Question 1

Ethical egoism is
A) not based on reason or logic.
B) based on determining long-term beneficial consequences.
C) the divine command theory by another name.
D) Kantianism by another name.
E) utilitarianism by another name.

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is a theory that argues individuals should act in their self-interest, and it is based on determining long-term beneficial consequences for the individual in question. It is not based on divine command theory or Kantianism, although it shares some similarities with utilitarianism in terms of evaluating the consequences of actions.

Question 2

A relativist claims that
A) there are no universal moral principles.
B) morality has an existence outside the human mind.
C) morality and law are identical.
D) there is no such thing as free will.
E) God does not exist.

Accepted Answer

The relativist believes that moral principles are relative to individuals or cultures and that there are no universal moral principles that apply to everyone. This means that what is considered right or wrong can vary based on cultural norms or personal beliefs.

Question 3

An early proponent of the social contract was
A) Jeremy Bentham.
B) John Stuart Mill.
C) Jean-Jacque Rousseau.
D) Karl Marx.
E) John Brown.

Accepted Answer

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a major proponent of the social contract theory, which emphasized the agreement between citizens and their government, stipulating that the government's power is derived from the consent of the governed.

Question 4

Which of the following is an argument in favor of the divine command theory?
A) The divine command theory is not based on reason.
B) It is fallacious to equate "the good" with "God."
C) God is all-knowing.
D) Some moral problems are not addressed directly in scripture.
E) The Bible has contradictory moral teachings.

Accepted Answer

The argument in favor of the divine command theory is that God is all-knowing and therefore has the authority to determine what is morally right and wrong. This argument asserts that if God commands something, then it must be morally right because God cannot command anything that is morally wrong. Therefore, this argument supports the divine command theory.

Question 5

Rules of conduct describing what people ought and ought not to do in various situations are called
A) denominations.
B) ideals.
C) morality.
D) philosophy.
E) virtues.

Accepted Answer

Rules of conduct that dictate what individuals should and should not do are referred to as morality. Denominations are religious subgroups; ideals are abstract concepts of perfection or excellence; philosophy is a discipline that examines knowledge, existence, and values; and virtues are positive characteristics or qualities that an individual possesses.

Question 6

Which of the following is an argument in favor of ethical egoism?
A) Ethical egoism is supported by verses in the Bible.
B) People are naturally altruistic.
C) The community can benefit when individuals put their well-being first.
D) It is not true that people naturally act in their own long-term self-interest.
E) Ethical egoism treats all persons as moral equals.

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism argues that individuals should act in their own self-interest. In doing so, they can benefit the community as a whole by creating a society where everyone is encouraged to prioritize their own well-being. This argument supports the idea that everyone can benefit when individuals put themselves first, which is the key principle of ethical egoism.

Question 7

An association of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time is called a
A) business.
B) constitution.
C) government.
D) monopoly.
E) society.

Accepted Answer

An association of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time is called a society. A business is organized to make a profit, a constitution lays out the basic principles and rules for the government of a country, and a monopoly is a company or group that controls all or nearly all of the market for a particular product or service. A government is a system of governing a state or community.

Question 8

Two philosophers closely associated with utilitarianism are
A) Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
B) Immanuel Kant and Jeremy Bentham.
C) Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill.
D) John Stuart Mill and John Rawls.
E) Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Rawls.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill are considered to be the two primary philosophers associated with utilitarianism. Bentham is credited with originating the theory, and Mill expanded upon it in his influential work, Utilitarianism.

Question 9

Ethical objectivism is based on the idea that
A) there are no universal moral principles.
B) morality has an existence outside the human mind.
C) morality and law are identical.
D) there is no such thing as free will.
E) God does not exist.

Accepted Answer

Ethical objectivism is the belief that moral truths exist independently of human opinion or perception. Therefore, it is based on the idea that morality has an existence outside the human mind. Option A contradicts this belief, while options C, D, and E are irrelevant to the definition of ethical objectivism.

Question 10

Utilitarianism does not mean "the greatest good of the greatest number" because
A) it is impossible to calculate "the greatest good."
B) it focuses solely on "the greatest good" and pays no attention to how "the good" is distributed.
C) some people have no moral worth.
D) it is impossible to maximize "the good" without ruining the environment.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

While utilitarianism does focus on maximizing overall well-being or "the good," it also takes into account the distribution of this good among individuals. It seeks to create the greatest amount of overall happiness, but not at the expense of the happiness of a minority or marginalized group. Option A is incorrect because while it may be difficult to determine the exact amount of good or happiness being created, utilitarian philosophers use empirical evidence and reasoning to determine what actions will likely lead to more well-being. Option C is incorrect because utilitarianism holds that all individuals have equal moral value and that the well-being of each individual should be considered in the calculation of overall happiness. Option D may be a consideration for utilitarians who support environmentalism, but it is not a fundamental issue with the theory as a whole.

Question 11

According to Kant, our sense of "ought to" is called
A) necessity.
B) insecurity.
C) paranoia.
D) love.
E) dutifulness.

