Question 1

Briefly explain the difference between autonomy and heteronomy.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient response should/would discuss that autonomy is acting in accordance with laws that all rational agents would be bound by;that heteronomy is acting out of some nonrational drive,either external (force)or internal (self-interest);and/or that agents can act in the same way for autonomous or heteronomous reasons.

Question 2

How does Kant understand human beings?

Accepted Answer

A)  independent,autonomous,and reticent 
B)  selfless,community-oriented laborers 
C)  nasty,brutish,and violent 
D)  rational,self-governing free agents 
A)  independent,autonomous,and reticent 
B)  selfless,community-oriented laborers 
C)  nasty,brutish,and violent 
D)  rational,self-governing free agents D

Question 3

What is the relationship between duty and good will?

Accepted Answer

A)  Duty is the mediator between the will and knowledge. 
B)  Duty derives from a good will. 
C)  Duty motivates the will to be good. 
D)  We come to know our duty through good will. 
A)  Duty is the mediator between the will and knowledge. 
B)  Duty derives from a good will. 
C)  Duty motivates the will to be good. 
D)  We come to know our duty through good will. C

Question 4

Many critics have pointed at the problems of so-called "fast fashion," which produces inexpensive clothes that companies are able to change as trends change.They point to instances like the 2013 collapse of a building full of garment workers to show the dangers of these practices.Using Kant's formulation of the humanity version of the categorical imperative,discuss if it is ethical to purchase cheaply produced clothes.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient response

Question 5

Imagine that Johanna shows from an early age both an aptitude for learning and unusual dexterity in her fingers. She considers various career paths that would maximize the use of these talents: surgeon,pianist,and scientist.In the end,she decides that she would rather not work at all.Why does Kant believe it is ethically wrong for her to neglect her talents?

Accepted Answer

A)  If she does not contribute to society,she would be merely using others as a means to her ends of mindless enjoyment. 
B)  Fostering one's talents is a perfect duty that applies in all circumstances,universally. 
C)  Society will be worse off without the benefit of her talents. 
D)  There is a contradiction in willing the universalization of the maxim "one ought to neglect one's talents." 
A)  If she does not contribute to society,she would be merely using others as a means to her ends of mindless enjoyment. 
B)  Fostering one's talents is a perfect duty that applies in all circumstances,universally. 
C)  Society will be worse off without the benefit of her talents. 
D)  There is a contradiction in willing the universalization of the maxim "one ought to neglect one's talents."

Question 6

Briefly explain the difference between universalizing maxims for perfect and imperfect duties.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient response

Question 7

For an action to be a good action in Kant's schema,the agent cannot take pleasure in doing it.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Why do hypothetical imperatives lack moral content for Kant?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are too numerous to use as the basis for morality. 
B)  They are only followed in order to achieve an immediate goal. 
C)  We can never know when they apply. 
D)  They apply only in limited situations;they cannot be action guiding. 
A)  They are too numerous to use as the basis for morality. 
B)  They are only followed in order to achieve an immediate goal. 
C)  We can never know when they apply. 
D)  They apply only in limited situations;they cannot be action guiding.

Question 9

What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?

Accepted Answer

A)  Perfect duties are those we have mastered over time;imperfect duties are those we are learning. 
B)  Perfect duties originate from rationality;imperfect ones come from desire. 
C)  Perfect duties must be fulfilled at all times;imperfect duties must be fulfilled only occasionally. 
D)  Perfect duties are those we owe to ourselves;imperfect duties we owe to others. 
A)  Perfect duties are those we have mastered over time;imperfect duties are those we are learning. 
B)  Perfect duties originate from rationality;imperfect ones come from desire. 
C)  Perfect duties must be fulfilled at all times;imperfect duties must be fulfilled only occasionally. 
D)  Perfect duties are those we owe to ourselves;imperfect duties we owe to others.

Question 10

Kant's approach to morality is closely tied to his understanding of which of the following philosophical disciplines?

Accepted Answer

A)  ascetology 
B)  metaphysics 
C)  epistemology 
D)  cosmology 
A)  ascetology 
B)  metaphysics 
C)  epistemology 
D)  cosmology

Question 11

How does the good will come to have value?

Accepted Answer

A)  from prior experience 
B)  from the value that society places on individual action 
C)  from the results of the actions derived from the will 
D)  The goodness is intrinsic. 
A)  from prior experience 
B)  from the value that society places on individual action 
C)  from the results of the actions derived from the will 
D)  The goodness is intrinsic.

Question 12

Imagine that humans come into communication with intelligent life from outside our solar system.What would Kant have to say about their potential moral systems?

