Question 1

What is ethical egoism? What does it entail about how people ought to behave toward others? Why?

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is the belief that individuals should act in their own self-interest, prioritizing their own needs and desires above those of others. This ethical theory entails that people ought to behave in a way that maximizes their own well-being and happiness, regardless of the impact on others.

Ethical egoism suggests that individuals should always act in a way that benefits themselves, even if it means disregarding the well-being of others. This is because ethical egoists believe that each person is ultimately responsible for their own happiness and should prioritize their own interests above all else.

The reasoning behind this belief is that individuals are best equipped to understand and pursue their own needs and desires, and that by doing so, they can contribute to the overall well-being of society. Ethical egoists argue that by focusing on their own self-interest, individuals can become more productive, successful, and fulfilled, ultimately benefiting themselves and those around them.

However, ethical egoism has been criticized for promoting selfishness and potentially leading to harmful or exploitative behavior towards others. Critics argue that this ethical theory fails to consider the well-being of others and can lead to a lack of empathy and compassion in society. Ultimately, ethical egoism raises important questions about the balance between self-interest and the well-being of others in ethical decision-making.

Question 2

Buddhist views of karma entail that ethical egoism is true.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 3

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to pose a problem for what view?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ethical egoism. 
B)  The Christian view of the afterlife. 
C)  Divine command theory. 
D)  Cultural relativism. 
A)  Ethical egoism. 
B)  The Christian view of the afterlife. 
C)  Divine command theory. 
D)  Cultural relativism. C

Question 4

Believing in God requires accepting the divine command theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Christian and Islamic views of the afterlife entail that an ethical egoist ought to promote others' interests even if it requires great personal suffering and sacrifice in this world.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

According to Chapter 10, what do traditional Buddhist ideas about the self imply about ethical egoism?

Accepted Answer

A)  That ethical egoism is false or nonsensical. 
B)  That ethical egoism requires a life of being kind and generous to others, even if that requires sacrifice or suffering. 
C)  That ethical egoism requires taking karma into account in deciding what is in one's interests. 
D)  That ethical egoism is false because true Buddhists are motivated by the desire to help others. 
A)  That ethical egoism is false or nonsensical. 
B)  That ethical egoism requires a life of being kind and generous to others, even if that requires sacrifice or suffering. 
C)  That ethical egoism requires taking karma into account in deciding what is in one's interests. 
D)  That ethical egoism is false because true Buddhists are motivated by the desire to help others.

Question 7

According to Chapter 10, religious teachings make no difference to moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following best explains the idea that religious teachings can provide new or additional justification for moral claims that we might have accepted anyway?

Accepted Answer

A)  When we have no reason to think that a moral claim is true, but religious teachings explicitly say that it is true or provide premises that clearly imply that it is true, religious teachings have provided new justification for a moral claim that we might have accepted anyway. 
B)  Because the use of religious teachings in moral reasoning entails the acceptance of cultural relativism, using religious teachings allows one to appeal to relativistic patterns of reasoning. 
C)  The Islamic requirement to make a pilgrimage to Mecca demonstrates that religious teachings provide new justification for moral claims. 
D)  When a moral question is controversial but religious teachings include an explicit answer to the question or moral claims that imply a clear answer to it, religious teachings have provided additional justification for a claim that we might have accepted anyway. 
A)  When we have no reason to think that a moral claim is true, but religious teachings explicitly say that it is true or provide premises that clearly imply that it is true, religious teachings have provided new justification for a moral claim that we might have accepted anyway. 
B)  Because the use of religious teachings in moral reasoning entails the acceptance of cultural relativism, using religious teachings allows one to appeal to relativistic patterns of reasoning. 
C)  The Islamic requirement to make a pilgrimage to Mecca demonstrates that religious teachings provide new justification for moral claims. 
D)  When a moral question is controversial but religious teachings include an explicit answer to the question or moral claims that imply a clear answer to it, religious teachings have provided additional justification for a claim that we might have accepted anyway.

Question 9

The Euthyphro dilemma is often taken to show that either divine command theory is true or morality exists independently of God's commands.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to ethical egoism, each person should consider other people's interests only when doing so advances the actor's own self-interests.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Your subjective obligation is what you would be obligated to do, if all of your beliefs were correct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

According to Chapter 10, the divine command theory is the view that morality is identical with God's commands.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Of the various kinds of claims that religions make, only moral claims can play a role in moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to show that either the divine command theory is false or God's commands are arbitrary.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

What is the divine command theory? What is the Euthyphro dilemma? How is the Euthyphro dilemma supposed to create a problem for the divine command theory?

Accepted Answer

The divine command theory is a meta-ethi

Question 16

In your own words, explain the three ways that moral reasoning should matter to religious people, according to Chapter 10.

Accepted Answer

According to Chapter 10, moral reasoning

Question 17

What is the divine command theory of morality?

Accepted Answer

A)  The view that God commands us to act morally. 
B)  The view that we can understand God's commands through moral reasoning. 
C)  The view that we only need to obey God's commands when they are morally correct. 
D)  The view that morality is identical to God's commands. 
A)  The view that God commands us to act morally. 
B)  The view that we can understand God's commands through moral reasoning. 
C)  The view that we only need to obey God's commands when they are morally correct. 
D)  The view that morality is identical to God's commands.