Accepted Answer

Kant believed that our sense of "ought to" is rooted in our sense of duty or dutifulness. He believed that our moral obligations are based on universal principles of reason, rather than subjective desires or feelings. Therefore, our sense of obligation comes from a sense of duty to follow these universal principles, rather than from personal insecurities or paranoia.

Question 12

According to James Moor, taking "the ethical point of view" means
A) abiding by your religious beliefs.
B) deciding that other people and their core values are worthy of your respect.
C) choosing to sacrifice your own good for the good of someone else.
D) putting self-interest above the interests of everyone else.
E) refusing to accept help from other people.

Accepted Answer

According to James Moor, taking "the ethical point of view" means deciding that other people and their core values are worthy of your respect. This involves recognizing the moral worth of others and treating them with dignity and respect, even if their values, beliefs, or lifestyle choices differ from your own. It also means being willing to consider the impact of your actions on others and taking responsibility for the consequences of your choices. This approach is rooted in a recognition of the interdependence of human beings and the importance of social cooperation and mutual respect.

Question 13

The Principle of Utility is also called
A) the Categorical Imperative.
B) the Difference Principle.
C) the Greatest Happiness Principle.
D) the Social Contract.
E) the Ten Commandments.

Accepted Answer

The Principle of Utility is also known as the Greatest Happiness Principle, which states that actions are ethical if they promote the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 14

The divine command theory is an example of
A) relativism.
B) ethical objectivism.
C) ethical egoism.
D) existentialism.
E) materialism.

Accepted Answer

The divine command theory is a form of ethical objectivism, which posits that moral principles are grounded in a transcendent, divine source. It holds that ethical obligations are a reflection of the commands or will of God or the gods, and that these divine commands are ultimately authoritative and binding on all human beings.

Question 15

According to Kant, the moral value of an action depends upon
A) its consequences.
B) the underlying moral rule.
C) how closely it aligns with Biblical teachings.
D) how closely it aligns with the law.
E) the extent to which it produces happiness.

Accepted Answer

According to Kant's deontological ethics, the moral value of an action depends upon the underlying moral rule rather than its consequences, alignment with biblical teachings, legal requirements, or producing happiness. For Kant, an action is morally right if it follows a moral rule that can be universalized without contradiction, such as the categorical imperative.

Question 16

The problem of moral luck is raised as a criticism of
A) the divine command theory.
B) act utilitarianism.
C) rule utilitarianism.
D) cultural relativism.
E) Kantianism.

Accepted Answer

The problem of moral luck challenges act utilitarianism because it questions how the morality of an action can be solely based on its consequences when those consequences are often beyond our control due to luck or chance factors. This is seen as a problem for act utilitarianism because it relies heavily on the idea of weighing the consequences of an action in order to determine its moral status.

Question 17

According to the second formulation of the Categorical Imperative,
A) the moral worth of a person depends upon that person's actions.
B) one good turn deserves another.
C) bad deeds should be punished.
D) it is wrong for one person to "use" another.
E) the moral worth of a person depends upon that person's intentions.

Accepted Answer

The second formulation of the Categorical Imperative, often summarized as "Treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, never merely as a means to an end, but always at the same time as an end," implies that it is morally wrong to use people merely as tools or means to achieve one's own goals. This is reflected in choice D.

Question 18

Thomas Hobbes called life without rules and a means of enforcing them
A) utopia.
B) anarchy.
C) democracy.
D) communism.
E) the state of nature.

Accepted Answer

Thomas Hobbes described life without rules and a means of enforcing them as "the state of nature," which he famously characterized as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."

Question 19

Utilitarianism is an example of
A) a consequentialist theory.
B) the social contract theory.
C) a non-consequentialist theory.
D) a practical implementation of the divine command theory.
E) a relativistic theory.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is a consequentialist theory, which means it evaluates the morality of an action based on its outcome or consequences. This theory states that the action which promotes the greatest good for the greatest number of people is the right action.

Question 20

Ethics is
A) a rational examination of people's moral beliefs.
B) a branch of philosophy.
C) one way to determine which activities are "good" and which are "bad."
D) a field of study more than 2,000 years old.
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Ethics involves a rational examination of people's moral beliefs and is a branch of philosophy. It is one way to determine which activities are "good" and which are "bad." Ethics is a field of study that has been ongoing for more than 2,000 years. Therefore, all the given choices are correct.

Quiz 2: Introduction to Ethics

Ethical egoism is

A relativist claims that

An early proponent of the social contract was

Which of the following is an argument in favor of the divine command theory?

Rules of conduct describing what people ought and ought not to do in various situations are called

Which of the following is an argument in favor of ethical egoism?

An association of people organized under a system of rules designed to advance the good of its members over time is called a

Two philosophers closely associated with utilitarianism are

Ethical objectivism is based on the idea that

Utilitarianism does not mean "the greatest good of the greatest number" because

According to Kant, our sense of "ought to" is called

According to James Moor, taking "the ethical point of view" means

The Principle of Utility is also called

The divine command theory is an example of

According to Kant, the moral value of an action depends upon

The problem of moral luck is raised as a criticism of

According to the second formulation of the Categorical Imperative,

Thomas Hobbes called life without rules and a means of enforcing them

Utilitarianism is an example of

Ethics is