Question 1

What is the Formula of Universal Law, as stated in Chapter 11?

Accepted Answer

A)  Act only on a maxim that treats all of humanity as an end in itself. 
B)  Act only on a maxim that could be universalized without leading to a contradiction in your own will. 
C)  Always act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or someone else's, always as an end in itself and never merely as a means. 
D)  Act only on maxims whose universal acceptance would have better consequences than the acceptance of any alternative maxim. 
A)  Act only on a maxim that treats all of humanity as an end in itself. 
B)  Act only on a maxim that could be universalized without leading to a contradiction in your own will. 
C)  Always act so as to treat humanity, whether in your own person or someone else's, always as an end in itself and never merely as a means. 
D)  Act only on maxims whose universal acceptance would have better consequences than the acceptance of any alternative maxim.

Question 2

In what sense is act utilitarianism sometimes thought to be too demanding?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because it requires you to maximize overall happiness, act utilitarianism sometimes allows you to do things that most people regard as morally wrong. 
B)  Because it requires you to make as many people happy as possible, act utilitarianism sometimes requires you to make other people happy at your own expense. 
C)  Because it requires you to count everyone's happiness as equal to your own and that of your loved ones, act utilitarianism sometimes requires you to make great sacrifices for others. 
D)  Because it requires you to focus entirely on being useful to society in everything you do, act utilitarianism requires you to give up interests that are not directly useful, such as arts and music. 
A)  Because it requires you to maximize overall happiness, act utilitarianism sometimes allows you to do things that most people regard as morally wrong. 
B)  Because it requires you to make as many people happy as possible, act utilitarianism sometimes requires you to make other people happy at your own expense. 
C)  Because it requires you to count everyone's happiness as equal to your own and that of your loved ones, act utilitarianism sometimes requires you to make great sacrifices for others. 
D)  Because it requires you to focus entirely on being useful to society in everything you do, act utilitarianism requires you to give up interests that are not directly useful, such as arts and music.

Question 3

Virtue ethics is the normative theory according to which actions and people are to be evaluated in terms of character traits that contribute to making someone an excellent person.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

What is rule utilitarianism?

Accepted Answer

Rule utilitarianism is a form of utilita

Question 5

Define consequentialism in your own words. Why is it sometimes considered a "family of theories" rather than a single theory?

Accepted Answer

Consequentialism is a moral theory that

Question 6

Normative ethics is:

Accepted Answer

A)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on answering questions about the nature of morality and about moral language and thought. 
B)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on figuring out what to do in specific situations. 
C)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on understanding normal people's moral psychology. 
D)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on developing general theories about which actions or things are right or wrong or good or bad. 
A)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on answering questions about the nature of morality and about moral language and thought. 
B)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on figuring out what to do in specific situations. 
C)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on understanding normal people's moral psychology. 
D)  The part of moral philosophy that focuses on developing general theories about which actions or things are right or wrong or good or bad.

Question 7

What is a hypothetical imperative?

Accepted Answer

A)  An imperative that tells you what you are obligated to do unless some other obligation overrides the first obligation. 
B)  A principle that tells you what to do if you want to achieve some goal. 
C)  A hypothesis about what you ought to do in a situation, to be tested by the use of thought experiments. 
D)  A command issued by an authority figure that applies only to those over whom the authority figure has rightful control. 
A)  An imperative that tells you what you are obligated to do unless some other obligation overrides the first obligation. 
B)  A principle that tells you what to do if you want to achieve some goal. 
C)  A hypothesis about what you ought to do in a situation, to be tested by the use of thought experiments. 
D)  A command issued by an authority figure that applies only to those over whom the authority figure has rightful control.

Question 8

According to rule utilitarianism, people should follow the rules of their society unless breaking those rules maximizes overall happiness, counting everyone's happiness equally.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Describe a situation in which act utilitarianism would require an action that seems to be morally wrong but rule utilitarianism does not. Explain why each theory requires what it does in that situation.

Accepted Answer

One situation in which act utilitarianis

What is the Formula of Universal Law, as stated in Chapter 11?

In what sense is act utilitarianism sometimes thought to be too demanding?

Virtue ethics is the normative theory according to which actions and people are to be evaluated in terms of character traits that contribute to making someone an excellent person.

What is rule utilitarianism?

Define consequentialism in your own words. Why is it sometimes considered a "family of theories" rather than a single theory?

Normative ethics is:

What is a hypothetical imperative?

According to rule utilitarianism, people should follow the rules of their society unless breaking those rules maximizes overall happiness, counting everyone's happiness equally.

Describe a situation in which act utilitarianism would require an action that seems to be morally wrong but rule utilitarianism does not. Explain why each theory requires what it does in that situation.

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

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Exam 11: Normative Theories, Part 1

What is the Formula of Universal Law, as stated in Chapter 11?

In what sense is act utilitarianism sometimes thought to be too demanding?

Virtue ethics is the normative theory according to which actions and people are to be evaluated in terms of character traits that contribute to making someone an excellent person.

What is rule utilitarianism?

Define consequentialism in your own words. Why is it sometimes considered a "family of theories" rather than a single theory?

Normative ethics is:

What is a hypothetical imperative?

According to rule utilitarianism, people should follow the rules of their society unless breaking those rules maximizes overall happiness, counting everyone's happiness equally.

Describe a situation in which act utilitarianism would require an action that seems to be morally wrong but rule utilitarianism does not. Explain why each theory requires what it does in that situation.

An Introduction to Arguments

Moral Arguments

Reasoning With Obligations

Reasoning About Consequences

Reasoning With Virtues and Vices

Reasoning With Principles and Counterexamples

Reasoning With Analogies

Answering Moral Questions

Skepticism, Subjectivism, and Relativism

Religion and Moral Reasoning

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

Filters