Question 18

What is the difference between objective obligation and subjective obligation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Your objective obligation is what you really ought to do, whereas your subjective obligation is what you believe you ought to do. 
B)  Your objective obligation is what you really ought to do, given the way the world actually is, whereas your subjective obligation is what you would be obligated to do if all of your beliefs were true. 
C)  Your objective obligation is what you ought to do from a scientific perspective, whereas your subjective obligation is what your religion says you ought to do. 
D)  Your objective obligation is what you ought to do, based solely on reasoning available to people of all religions, whereas your subjective obligation is what you ought to do given your particular religious beliefs. 
A)  Your objective obligation is what you really ought to do, whereas your subjective obligation is what you believe you ought to do. 
B)  Your objective obligation is what you really ought to do, given the way the world actually is, whereas your subjective obligation is what you would be obligated to do if all of your beliefs were true. 
C)  Your objective obligation is what you ought to do from a scientific perspective, whereas your subjective obligation is what your religion says you ought to do. 
D)  Your objective obligation is what you ought to do, based solely on reasoning available to people of all religions, whereas your subjective obligation is what you ought to do given your particular religious beliefs.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT listed in Chapter 10 as a way in which religion matters to moral reasoning?

Accepted Answer

A)  Religious teachings offer new premises for moral reasoning. 
B)  Religious teachings show us which kinds of behavior are natural and which are unnatural. 
C)  Religious teachings provide new or additional justification for moral claims that we might have accepted anyway. 
D)  Religious teachings include nonmoral claims that have significant moral implications. 
A)  Religious teachings offer new premises for moral reasoning. 
B)  Religious teachings show us which kinds of behavior are natural and which are unnatural. 
C)  Religious teachings provide new or additional justification for moral claims that we might have accepted anyway. 
D)  Religious teachings include nonmoral claims that have significant moral implications.

Question 20

According to Chapter 10, how does a divine command theorist answer the question posed by the Euthyphro dilemma?

Accepted Answer

A)  By saying that God commands right acts because they are right. 
B)  By saying that ethical egoism entails that one ought to obey God's commands. 
C)  By saying that ethical egoism does not require that one obey God's commands. 
D)  By saying that right acts are right because God commands them. 
A)  By saying that God commands right acts because they are right. 
B)  By saying that ethical egoism entails that one ought to obey God's commands. 
C)  By saying that ethical egoism does not require that one obey God's commands. 
D)  By saying that right acts are right because God commands them.

What is ethical egoism? What does it entail about how people ought to behave toward others? Why?

Buddhist views of karma entail that ethical egoism is true.

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to pose a problem for what view?

Believing in God requires accepting the divine command theory.

Christian and Islamic views of the afterlife entail that an ethical egoist ought to promote others' interests even if it requires great personal suffering and sacrifice in this world.

According to Chapter 10, what do traditional Buddhist ideas about the self imply about ethical egoism?

According to Chapter 10, religious teachings make no difference to moral reasoning.

Which of the following best explains the idea that religious teachings can provide new or additional justification for moral claims that we might have accepted anyway?

The Euthyphro dilemma is often taken to show that either divine command theory is true or morality exists independently of God's commands.

According to ethical egoism, each person should consider other people's interests only when doing so advances the actor's own self-interests.

Your subjective obligation is what you would be obligated to do, if all of your beliefs were correct.

According to Chapter 10, the divine command theory is the view that morality is identical with God's commands.

Of the various kinds of claims that religions make, only moral claims can play a role in moral reasoning.

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to show that either the divine command theory is false or God's commands are arbitrary.

What is the divine command theory? What is the Euthyphro dilemma? How is the Euthyphro dilemma supposed to create a problem for the divine command theory?

In your own words, explain the three ways that moral reasoning should matter to religious people, according to Chapter 10.

What is the divine command theory of morality?

What is the difference between objective obligation and subjective obligation?

Which of the following is NOT listed in Chapter 10 as a way in which religion matters to moral reasoning?

According to Chapter 10, how does a divine command theorist answer the question posed by the Euthyphro dilemma?

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

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

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Exam 10: Religion and Moral Reasoning

What is ethical egoism? What does it entail about how people ought to behave toward others? Why?

Buddhist views of karma entail that ethical egoism is true.

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to pose a problem for what view?

Believing in God requires accepting the divine command theory.

Christian and Islamic views of the afterlife entail that an ethical egoist ought to promote others' interests even if it requires great personal suffering and sacrifice in this world.

According to Chapter 10, what do traditional Buddhist ideas about the self imply about ethical egoism?

According to Chapter 10, religious teachings make no difference to moral reasoning.

Which of the following best explains the idea that religious teachings can provide new or additional justification for moral claims that we might have accepted anyway?

The Euthyphro dilemma is often taken to show that either divine command theory is true or morality exists independently of God's commands.

According to ethical egoism, each person should consider other people's interests only when doing so advances the actor's own self-interests.

Your subjective obligation is what you would be obligated to do, if all of your beliefs were correct.

According to Chapter 10, the divine command theory is the view that morality is identical with God's commands.

Of the various kinds of claims that religions make, only moral claims can play a role in moral reasoning.

The Euthyphro dilemma is supposed to show that either the divine command theory is false or God's commands are arbitrary.

What is the divine command theory? What is the Euthyphro dilemma? How is the Euthyphro dilemma supposed to create a problem for the divine command theory?

In your own words, explain the three ways that moral reasoning should matter to religious people, according to Chapter 10.

What is the divine command theory of morality?

What is the difference between objective obligation and subjective obligation?

Which of the following is NOT listed in Chapter 10 as a way in which religion matters to moral reasoning?

According to Chapter 10, how does a divine command theorist answer the question posed by the Euthyphro dilemma?

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

Normative Theories, Part 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

Filters