Question 1

Which of the following does Rachels believe to be illustrated by his imagined drowning case involving Smith and Jones?

Accepted Answer

A)  Letting an individual die can be morally worse than killing him or her. 
B)  Killing an individual is usually morally worse than letting him or her die. 
C)  Killing someone is not necessarily morally worse than letting him or her die. 
D)  There is never a moral difference between killing someone and letting him or her die. 
A)  Letting an individual die can be morally worse than killing him or her. 
B)  Killing an individual is usually morally worse than letting him or her die. 
C)  Killing someone is not necessarily morally worse than letting him or her die. 
D)  There is never a moral difference between killing someone and letting him or her die.

Question 2

What are the two types of justice, according to Aristotle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Criminal justice, which involves punishing wrongdoers, and social justice, which involves according everyone equal respect. 
B)  Universal justice, which applies equally to everyone, and special justice, which applies only in close interpersonal relationships. 
C)  General justice, which consists in being completely virtuous, and special justice, which consists in not taking too much or too little for oneself. 
D)  Legal justice, which involves obeying the laws that actually exist, and ideal justice, which involves obeying the laws that should exist. 
A)  Criminal justice, which involves punishing wrongdoers, and social justice, which involves according everyone equal respect. 
B)  Universal justice, which applies equally to everyone, and special justice, which applies only in close interpersonal relationships. 
C)  General justice, which consists in being completely virtuous, and special justice, which consists in not taking too much or too little for oneself. 
D)  Legal justice, which involves obeying the laws that actually exist, and ideal justice, which involves obeying the laws that should exist.

Question 3

Which of the following best captures Nathanson's main conclusion in "An Eye for an Eye"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Proportional retributivism is a far more plausible principle of punishment than equality retributivism. 
B)  Traditional versions of retributivism do not offer adequate support for the death penalty. 
C)  The death penalty for murderers is best supported on the basis of a version of "payback" retributivism. 
D)  It follows from proportional retributivism that the death penalty is deserved in some, but not all, cases of killing. 
A)  Proportional retributivism is a far more plausible principle of punishment than equality retributivism. 
B)  Traditional versions of retributivism do not offer adequate support for the death penalty. 
C)  The death penalty for murderers is best supported on the basis of a version of "payback" retributivism. 
D)  It follows from proportional retributivism that the death penalty is deserved in some, but not all, cases of killing.

Question 4

Which of the following best explains the proper role of principles in ethics, as Collins explains it?

Accepted Answer

A)  Principles, understood as if-then statements that tell you what to do in certain circumstances, have no place in deliberation about ethics or the justification of moral claims. 
B)  Although sympathy is most important in moral deliberation, principles can sometimes play a guiding role, and although general principles are useless in justifying moral claims, more detailed principles are sometimes relevant. 
C)  Principles can be useful in moral deliberation, as long as they are informed by sympathy, but they have no role in justifying moral claims because any true moral principle is hopelessly vague. 
D)  Sufficiently detailed principles can play a role in justifying moral claims, but most people will be misled by principles in moral deliberation, which should proceed on the basis of sympathy. 
A)  Principles, understood as if-then statements that tell you what to do in certain circumstances, have no place in deliberation about ethics or the justification of moral claims. 
B)  Although sympathy is most important in moral deliberation, principles can sometimes play a guiding role, and although general principles are useless in justifying moral claims, more detailed principles are sometimes relevant. 
C)  Principles can be useful in moral deliberation, as long as they are informed by sympathy, but they have no role in justifying moral claims because any true moral principle is hopelessly vague. 
D)  Sufficiently detailed principles can play a role in justifying moral claims, but most people will be misled by principles in moral deliberation, which should proceed on the basis of sympathy.

Question 5

How might Skillen's account that understands racism as an output-drive concept in terms of its harmful effects explain Garcia's hypothetical case of an alien government who hates Earthlings and launches missiles at Africa?

Accepted Answer

A)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would count as racist because it intends to hurt members of a particular race. 
B)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would not count as racist because only humans can be racist. 
C)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would not count as racist because aliens would not understand the concept of races, which is an idea constructed by humans. 
D)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would count as racist because the effects of its action disproportionately harm black people. 
A)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would count as racist because it intends to hurt members of a particular race. 
B)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would not count as racist because only humans can be racist. 
C)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would not count as racist because aliens would not understand the concept of races, which is an idea constructed by humans. 
D)  The alien government launching missiles at Africa would count as racist because the effects of its action disproportionately harm black people.

