of the following?

Defenses of and refutations of psychological egoism often reduce to what?

Which of the following is true of Ayn Rand's view of morality?

The selfish gene theory is based upon which of the following?

Briefly explain the argument that social contract theory diminishes the impact of morality.

In Leviathan,Hobbes describes people living in the absence of a social contract.What would your campus be like if there was no social contract in place?

Imagine that a girl assists an elderly woman to get from one corner of an intersection to another.How might a psychological egoist best explain this action?

An important debate in moral philosophy concerns the question of whether an action has moral worth if it is not done for moral reasons.This debate is about which of the following?

Briefly explain what tensions the prisoner dilemma displays for rational decision making.Which option do you believe you should take? Why?

As noted in the chapter,theorists Pateman and Mills have both objected to social contract theory for distinct but related reasons.Briefly describe their criticisms and provide a possible response.

Which of the following is the best summary of ethical egoism?

A kin altruist would hold which of the following?

An objection to altruistic moralities is that such systems allow for some to participate in society in a manner unequal to their contributions to society.This objection is known as what?

Moral Philosophy and Moral Reasoning

Cultural Relativism

Skepticism and Subjectivism

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Religion and Natural Law

The Social Contract

Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill

Challenges for Utilitarianism

Deontology: Kant

Challenges for Kantian Ethics

Virtue Ethics: Aristotle

Challenges for Virtue Ethics

The Ethics of Gender and Race

Developing a Moral Outlook

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Exam 6: Egoism

A psychological egoist's modest argument against common morality would hold which of the following?

Which stance holds that we take actions in order to make things better for ourselves?

An egoist defender of capitalism's free market would say which of the following?

Defenses of and refutations of psychological egoism often reduce to what?

Which of the following is true of Ayn Rand's view of morality?

The selfish gene theory is based upon which of the following?

Briefly explain the argument that social contract theory diminishes the impact of morality.

In Leviathan,Hobbes describes people living in the absence of a social contract.What would your campus be like if there was no social contract in place?

Imagine that a girl assists an elderly woman to get from one corner of an intersection to another.How might a psychological egoist best explain this action?

An important debate in moral philosophy concerns the question of whether an action has moral worth if it is not done for moral reasons.This debate is about which of the following?

Briefly explain what tensions the prisoner dilemma displays for rational decision making.Which option do you believe you should take? Why?

As noted in the chapter,theorists Pateman and Mills have both objected to social contract theory for distinct but related reasons.Briefly describe their criticisms and provide a possible response.

Which of the following is the best summary of ethical egoism?

A kin altruist would hold which of the following?

An objection to altruistic moralities is that such systems allow for some to participate in society in a manner unequal to their contributions to society.This objection is known as what?

Moral Philosophy and Moral Reasoning

Cultural Relativism

Skepticism and Subjectivism

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Religion and Natural Law

The Social Contract

Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill

Challenges for Utilitarianism

Deontology: Kant

Challenges for Kantian Ethics

Virtue Ethics: Aristotle

Challenges for Virtue Ethics

The Ethics of Gender and Race

Developing a Moral Outlook

Filters