Question 1

Which of the following best describes deontology?

Accepted Answer

A)  It has few, if any, protections for cultural minorities 
B)  It often conflicts with important rights, such as freedom of contract 
C)  The set of rights protected by this philosophy are ill-defined 
D)  It favors the rights of broader society over the rights of individuals 
A)  It has few, if any, protections for cultural minorities 
B)  It often conflicts with important rights, such as freedom of contract 
C)  The set of rights protected by this philosophy are ill-defined 
D)  It favors the rights of broader society over the rights of individuals C

Question 2

The principal proponent of deontology was:

Accepted Answer

A)  John Stuart Mill 
B)  Emanuel Kant 
C)  Jeremy Bentham 
D)  Aristotle 
A)  John Stuart Mill 
B)  Emanuel Kant 
C)  Jeremy Bentham 
D)  Aristotle B

Question 3

Identify an ethical issue that is in the news. Analyze it from the standpoint of consequentialism.

Accepted Answer

One ethical issue that is currently in the news is the debate over the use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement agencies. This technology has raised concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and potential biases in its use.

From the standpoint of consequentialism, the ethical analysis would focus on the consequences of using facial recognition technology. Proponents argue that it can help law enforcement agencies identify and apprehend criminals more efficiently, potentially leading to a decrease in crime rates and an increase in public safety. However, opponents argue that the use of this technology could lead to an increase in surveillance, potential misuse of data, and the targeting of marginalized communities.

Consequentialism would require a careful consideration of the potential positive and negative outcomes of using facial recognition technology. It would also require an examination of the potential harm and benefits to individuals and society as a whole. This analysis would need to take into account the potential for unintended consequences and the long-term impact of using this technology.

Ultimately, a consequentialist approach to the ethical issue of facial recognition technology would require a thorough examination of the potential outcomes and impacts, and a consideration of how to maximize the benefits while minimizing the potential harm. This would involve weighing the potential positive and negative consequences and making decisions based on the overall well-being of society.

Question 4

The law of eminent domain allows a local government to take a person's property for public use, such as building a freeway that has been designed to cross land owned by this landowner. The landowner, by law, is entitled to be paid the fair market value of her land. The law of eminent domain is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Deontology 
C)  Ethical relativism 
D)  Ethical absolutism 
A)  Utilitarianism 
B)  Deontology 
C)  Ethical relativism 
D)  Ethical absolutism

Question 5

A poor family went to the market to purchase fried chicken for dinner tonight. Unfortunately, this family's beloved cat ran into the street and was killed by a passing car. Rather than bury the cat, the family decided to cook the cat and eat it for dinner instead of eating fried chicken. Was the family's decision unethical?

Accepted Answer

Under consequentialism, the family is be

Question 6

Which of the following rights customarily is not given absolute protection by deontology?

Accepted Answer

A)  Property rights 
B)  The right to never be imprisoned 
C)  The right of free association 
D)  The right to be left alone 
A)  Property rights 
B)  The right to never be imprisoned 
C)  The right of free association 
D)  The right to be left alone

Question 7

A real-world difficulty of applying deontology is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  It can be difficult to identify all stakeholders affected by a decision 
B)  It can be difficult to measure utility 
C)  Some benefits, such as the right to the protection of trade secrets, are difficult to quantify 
D)  Two or more rights protected by deontology sometimes are in conflict 
A)  It can be difficult to identify all stakeholders affected by a decision 
B)  It can be difficult to measure utility 
C)  Some benefits, such as the right to the protection of trade secrets, are difficult to quantify 
D)  Two or more rights protected by deontology sometimes are in conflict

Question 8

Which of the following typically is not a real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism?

