Question 1

Steinbock claims that Rachels is mistaken in his
A) characterization of the American Medical Association statement.
B) belief in the right to voluntary euthanasia.
C) characterization of the decision not to operate in the Down's syndrome example as the intentional termination of life.
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Steinbock argues that Rachels misinterprets the American Medical Association's statement regarding euthanasia and the distinction between active and passive euthanasia.

Question 2

Steinbock claims that intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is not the intentional termination of life unless the doctor
A) foresees that the patient will die.
B) intends the patient's death.
C) intends to help the patient.
D) Both a and b

Accepted Answer

According to Steinbock, intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is not equivalent to intentionally terminating life as long as the doctor does not have the intention to bring about the patient's death. Therefore, the correct choice is B, which states that the doctor intends the patient's death. Choice A (foreseeing the patient's death) is not sufficient to establish intent, and choice C (intending to help the patient) is not necessarily applicable in this situation. Choice D (both A and B) is also incorrect because foreseeing the patient's death alone does not imply intent to terminate life.

Question 3

Steinbock suggests that intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is not necessarily the intentional termination of life. However, she claims that in order to discuss this suggestion fully she would need to present a full-scale theory of
A) intentional action.
B) life termination.
C) medical treatment.
D) moral philosophy.

Accepted Answer

In order to discuss whether intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is the intentional termination of life, Steinbock would need a full-scale theory of intentional action to examine the intentions and motivations of those who choose to end treatment.

Question 4

According to Steinbock, Rachels makes the incorrect assumption that
A) all instances of active euthanasia are morally permissible.
B) there would be no point to terminating treatment which is not the death of the patient.
C) there are many reasons to terminate treatment which are not the death of the patient.
D) active euthanasia is always morally worse than passive euthanasia.

Accepted Answer

Steinbock criticizes Rachels for assuming that the only point of terminating treatment is to bring about the death of the patient, overlooking other reasons for ending treatment that do not aim at the patient's death.

Question 5

Steinbock claims that
A) a quick death is always preferable to a lingering one.
B) there are no cases in which death is in the best interest of the patient.
C) killing a terminal child is more decent and humane than making the child comfortable for the last months of her life.
D) None of the above.

Accepted Answer

Steinbock does not make any of the three claims presented in the answer choices. Therefore, the correct answer is D, none of the above.

Question 6

What kinds of lifestyle changes would you have to make to live according to the moderate version of Singer's position? What about the strong version? Are you willing to make these kinds of changes? Be sure to support your position with carefully thought-out reasons (that is, don't just say something along the lines of, "I like my life how it is").

Accepted Answer

The answer of What kinds of lifestyle changes would you...

Question 7

Is geographical proximity morally relevant? That is, do we have a greater duty to the needy in our own country than we do to those in other parts of the world? Why or why not? What does Singer say about this?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is geographical proximity morally relevant? That is,...

Question 8

Singer believes that our duties to those who live on the other side of the world are equal to our duties to our neighbors.

Accepted Answer

Singer argues for the principle of equal consideration of interests, which means that the interests of all beings capable of experiencing pleasure or suffering should be considered equally. This includes beings on the other side of the world as well as our neighbors. Therefore, he believes our duties to both are equal.

Question 9

What others might or might not be giving to help the poor is not relevant to the question of what I should give.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What others might or might not be...

Question 10

Singer believes that a society's moral standards have little effect on the decisions its members make.

Accepted Answer

Singer actually argues the opposite of this statement, stating that a society's moral standards can greatly influence individual decision making.

Question 11

Singer believes that private donations are an effective way to prevent starvation.

Accepted Answer

Singer argues in his essay "Famine, Affluence, and Morality" that individuals and governments should donate a significant portion of their income to effective charities to prevent starvation in developing countries. He believes that private donations are an effective way to address the issue of global poverty, and that individuals have a moral obligation to provide aid to those in need.

Question 12

Singer's argument depends on utilitarianism.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Singer's argument depends on utilitarianism....

