Question 1

Phil and Mickie disagree about the merits of jazz-fusion music.Phil points to the boundary-stretching possibilities of including electric instruments in advancing improvisation.Mickie counters with the loss of "dance-ability" present in big band/swing jazz.Their discussion of jazz music can best be understood to encapsulate the (nonmoral)application of which theory?

Accepted Answer

Phil and Mickie's disagreement reflects individual subjectivism, where each person has their own subjective perspective on the value of jazz-fusion music.

Question 2

In order to be a moral nihilist,one must be an egoist.

Accepted Answer

Moral nihilism is the belief that there are no objective or universal moral truths. It does not necessarily require the belief in egoism, which is the ethical theory that self-interest is the highest good. One can be a moral nihilist without being an egoist, and one can be an egoist without being a moral nihilist.

Question 3

By which of the following indicators can a thick moral concept be distinguished from a thin concept?

Accepted Answer

Thick concepts have both descriptive and expressive content whereas thin concepts only have descriptive content. This means that thick concepts not only describe a particular action or behavior, but also convey a moral value judgment about it. Thin concepts, on the other hand, are more neutral and only describe a particular action or behavior without any added moral judgment.

Question 4

Cognitivist understandings of moral propositions differ from noncognitivist understandings in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Cognitivism holds that moral propositions are statements that can be true or false and express beliefs about the world, while noncognitivism holds that moral propositions do not express beliefs, but rather express attitudes, preferences, or emotions. Therefore, option A is the best choice because it captures this difference in understanding of moral propositions between cognitivism and noncognitivism.

Question 5

In July 1776,American colonists revolting against the British monarchy pulled down and beheaded a statue of King George III.This mass action could be understood as an instance of which of the following understandings of morality?

Accepted Answer

Emotivism posits that moral judgments express emotional responses rather than objective truths. The act of pulling down and beheading a statue of King George III can be seen as an expression of the colonists' feelings of anger and defiance against British rule, rather than an adherence to an objective moral principle.

Question 6

For what error is "error theory" named?

Accepted Answer

Error theory is named after the belief that there are no objective moral values or facts, and that any moral claims or beliefs are ultimately mistaken. It is the belief that the whole framework of morality is built on an error - that objective moral values simply do not exist.

Question 7

The interpretation of Nietzsche presented here is compatible with moral nihilism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The interpretation of Nietzsche presented here is...

Question 8

The variety of moral thinking,which holds that ethical stances can hold true for one person but false for another,is best understood as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Individual subjectivism is the variety of moral thinking that believes that ethical stances can be true for one individual but false for another. This means that individuals are the sole determiners of what is right and wrong for themselves, and there is no objective standard to judge actions. Ethical egoism, on the other hand, holds that individuals should always act in their own self-interest. Cultural relativism maintains that ethical beliefs are relative to different cultures, while nihilism asserts that there are no objective values or meaning in the world.

Question 9

According to Ayer,under expressivist understandings of morality,moral disagreements can be best understood as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Ayer,under expressivist understandings of morality,moral...

Question 10

According to the interpretation advanced in the chapter,Nietzsche's desire to get "beyond good and evil" is best understood as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Nietzsche's concept of going "beyond good and evil" involves reevaluating the moral values that society upholds, suggesting a shift from the dichotomy of "good and evil" to a more pragmatic distinction between "good and bad," which is more aligned with life-affirming values rather than moral absolutes.

Question 11

In 2015,a Connecticut bank executive was kidnapped from his house,had a bomb strapped to him,and was told that if he did not empty the vault at his bank the bomb would explode.(This case is reminiscent of a 2003 case in Pennsylvania. )Briefly discuss if he should be held morally responsible for the theft and how,if at all,this case differs from deterministic understandings of morality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In 2015,a Connecticut bank executive was kidnapped...

Question 12

Media accounts of the 1979 trial of Dan White for murdering Harvey Milk and George Moscone brought the term Twinkie Defense to public consciousness.Twinkies were not actually mentioned in the courtroom,but White's attorneys did successfully argue that White had diminished mental capacities at the time of the murders.Briefly discuss if someone should be held morally responsible for actions taken when his or her mental processes are hindered by biochemical interferences.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Media accounts of the 1979 trial of...

Question 13

Frankfurt's example of Black and Jones provides an interesting question for those confronting determinism.Briefly discuss whether Jones ought to be held responsible for his actions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Frankfurt's example of Black and Jones provides...

Question 14

Nietzsche's critique of Christian morality is explained in the chapter as based upon which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Nietzsche's critique of Christian morality centers on the idea that its virtues are outdated and no longer relevant to contemporary society, rather than focusing on the theology or historical accuracy of Jesus' existence.

Question 15

One way of understanding human bodies is that we are electrical-chemical machines made out of meat,bones,and skin.Just like any other machine,our meat machines act in particular ways depending upon the input provided.Briefly describe the difficulties this understanding presents in considering agent causation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One way of understanding human bodies is...

Question 16

Although Janis and Joni may disagree about their tastes in movies,their mutual belief that it is worth attempting to resolve the disagreement through discussion points to which of the following beliefs?

Accepted Answer

The mutual belief in resolving disagreements through discussion suggests a belief that subjective opinions (subjectivism) can be discussed and possibly reconciled through an appeal to objective facts or rational arguments (objectivism). This implies that their personal, subjective tastes in movies can be addressed through an objective framework of discussion, indicating that subjectivism (personal tastes) rests on a foundation of objectivism (the belief in objective standards for discussion or evaluation).

Question 17

Many religions have a belief in an omniscient-or all-knowing-deity.Discuss how this belief impacts the possibility of agent causation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many religions have a belief in an...

Quiz 3: Skepticism and Subjectivism