Accepted Answer

A)  As rational agents,their morality would conform to ours. 
B)  As nonhumans,their morality would necessarily be different. 
C)  Although we would have different moral standards,we could come to understand each other's systems. 
D)  All life shares the same morality,whether human or nonhuman. 
A)  As rational agents,their morality would conform to ours. 
B)  As nonhumans,their morality would necessarily be different. 
C)  Although we would have different moral standards,we could come to understand each other's systems. 
D)  All life shares the same morality,whether human or nonhuman.

Question 13

What distinguishes the categorical imperative from the golden rule?

Accepted Answer

A)  The golden rule has to do with immediate possibility,while the categorical imperative is tied to eventual possibilities. 
B)  The golden rule is religiously based,while the categorical imperative is secular. 
C)  The golden rule has to do with preference,while the categorical imperative is tied to possibility. 
D)  The categorical imperative is derived from culture,while the golden rule comes from reason. 
A)  The golden rule has to do with immediate possibility,while the categorical imperative is tied to eventual possibilities. 
B)  The golden rule is religiously based,while the categorical imperative is secular. 
C)  The golden rule has to do with preference,while the categorical imperative is tied to possibility. 
D)  The categorical imperative is derived from culture,while the golden rule comes from reason.

Question 14

Which of the following is central to Kant's understanding of morality?

Accepted Answer

A)  looking at actions as following from rules of conduct 
B)  understanding actions as part of a pattern of lifelong growth 
C)  the consequences of an action are the right- or wrong-making feature of the action 
D)  that morality is action in the interest of the strongest 
A)  looking at actions as following from rules of conduct 
B)  understanding actions as part of a pattern of lifelong growth 
C)  the consequences of an action are the right- or wrong-making feature of the action 
D)  that morality is action in the interest of the strongest

Question 15

What is the categorical imperative?

Accepted Answer

A)  a principle for action in certain categories of situations 
B)  an action-guiding statement that applies in all instances 
C)  an expression of possible duties of action 
D)  a desire to act virtuously 
A)  a principle for action in certain categories of situations 
B)  an action-guiding statement that applies in all instances 
C)  an expression of possible duties of action 
D)  a desire to act virtuously

Question 16

How does Kant understand the necessity for rational creatures to follow moral law?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient response

Question 17

Explain why Kant believes it would be morally wrong to lie to the murderer at the door.Do you agree with his reasoning? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh

Briefly explain the difference between autonomy and heteronomy.

How does Kant understand human beings?

What is the relationship between duty and good will?

Briefly explain the difference between universalizing maxims for perfect and imperfect duties.

For an action to be a good action in Kant's schema,the agent cannot take pleasure in doing it.

Why do hypothetical imperatives lack moral content for Kant?

What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?

Kant's approach to morality is closely tied to his understanding of which of the following philosophical disciplines?

How does the good will come to have value?

Imagine that humans come into communication with intelligent life from outside our solar system.What would Kant have to say about their potential moral systems?

What distinguishes the categorical imperative from the golden rule?

Which of the following is central to Kant's understanding of morality?

What is the categorical imperative?

How does Kant understand the necessity for rational creatures to follow moral law?

Explain why Kant believes it would be morally wrong to lie to the murderer at the door.Do you agree with his reasoning? Why or why not?

Moral Philosophy and Moral Reasoning

Cultural Relativism

Skepticism and Subjectivism

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Religion and Natural Law

Egoism

The Social Contract

Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill

Challenges for Utilitarianism

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 10: Deontology: Kant

Briefly explain the difference between autonomy and heteronomy.

How does Kant understand human beings?

What is the relationship between duty and good will?

Briefly explain the difference between universalizing maxims for perfect and imperfect duties.

For an action to be a good action in Kant's schema,the agent cannot take pleasure in doing it.

Why do hypothetical imperatives lack moral content for Kant?

What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?

Kant's approach to morality is closely tied to his understanding of which of the following philosophical disciplines?

How does the good will come to have value?

Imagine that humans come into communication with intelligent life from outside our solar system.What would Kant have to say about their potential moral systems?

What distinguishes the categorical imperative from the golden rule?

Which of the following is central to Kant's understanding of morality?

What is the categorical imperative?

How does Kant understand the necessity for rational creatures to follow moral law?

Explain why Kant believes it would be morally wrong to lie to the murderer at the door.Do you agree with his reasoning? Why or why not?

Moral Philosophy and Moral Reasoning

Cultural Relativism

Skepticism and Subjectivism

Free Will and Moral Responsibility

Religion and Natural Law

Egoism

The Social Contract

Utilitarianism: Bentham and Mill

Challenges for Utilitarianism

Challenges for Kantian Ethics

Virtue Ethics: Aristotle

Challenges for Virtue Ethics

The Ethics of Gender and Race

Developing a Moral Outlook

Filters