Question 1

Ethical egoism seems to conflict with:

Accepted Answer

A)  the greatest happiness principle.
B)  our considered moral judgments and our moral experience.
C)  our considered moral judgments and our self-interest.
D)  our moral experience and self-indulgence. B

Question 2

Rule-utilitarianism has been accused of being internally inconsistent because the theory can:

Accepted Answer

A)  easily collapse into act-utilitarianism.
B)  be defended through act-utilitarianism.
C)  always fall back on rigid rules.
D)  never be understood. A

Question 3

When act- and rule-utilitarianism are applied to the same moral issue,they:

Accepted Answer

A)  may yield different answers.
B)  always yield the same answer.
C)  always yield different answers.
D)  offer incoherent solutions. A

Question 4

Suppose for someone there are only two possible actions: (1)read Aristotle or (2)spend a weekend on a tropical isle in intensely pleasurable debauchery.Under these circumstances,John Stuart Mill would likely:

Accepted Answer

A)  spend a week in intensely pleasurable debauchery.
B)  refrain from making such a choice.
C)  combine reading Aristotle with debauchery.
D)  read Aristotle.

Question 5

Suppose for someone there are only two possible actions: (1)read Aristotle or (2)spend a weekend on a tropical isle in intensely pleasurable debauchery.In this situation,the classic utilitarian would likely choose:

Accepted Answer

A)  (1) .
B)  (2) .
C)  neither (1) nor (2) .
D)  both (1) and (2) .

Question 6

Commonsense morality makes a distinction between doing our duty and doing more than duty requires,what are called supererogatory actions.This distinction seems to disappear in:

Accepted Answer

A)  natural law theory.
B)  Rawls's theory.
C)  utilitarianism.
D)  Kant's theory.

Question 7

A true ethical egoist chooses actions that:

Accepted Answer

A)  are exceptionally altruistic.
B)  lead him to self-indulgent or reckless behavior.
C)  provide him with whatever he wants.
D)  promote his own self-interests.

Question 8

Suppose a utilitarian judge decides to rule against a plaintiff in a lawsuit just because people in general would be happier if the plaintiff lost the case.Such a utilitarian move would conflict with:

Accepted Answer

A)  rule-utilitarianism.
B)  commonsense views about happiness.
C)  divine command theory.
D)  commonsense views about justice.

Question 9

Utilitarianism reminds us that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the consequences of our actions do not matter most of the time.
B)  not everyone counts equally in moral deliberations.
C)  some absolutist rules are necessary.
D)  the consequences of our actions make a difference in our moral deliberations.

Question 10

The philosopher who said that the greatest good is pleasure,and the greatest evil is pain,was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Kant.
B)  Epicurus.
C)  Aquinas.
D)  Socrates.

Question 11

Suppose you break your promise to visit your dying grandmother on the grounds that you can create more happiness by partying with your friends.This utilitarian view of the situation seems to conflict with:

Accepted Answer

A)  our commonsense view of justice.
B)  our commonsense view of rights.
C)  our commonsense view of our obligations to other people.
D)  our commonsense notion of utilitarian morality.

Question 12

Ethical egoism is the theory that:

Accepted Answer

A)  the right action is the one that advances everyone's best interests equally.
B)  one's only moral duty is to promote the most favorable balance of good over evil for all concerned.
C)  the right action is the one that advances one's own best interests.
D)  the right action is the one most consistent with the goal of selfishness.

Question 13

To the classic utilitarian,happiness is:

Accepted Answer

A)  an instrumental good.
B)  one of many intrinsic goods.
C)  the only intrinsic good.
D)  an illusion.

Question 14

John Stuart Mill says,"It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied;better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied." This sentiment is an indictment of the glutton but also a pat on the back for:

Accepted Answer

A)  those who make no distinction between higher and lower pleasures.
B)  those who avoid all pleasures.
C)  those who enjoy higher pleasures.
D)  those who achieve the greatest quantity of pleasure.

Question 15

Consider a scenario involving the possible killing of an innocent person for the good of others.Such an action could conceivably be sanctioned by:

Accepted Answer

A)  Kant's theory.
B)  natural law theory.
C)  the means-end principle.
D)  act-utilitarianism.

Question 16

Utilitarianism is a moral theory for promoting:

Accepted Answer

A)  adherence to absolutist rules.
B)  a kind of ethical egoism.
C)  the principle of partiality.
D)  human welfare.

Question 17

Some utilitarians respond to the charge that act-utilitarianism conflicts with common moral intuitions by:

Accepted Answer

A)  switching to natural law theory.
B)  rejecting commonsense morality.
C)  denying that act-utilitarianism is a true moral theory.
D)  rejecting rule-utilitarianism.

Question 18

The utilitarian principle,or principle of utility,is also called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  principle of minimal happiness.
B)  principle of diminishing returns.
C)  hedonistic formula.
D)  greatest happiness principle.

Question 19

The theory that says to determine right action you must apply the egoistic principle to individual acts is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  Kantian egoism.
B)  nonconsequentialist egoism.
C)  rule-egoism.
D)  act-egoism.

Question 20

If,according to Jeremy Bentham,only the total quantity of happiness matters,then the person closest to the moral ideal would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  the ascetic.
B)  the glutton.
C)  the Spartan.
D)  a disciplined soldier.

Exam 5: Consequentialist Theories: Maximize the Good