Question 1

Which argument from the text concludes that we are not morally required to change or refrain from our ordinary consumer practices to improve the environmental situation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Last Person Argument 
B)  The Biocentrism Argument 
C)  The No Difference Argument 
D)  None of the above

Question 2

Sinnott-Armstrong claims that there is no way to identify any particular victim(s) of wasteful driving in normal circumstances. Which principle does this undermine as a basis for the wrongness of driving unnecessarily?

Accepted Answer

A)  The risk principle 
B)  The harm principle 
C)  The universalizability principle 
D)  The means principle

Question 3

According to the text, we might wonder whether being able to be better or worse off is really a basis for intrinsic value because things can be better or worse off without being

Accepted Answer

A)  sentient. 
B)  alive. 
C)  rational. 
D)  All of the above

Question 4

Critically assess the No Difference Argument. Do you think it succeeds in establishing that we are not morally required to change or refrain from our ordinary consumer practices in order to improve the environmental situation? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Critically assess the No Difference Argument. Do...

Question 5

Which of the following is true of offsetting?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is a way of compensating victims of climate change. 
B)  It is a way of avoiding the harm caused by emissions. 
C)  It is required by our duties of goodness. 
D)  It is in violation of our duties of justice.

Question 6

Talk about:
-Slash and burn agriculture

Accepted Answer

The answer of Talk about:
-Slash and burn agriculture...

Question 7

According to Taylor, we are morally required to consider the interests of a thing if and only if it

Accepted Answer

A)  is human. 
B)  is alive. 
C)  is sentient. 
D)  exists.

Question 8

In what ways does Hill suggest that those who fail to respect natural environments are falling short of ideals of human excellence? Raise what you think is the most serious objection to his view. Is your objection successful? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways does Hill suggest that...

Question 9

According to anthropocentric approaches to ethics, the moral status of human actions which affect the environment is determined by

Accepted Answer

A)  their consequences for human well-being. 
B)  whether or not they're consistent with norms that protect human rights. 
C)  Both a and b 
D)  Neither a nor b

Question 10

According to Hill, which of the following is a good reason not to destroy the natural environment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Doing so indicates a lack of virtue. 
B)  The natural environment often has aesthetic value. 
C)  The natural environment bears utility for humans. 
D)  All of the above

Question 11

According to Broome, what kind of duty is owed to a particular person or persons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Duties of justice 
B)  Duties of goodness 
C)  Civic duties 
D)  All of the above

Question 12

Talk about:
-Instrumentally valuable

Accepted Answer

The answer of Talk about:
-Instrumentally valuable...

Question 13

In the private morality of climate change, why are duties of justice more important than duties of goodness according to Broome?

Accepted Answer

A)  Duties of goodness belong to the domain of public morality not private morality. 
B)  There is no way that individuals can reduce their emissions. 
C)  Climate change does not involve the violation of anyone's rights. 
D)  Individual resources are better directed to areas where they will have a greater impact.

Question 14

Broome claims that no one needs to make any sacrifice to solve the problem caused by the externality of greenhouse gas emissions. What does he mean by this and how does he argue for it? Are you convinced? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Broome claims that no one needs to...

Question 15

According to Moore, if we would prefer a world with nothing but natural beauty to a barren and lifeless world, this shows that natural beauty is

Accepted Answer

A)  intrinsically valuable. 
B)  instrumentally valuable. 
C)  Both a and b 
D)  Neither a nor b

Question 16

What obligations do you think we have to protect the (nonhuman) environment, and why? Do we have obligations involving just other living things, or also the natural environment? Do these obligations come from our own interests or from the intrinsic moral importance of the environment? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What obligations do you think we have...

Question 17

Why does Hill think it is difficult to explain what is wrong with destroying the environment in terms of rights and welfare? What alternative framework does he propose for looking at the issue? Why does he think this framework will be useful when standard ethical theories fail? Do you find his approach convincing? Defend your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does Hill think it is difficult...

Question 18

What vices does Hill think are displayed by those who fail to respect to nature? What virtues does he think they fail to display? Do you agree with Hill's claims? Defend your answers and explain their implications for how we should relate to the environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What vices does Hill think are displayed...

Question 19

According to utilitarianism, _______ are members of the moral community.

Accepted Answer

A)  living things and the nonliving environment 
B)  only living things 
C)  only humans and animals 
D)  only humans

Question 20

Some environmentalists criticize biocentrism on the grounds that it cannot account for the intrinsic value of

Accepted Answer

A)  mountains. 
B)  ecosystems. 
C)  the atmosphere. 
D)  All of the above

Exam 14: The Environment