Question 6

In your own words, state Liu's main conclusion in "No Fats, Femmes, or Asians" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

Accepted Answer

Liu's main conclusion in "No Fats, Femme

Question 7

Why does Mill distinguish between higher and lower pleasures? How does he think we can tell whether one pleasure is higher than another?

Accepted Answer

Mill distinguishes between higher and lo

Question 8

Why does Thomas discuss the fact that patterns of citation do not always reflect sources that are good and true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Thomas discusses this fact to object to the argument that academics only care about knowledge and only cite what they take to be good and true arguments. 
B)  Thomas uses this fact as an example of the ways in which trust and gratitude are important in the academy because students and mentors tend to cite works of those with whom they have developed relationships of trust and gratitude. 
C)  Thomas discusses this fact to report the results of studies that show academic citations are predominantly of white men, rather than women or minorities. 
D)  Thomas uses this fact to argue that the academy should stop requiring that people cite sources, since citations are not helpful for discerning good research. 
A)  Thomas discusses this fact to object to the argument that academics only care about knowledge and only cite what they take to be good and true arguments. 
B)  Thomas uses this fact as an example of the ways in which trust and gratitude are important in the academy because students and mentors tend to cite works of those with whom they have developed relationships of trust and gratitude. 
C)  Thomas discusses this fact to report the results of studies that show academic citations are predominantly of white men, rather than women or minorities. 
D)  Thomas uses this fact to argue that the academy should stop requiring that people cite sources, since citations are not helpful for discerning good research.

Question 9

What is the Akan view of responsibilities toward foreigners, according to Wiredu?

Accepted Answer

A)  People have no responsibilities to foreigners at all because they are not related to them. 
B)  People have some basic responsibilities not to harm foreigners, but they do not have the same responsibilities that they do to kin. 
C)  People have the same responsibilities to foreigners that they do to everyone else. 
D)  People have special responsibilities to help foreigners because foreigners lack the social support of their own kin. 
A)  People have no responsibilities to foreigners at all because they are not related to them. 
B)  People have some basic responsibilities not to harm foreigners, but they do not have the same responsibilities that they do to kin. 
C)  People have the same responsibilities to foreigners that they do to everyone else. 
D)  People have special responsibilities to help foreigners because foreigners lack the social support of their own kin.

Question 10

Why does Marquis mention other writers like Feinberg, Warren, and Noonan?

Accepted Answer

A)  He agrees with their conclusions, according to which abortion is immoral. 
B)  He disagrees with their conclusions, according to which abortion is morally permissible. 
C)  He agrees with their assumption that the morality of abortion depends on the status of the fetus. 
D)  He disagrees with their assumption that the morality of abortion depends on the status of the fetus. 
A)  He agrees with their conclusions, according to which abortion is immoral. 
B)  He disagrees with their conclusions, according to which abortion is morally permissible. 
C)  He agrees with their assumption that the morality of abortion depends on the status of the fetus. 
D)  He disagrees with their assumption that the morality of abortion depends on the status of the fetus.

Question 11

Why does Abbate discuss the example of Frank Richards throwing bombs into cellars during World War I?

Accepted Answer

A)  To argue against the use of the doctrine of double effect in war. 
B)  To illustrate Walzer's principle of risk. 
C)  To prove that soldiers are obligated to assume additional risks to protect civilians. 
D)  To provide an example of soldiers rightly taking on additional risks to avoid collateral casualties. 
A)  To argue against the use of the doctrine of double effect in war. 
B)  To illustrate Walzer's principle of risk. 
C)  To prove that soldiers are obligated to assume additional risks to protect civilians. 
D)  To provide an example of soldiers rightly taking on additional risks to avoid collateral casualties.

Question 12

Sinnott-Armstrong argues that individuals have no obligation to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions because no plausible moral principle entails that they have such an obligation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

According to Mill, how is utilitarianism compatible with the requirements of justice?

