Exam 12: Financial Statement Analysis

In this pair of cases, the first may serve as precedent for the second. Decide whether the second case is so relevantly similar to the first that it should be decided identically. Explain your decision.

In the following, discuss whether Marina is treating relevantly similar cases in sufficiently similar fashions; identify instances in which the cases are not relevantly similar. At election time, Marina votes for the candidate she thinks will do the best job-in every election except one. In that race, she votes for her second choice, because she is certain that the best person for the job has no chance of winning and that her second choice is still better than any of the rest of the candidates.

Identify the moral perspective at work here: At the supermarket, Vickie just ran her cart into a display of jars with jams and preserves, and now the aisle is full of broken glass and jam. She feels like leaving the store as quickly as possible. Is that an acceptable course of action? No, it isn't; that would be treating the store employees like stepping stones, as though they were put on this earth just to clean up after Vickie.

Identify the moral perspective at work here: At the supermarket, Vickie just ran her cart into a display of jars with jams and preserves, and now the aisle is full of broken glass and jam. She feels like leaving the store as quickly as possible. Is that an acceptable course of action? No, it isn't; people like us believe that it's wrong to let others clean up the mess we've made. Maybe if she lived in some other kind of place it'd be OK, but not here.

Given the following position on euthanasia (doctor-assisted suicide), identify which of the three major ethical theories discussed in the text-utilitarianism, duty theory, or virtue ethics-it follows. Note that each theory may encompass several possible viewpoints on an issue. Active euthanasia should be legalized. After all, what are the overall consequences in terms of happiness or unhappiness? Euthanasia may not make the patient who wants to die happy, but at least it can end his or her misery. And although the relatives may feel unhappy at the assisted suicide, they too have suffered, and they will grieve whether the patient dies assisted or unassisted. As a matter of fact, they may grieve less if they know the patient has been spared a substantial amount of suffering.

In the following, discuss whether Marina is treating relevantly similar cases in sufficiently similar fashions; identify instances in which the cases are not relevantly similar. Marina criticizes her brother for expressing racist views but does not criticize Mr. Durban, a business associate, who holds similar views.

In the following, discuss whether Marina is treating relevantly similar cases in sufficiently similar fashions; identify instances in which the cases are not relevantly similar. Marina tells her children not to smoke, but she smokes herself.

For the following, try to come up with an additional premise that will turn the passage into a deductively valid or an inductively strong argument. Usually this requires adding a general moral principle and, sometimes, an extra nonmoral claim as well. The idea is to guarantee that the "ought" claim follows from the "is" claim. Knowing how to think critically may help save someone's life some day, so you ought to develop your ability to do so.

State whether the following item expresses moral value or nonmoral value; or no value at all. The judge's decision was the right one, and everybody got just what they deserved.

In this pair of cases, the first may serve as precedent for the second. Decide whether the second case is so relevantly similar to the first that it should be decided identically. Explain your decision.

For the following, try to come up with an additional premise that will turn the passage into a deductively valid or an inductively strong argument. Usually this requires adding a general moral principle and, sometimes, an extra nonmoral claim as well. The idea is to guarantee that the "ought" claim follows from the "is" claim. In 1965, there were 47,000 road fatalities in the United States. By 1984, there were only 44,250 fatalities, but that is still far too many. The reductions between 1965 and 1984 were due primarily to federal requirements for motor vehicle safety. So, even stricter federal safety controls should be required.

In this pair of cases, the first may serve as precedent for the second. Decide whether the second case is so relevantly similar to the first that it should be decided identically. Explain your decision.

Answer the question in the following paragraph from one of the perspectives described in the text. The water pump in Michelle's car isn't working, and her friend Felipe replaces it for her as a favor. Michelle decides to repay Felipe's kindness by promising to buy him a six-pack of beer. Unfortunately, Michelle isn't quite old enough to buy beer legally, so she asks her friend Carol, who is, to buy the beer for her and explains why. Felipe, too, is slightly under the legal age, but Carol knows Felipe and regards him as a responsible and mature individual. Further, (a) Carol knows that Michelle will be embarrassed if she has to tell Felipe she cannot get beer for him after all, and (b) Michelle has recently done something nice for Carol, and Carol owes her a favor. However, (c) Michelle is aware that if Felipe drinks the beer all at once and goes driving-an unlikely event in Carol's opinion-he could be injured or injure others. Carol could be held liable in that event. But (d) Carol knows Michelle's other friends and doubts that any of them are old enough to buy beer for Michelle. If Carol turns Michelle down, Michelle will have to live without getting Felipe the beer she promised to give him. Should Carol get the beer for Michelle, everything considered?

For the following, try to come up with an additional premise that will turn the passage into a deductively valid or an inductively strong argument. Usually this requires adding a general moral principle and, sometimes, an extra nonmoral claim as well. The idea is to guarantee that the "ought" claim follows from the "is" claim. John has done something terribly wrong. He copied all of the equations on the take-home exam from Tony's paper and turned them in as his own.

State whether the following item expresses moral value or nonmoral value; or no value at all. If you don't get rid of your dog's fleas, it's going to be miserable.

State whether the following item expresses moral value or nonmoral value; or no value at all. Morgan is old enough to understand the consequences of not paying the fine on time.

Ethical egoism discounts one's own happiness as of lesser value than the happiness of others.

State whether the reason given here is relevant according to any one of the aesthetic principles; and if it is relevant, identify the principle that makes it so. As Mimi sang her last aria, the audience was submerged in sadness.

Identify the moral perspective at work here: Bernie takes his car for a ride near the beach. While at it, he crashes into a car parked at the side of the road. Nobody is hurt in this accident. He leaves the scene without leaving a note to the other vehicle's owner. Is this an acceptable course of action? No, it isn't; this is not in accordance with a person's integrity and moral responsibility.

Let's say that person A has a piece of heavy equipment and needs an operator to do a certain job with it. But the equipment has not had a legally required safety inspection. Person B is able to operate the equipment, and he badly needs a job. So B signs a document that says, if there is any harm done as a result of the equipment not meeting safety standards, he assumes responsibility for the harm and that A is not to be held responsible. B goes to work, an accident happens, and B is injured. A refuses to pay for B's medical costs, so B files a suit against him for those costs. Should B collect his medical costs from A? Construct an argument on one side or the other.