Exam 4: The Power of Moral Theories

The moral theory constructed by the author and described at the end of the chapter has several features meant to improve on previous theories. In particular, the author wants to resolve the problem of conflicting rules or principles. Which of the following features BEST helps resolve this problem?

A traditional natural law theorist would say that lying is immoral because it

Which of the following BEST summarizes how to evaluate moral theories?

Suppose a moral theory is inconsistent with two of your most trustworthy and important moral judgments (and other considerations do not counterbalance this fact). You should then regard the theory as

A person who reasons that the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered, is a(n)

Which of the following BEST summarizes the evidence of our considered moral judgments and our moral experience?

To a(n) ________, breaking promises is wrong because if the implied rule were universalized (if everyone followed the rule), then no promise anywhere could be trusted and the whole convention of promise making would be obliterated. Thus no one would be willing to live in such a world.

A moral theory would fail to meet the minimum requirement of coherence if

Which of the following BEST describes a similarity between consequentialist theories and nonconsequentialist theories?

If a moral theory suggests that our moral judgments cannot be rationally supported, it is thereby inconsistent with

A moral theory is ________ on an issue such as euthanasia.

If Chanté maintains that killing the innocent is wrong because the action is contrary to God's will, she probably accepts the

Choose the statement that BEST summarizes the purposes of moral theories.

A moral theory is inconsistent with our considered moral judgments if

If John always acts to produce the most favorable balance of good over evil for himself, he is probably

According to Kant, the principle and the maxims derived from the categorical imperative are

Moral deliberation requires balancing moral principles derived from our moral theory with our considered moral judgments. The ultimate goal in this give-and-take of theory and judgment is

The theory asserting that the morally right action is the one covered by a rule that if generally followed would produce the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered, is

Which of the following BEST summarizes consequentialist theories?

Suppose your favored moral theory says that moral rightness is relative to each individual. This would imply that each person is morally infallible. According to the author, this shows the theory to be