Accepted Answer

A)  The things that justice requires are simply things that are, from a utilitarian perspective, especially important for people to do. 
B)  Utilitarianism can acknowledge justice as a set of guidelines to help people make moral decisions while insisting that the general happiness remains the sole criterion for right and wrong. 
C)  Although the requirements of justice are not real moral requirements, the fact that people feel great mental pain when they are violated means that utilitarianism generally opposes such violations. 
D)  The rules of justice impose arbitrary limits on what people may do to promote the general happiness, but within those limits, people ought to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. 
A)  The things that justice requires are simply things that are, from a utilitarian perspective, especially important for people to do. 
B)  Utilitarianism can acknowledge justice as a set of guidelines to help people make moral decisions while insisting that the general happiness remains the sole criterion for right and wrong. 
C)  Although the requirements of justice are not real moral requirements, the fact that people feel great mental pain when they are violated means that utilitarianism generally opposes such violations. 
D)  The rules of justice impose arbitrary limits on what people may do to promote the general happiness, but within those limits, people ought to maximize pleasure and minimize pain.

Question 14

Woollard thinks that if you arrive at your holiday bungalow and a local charity asks you for money to save children nearby, you are not obligated to help those children.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following is not a premise in van den Haag's response to the objection that the death penalty is morally impermissible because death by execution is degrading and dehumanizing?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not the penalty that is dehumanizing, but the murderer's own crime. 
B)  To believe the penalty is degrading to the criminal is to mistake an effect for a cause. 
C)  If a punishment has a deterrent effect, it cannot be considered degrading or inhuman. 
D)  Death is our common human fate and cannot be degrading or inhuman in itself. 
A)  It is not the penalty that is dehumanizing, but the murderer's own crime. 
B)  To believe the penalty is degrading to the criminal is to mistake an effect for a cause. 
C)  If a punishment has a deterrent effect, it cannot be considered degrading or inhuman. 
D)  Death is our common human fate and cannot be degrading or inhuman in itself.

Question 16

Woollard argues that:

Accepted Answer

A)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her means that one has a duty to maximize the happiness of others to deserve that recognition. 
B)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her means that one has complete license to do what one wants with one's body and resources. 
C)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her does not mean one is never required to use one's body or resources to prevent harm. 
D)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her does not mean that one's body and resources should be substantially enough at one's use and not the use of others. 
A)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her means that one has a duty to maximize the happiness of others to deserve that recognition. 
B)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her means that one has complete license to do what one wants with one's body and resources. 
C)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her does not mean one is never required to use one's body or resources to prevent harm. 
D)  The fact that morality should recognize a person's body and other resources as belonging to him or her does not mean that one's body and resources should be substantially enough at one's use and not the use of others.

Question 17

Which of the following best captures van den Haag's main conclusion about the potential for miscarriages of justice in a system of capital punishment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Given the mandatory system of appeals in death penalty cases, it is unlikely that the innocent are executed. 
B)  The execution of the innocent is inevitable in a system of capital punishment but is an acceptable cost for doing justice. 
C)  Data pertaining to the number of innocents that have allegedly been executed in miscarriages of justice are questionable. 
D)  Miscarriages of justice can be offset by financially compensating the families of the wrongfully executed for their loss. 
A)  Given the mandatory system of appeals in death penalty cases, it is unlikely that the innocent are executed. 
B)  The execution of the innocent is inevitable in a system of capital punishment but is an acceptable cost for doing justice. 
C)  Data pertaining to the number of innocents that have allegedly been executed in miscarriages of justice are questionable. 
D)  Miscarriages of justice can be offset by financially compensating the families of the wrongfully executed for their loss.

Question 18

Of the following explanations, which most accurately explains the infection model of wrongdoing?

Accepted Answer

A)  An action is wrong because of the moral disvalue that enters it, rather than the nonmoral value that results from it. 
B)  An action is wrong if it infects the ideas and beliefs of other people to make them act immorally. 
C)  An action is wrong because of the nonmoral value that constitutes it, rather than the moral value of what comes out of it. 
D)  An institution is wrong if its power structures infect the ideologies of the individuals it governs over or affects. 
A)  An action is wrong because of the moral disvalue that enters it, rather than the nonmoral value that results from it. 
B)  An action is wrong if it infects the ideas and beliefs of other people to make them act immorally. 
C)  An action is wrong because of the nonmoral value that constitutes it, rather than the moral value of what comes out of it. 
D)  An institution is wrong if its power structures infect the ideologies of the individuals it governs over or affects.

Question 19

Wiredu believes that morality is entirely relative to culture.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following would count as an objection to Gay-Williams's argument from nature?