Question 13

Singer believes that our duties to __________ are equal to our duties to ourselves.
A) our children
B) our neighbors
C) those on the other side of the world
D) All of these groups

Accepted Answer

Singer argues for the concept of effective altruism, which holds that we have a moral obligation to use our resources, time, and money to do the most good possible in the world, regardless of geographic boundaries or personal connections to those in need. Therefore, our duties are equal to all those who can benefit from our assistance, including our own family, our neighbors, and people on the other side of the world.

Question 14

What does Singer think about relief agencies' practice of thanking donors for their generosity?
A) It undermines the moral value of the donors' actions.
B) It mistakes an act of duty for an act of charity.
C) It increases the likelihood that others will give.
D) It should not be followed up by requests for more contributions.

Accepted Answer

Singer believes that thanking donors for their generosity mistakes an act of duty (what he argues giving to those in need should be considered) for an act of charity (which is often seen as optional or extra). He argues that we have a moral obligation to help those in need, so when relief agencies thank donors, it frames the donation as something above and beyond moral duty, rather than what is ethically required.

Question 15

Which of the following actions would Singer be likely to see as morally unjustifiable?
A) buying clothes for any reason other than to keep warm
B) giving a friend a moderately priced bottle of wine on her birthday
C) saving money for a family cruise to Alaska
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

Singer would see all of these actions as morally unjustifiable because they involve spending money on non-essential items or experiences when that money could instead be used to help alleviate poverty or other pressing global issues. Singer's ethical framework emphasizes the importance of using one's resources to do the most good possible, and these actions do not align with that principle.

Question 16

Singer's reflections here are primarily
A) descriptive-empirical.
B) prescriptive-normative.
C) meta-ethical.
D) All of these

Accepted Answer

Singer's reflections are primarily prescriptive-normative as he often discusses how people ought to act based on ethical principles, rather than merely describing or analyzing ethical concepts.

Question 17

Singer claims that his view
A) is unprecedented in its radicalism.
B) would not have seemed extraordinary at other times and places.
C) depends on the Christian philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
D) is in keeping with the contemporary standards of mainstream moral thinking.

Accepted Answer

Singer's view, while controversial to some, is not unprecedented in its radicalism. He draws from various philosophical traditions and argues that his view aligns with the values of many cultures throughout history.

Question 18

Explain Singer's central argument. Which premise in Singer's argument does Timmerman object to? Is the objection compelling? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Singer's central argument. Which premise in...

Question 19

How might Singer respond to Timmerman's Drowning Children thought experiment?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might Singer respond to Timmerman's Drowning...

Question 20

How much do you believe that people in affluent nations are morally obligated to donate to aid organizations? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How much do you believe that people...

Quiz 7: Moral Problems

Steinbock claims that Rachels is mistaken in his

Steinbock claims that intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is not the intentional termination of life unless the doctor

Steinbock suggests that intentionally ceasing life-prolonging treatment is not necessarily the intentional termination of life. However, she claims that in order to discuss this suggestion fully she would need to present a full-scale theory of

According to Steinbock, Rachels makes the incorrect assumption that

Steinbock claims that

Is geographical proximity morally relevant? That is, do we have a greater duty to the needy in our own country than we do to those in other parts of the world? Why or why not? What does Singer say about this?

Singer believes that our duties to those who live on the other side of the world are equal to our duties to our neighbors.

What others might or might not be giving to help the poor is not relevant to the question of what I should give.

Singer believes that a society's moral standards have little effect on the decisions its members make.

Singer believes that private donations are an effective way to prevent starvation.

Singer's argument depends on utilitarianism.

Singer believes that our duties to __________ are equal to our duties to ourselves.

What does Singer think about relief agencies' practice of thanking donors for their generosity?

Which of the following actions would Singer be likely to see as morally unjustifiable?

Singer's reflections here are primarily

Singer claims that his view

Explain Singer's central argument. Which premise in Singer's argument does Timmerman object to? Is the objection compelling? Why or why not?

How might Singer respond to Timmerman's Drowning Children thought experiment?

How much do you believe that people in affluent nations are morally obligated to donate to aid organizations? Defend your answer.