Accepted Answer

A)  It give undeservedly high weight to human emotion 
B)  It cannot readily measure societal values, such as the value of eradicating discrimination based on religion 
C)  It can be difficult to determine if an act makes society better off 
D)  It focuses on the good of the majority and does not place any value on the protection of minorities' rights 
A)  It give undeservedly high weight to human emotion 
B)  It cannot readily measure societal values, such as the value of eradicating discrimination based on religion 
C)  It can be difficult to determine if an act makes society better off 
D)  It focuses on the good of the majority and does not place any value on the protection of minorities' rights

Question 9

When a person is asked to evaluate an ethical dilemma in a secondary language rather than in the primary language learned at birth, researchers have discovered that the person's decision-making tends to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  Less rational 
B)  Skewed in favor of a choice that reflects the viewpoint of consequentialism 
C)  More likely to favor the deontology viewpoint 
D)  Emotionally-driven, especially among men 
A)  Less rational 
B)  Skewed in favor of a choice that reflects the viewpoint of consequentialism 
C)  More likely to favor the deontology viewpoint 
D)  Emotionally-driven, especially among men

Question 10

A focus on achieving the least overall harm for members of society is best reflected in the philosophy of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Deontology 
B)  Consequentialism, but not necessarily utilitarianism 
C)  Utilitarianism, but not necessarily consequentialism 
D)  Emanuel Kant 
A)  Deontology 
B)  Consequentialism, but not necessarily utilitarianism 
C)  Utilitarianism, but not necessarily consequentialism 
D)  Emanuel Kant

Question 11

Stealing from the rich to give to the poor:

Accepted Answer

A)  Definitely violates the precepts of deontology 
B)  Definitely violates the precepts of consequentialism 
C)  Is a categorical imperative 
D)  Is a classic example of the reversibility principle 
A)  Definitely violates the precepts of deontology 
B)  Definitely violates the precepts of consequentialism 
C)  Is a categorical imperative 
D)  Is a classic example of the reversibility principle

Question 12

A student at a local elementary school recently returned from a trip to a region of the world where there is a plague of a dreaded disease called the "Crazy Curse." According to medical doctors, the odds of this student infecting fellow classmates with this disease are "lower than zero." However, many parents have asked the school to disclose whether this student did in fact travel to the region where the "Crazy Curse" is spreading rapidly.
School authorities know that, if they make such a disclosure, the student will be ostracized and many parents will refuse to send their children to school. As a result, the school is considering various options, including making an announcement that "the student in question did not travel" to the region where the Crazy Curse is spreading.
a. What actions should the school consider?
b. What action do you recommend?
c. Is your decision consistent with deontology?
d. Is your decision consistent with consequentialism?

Accepted Answer

Deontology precludes ever lying, even if

Question 13

A cheese manufacturing plant utilizes portions of milk in the cheese-making process and sends the remainder of the milk into a nearby river. The milk effluence pollutes the river, making it unusable for recreational use by local residents. This effluence has a foul odor, but it does not pose a health hazard.
a. Evaluate the company's actions from a utilitarian perspective.
b. Evaluate the company's actions from a deontological perspective.
c. What are the practical problems in applying consequentialism in this situation?
d. What are the practical problems in applying deontology in this situation?

Accepted Answer

Regarding utilitarianism/consequentialis

Question 14

A real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  It can be difficult to identify all stakeholders affected by a decision 
B)  It can be difficult to measure utility 
C)  Some benefits, such as the enjoyment of privacy, are difficult to quantify 
D)  All of the above 
A)  It can be difficult to identify all stakeholders affected by a decision 
B)  It can be difficult to measure utility 
C)  Some benefits, such as the enjoyment of privacy, are difficult to quantify 
D)  All of the above

Question 15

A focus on the importance of categorical imperatives distinguishes:

Accepted Answer

A)  Utilitarianism from consequentialism 
B)  Deontology from utilitarianism 
C)  The philosophies espoused by Kant from deontology 
D)  The philosophies espoused by Mill from utilitarianism 
A)  Utilitarianism from consequentialism 
B)  Deontology from utilitarianism 
C)  The philosophies espoused by Kant from deontology 
D)  The philosophies espoused by Mill from utilitarianism

Question 16

The law of eminent domain allows a local government to take a person's property for public use, such as building a freeway that has been designed to cross land owned by this landowner. The landowner, by law, is entitled to be paid the fair market value of her land. However, in a recent action, a local government took a landowner's property under eminent domain and paid that landowner less than fair market value. Under utilitarianism, this government's action:

Accepted Answer

A)  Definitely was suboptimal 
B)  Definitely was optimal because the government saved money for the benefit of society 
C)  Definitely was optimal because any act that shifts resources away from a private individual to broader society satisfies the precepts of utilitarianism 
D)  May have been optimal or suboptimal, but further inquiry into relevant facts is needed 
A)  Definitely was suboptimal 
B)  Definitely was optimal because the government saved money for the benefit of society 
C)  Definitely was optimal because any act that shifts resources away from a private individual to broader society satisfies the precepts of utilitarianism 
D)  May have been optimal or suboptimal, but further inquiry into relevant facts is needed

Question 17

Your client told you that it needed to have "a completed compilation of its financial statements, in good form" for presentation to its bank this upcoming Friday in order to obtain a needed working capital loan. Although you had promised to accomplish this task on time, you were arrested for drunk driving on Thursday and had to spend most of the day at the police station arranging to post bail.
You knew that, if you had told your client the truth, the client would have terminated your professional relationship. This in turn would have required you to layoff Garza, your superb accounting analyst who is financially responsible for the care of her aged parents. As a result, you told the client that your child had to go to the emergency room for stitches after she inadvertently sat on the sharp point of scissors while working on an art project. Your client relayed this excuse to the bank as the reason that the submission of its financial statements would be delayed.
a. Evaluate your conduct from the standpoint of deontology.
b. Evaluate your client's statements to the bank from the standpoint of deontology.
c. Evaluate your conduct from the standpoint of consequentialism.

Accepted Answer

Your lie violated deontology. The bank m

Which of the following best describes deontology?

The principal proponent of deontology was:

Identify an ethical issue that is in the news. Analyze it from the standpoint of consequentialism.

Which of the following rights customarily is not given absolute protection by deontology?

A real-world difficulty of applying deontology is that:

Which of the following typically is not a real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism?

When a person is asked to evaluate an ethical dilemma in a secondary language rather than in the primary language learned at birth, researchers have discovered that the person's decision-making tends to be:

A focus on achieving the least overall harm for members of society is best reflected in the philosophy of:

Stealing from the rich to give to the poor:

A real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism is that:

A focus on the importance of categorical imperatives distinguishes:

Introduction to Ethics

Ethical Principles and Reasoning

Virtue, Justice, and Social Responsibility

Why We Cheat

Greed, Corruption, and Collusion

Fraud and Earnings Management

Discreditable Acts: Discrimination, Deceit, and Disclosure

Confidentiality

Independence and Moral Seduction

Conflicts of Interest

Duties As a Whistleblower

Duties of Public-Company Auditors: the Sarbanesoxley Act

Duties of Tax Professionals

Duties of Fiduciaries: Financial Planners, Trustees, and Executors

Duties in the Accounting Workplace Online Only

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Exam 3: The Core Philosophies

Which of the following best describes deontology?

The principal proponent of deontology was:

Identify an ethical issue that is in the news. Analyze it from the standpoint of consequentialism.

Which of the following rights customarily is not given absolute protection by deontology?

A real-world difficulty of applying deontology is that:

Which of the following typically is not a real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism?

When a person is asked to evaluate an ethical dilemma in a secondary language rather than in the primary language learned at birth, researchers have discovered that the person's decision-making tends to be:

A focus on achieving the least overall harm for members of society is best reflected in the philosophy of:

Stealing from the rich to give to the poor:

A real-world difficulty of applying utilitarianism is that:

A focus on the importance of categorical imperatives distinguishes:

Introduction to Ethics

Ethical Principles and Reasoning

Virtue, Justice, and Social Responsibility

Why We Cheat

Greed, Corruption, and Collusion

Fraud and Earnings Management

Discreditable Acts: Discrimination, Deceit, and Disclosure

Confidentiality

Independence and Moral Seduction

Conflicts of Interest

Duties As a Whistleblower

Duties of Public-Company Auditors: the Sarbanesoxley Act

Duties of Tax Professionals

Duties of Fiduciaries: Financial Planners, Trustees, and Executors

Duties in the Accounting Workplace Online Only

Filters