Accepted Answer

A)  Euthanasia is not against humans' natural purposes because humans have no such inherent purposes. 
B)  Humans have a duty not to take their own lives principally because they are only temporary custodians of their God-given bodies. 
C)  Euthanasia is against our natural purposes because suffering is also a natural part of life. 
D)  Euthanasia of the terminally ill should be permitted because the possibility of "miraculous" recovery, although existent, is incredibly remote. 
A)  Euthanasia is not against humans' natural purposes because humans have no such inherent purposes. 
B)  Humans have a duty not to take their own lives principally because they are only temporary custodians of their God-given bodies. 
C)  Euthanasia is against our natural purposes because suffering is also a natural part of life. 
D)  Euthanasia of the terminally ill should be permitted because the possibility of "miraculous" recovery, although existent, is incredibly remote.

Which of the following does Rachels believe to be illustrated by his imagined drowning case involving Smith and Jones?

What are the two types of justice, according to Aristotle?

Which of the following best captures Nathanson's main conclusion in "An Eye for an Eye"?

Which of the following best explains the proper role of principles in ethics, as Collins explains it?

How might Skillen's account that understands racism as an output-drive concept in terms of its harmful effects explain Garcia's hypothetical case of an alien government who hates Earthlings and launches missiles at Africa?

In your own words, state Liu's main conclusion in "No Fats, Femmes, or Asians" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

Why does Mill distinguish between higher and lower pleasures? How does he think we can tell whether one pleasure is higher than another?

Why does Thomas discuss the fact that patterns of citation do not always reflect sources that are good and true?

What is the Akan view of responsibilities toward foreigners, according to Wiredu?

Why does Marquis mention other writers like Feinberg, Warren, and Noonan?

Why does Abbate discuss the example of Frank Richards throwing bombs into cellars during World War I?

Sinnott-Armstrong argues that individuals have no obligation to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions because no plausible moral principle entails that they have such an obligation.

According to Mill, how is utilitarianism compatible with the requirements of justice?

Woollard thinks that if you arrive at your holiday bungalow and a local charity asks you for money to save children nearby, you are not obligated to help those children.

Which of the following is not a premise in van den Haag's response to the objection that the death penalty is morally impermissible because death by execution is degrading and dehumanizing?

Woollard argues that:

Which of the following best captures van den Haag's main conclusion about the potential for miscarriages of justice in a system of capital punishment?

Of the following explanations, which most accurately explains the infection model of wrongdoing?

Wiredu believes that morality is entirely relative to culture.

Which of the following would count as an objection to Gay-Williams's argument from nature?

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 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Filters

Exam 13: Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice

Which of the following does Rachels believe to be illustrated by his imagined drowning case involving Smith and Jones?

What are the two types of justice, according to Aristotle?

Which of the following best captures Nathanson's main conclusion in "An Eye for an Eye"?

Which of the following best explains the proper role of principles in ethics, as Collins explains it?

How might Skillen's account that understands racism as an output-drive concept in terms of its harmful effects explain Garcia's hypothetical case of an alien government who hates Earthlings and launches missiles at Africa?

In your own words, state Liu's main conclusion in "No Fats, Femmes, or Asians" and summarize his main argument for that conclusion.

Why does Mill distinguish between higher and lower pleasures? How does he think we can tell whether one pleasure is higher than another?

Why does Thomas discuss the fact that patterns of citation do not always reflect sources that are good and true?

What is the Akan view of responsibilities toward foreigners, according to Wiredu?

Why does Marquis mention other writers like Feinberg, Warren, and Noonan?

Why does Abbate discuss the example of Frank Richards throwing bombs into cellars during World War I?

Sinnott-Armstrong argues that individuals have no obligation to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions because no plausible moral principle entails that they have such an obligation.

According to Mill, how is utilitarianism compatible with the requirements of justice?

Woollard thinks that if you arrive at your holiday bungalow and a local charity asks you for money to save children nearby, you are not obligated to help those children.

Which of the following is not a premise in van den Haag's response to the objection that the death penalty is morally impermissible because death by execution is degrading and dehumanizing?

Woollard argues that:

Which of the following best captures van den Haag's main conclusion about the potential for miscarriages of justice in a system of capital punishment?

Of the following explanations, which most accurately explains the infection model of wrongdoing?

Wiredu believes that morality is entirely relative to culture.

Which of the following would count as an objection to Gay-Williams's argument from nature?

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 1

Normative Theories, Part 2

Filters