Question 1

Immanuel Kant believed that prostitution was immoral because, by selling their sexual services, prostitutes allow themselves to be treated as only a means to an end.

Accepted Answer

According to Kant's ethical theory, treating individuals solely as means to an end (instead of as ends in themselves) is immoral. Therefore, since prostitution involves the use of a person solely for sexual pleasure, Kant would conclude that prostitution is immoral.

Question 2

W. D. Ross denied that we have immediate, intuitive knowledge of the basic prima facie obligations.

Accepted Answer

W. D. Ross argued that we do have immediate, intuitive knowledge of basic prima facie duties, such as fidelity, reparation, and justice, which guide our moral decision-making.

Question 3

Jeremy Bentham thought that a community is no more than the individuals who compose it and that the interests of the community are simply the sum of the interests of its members.

Accepted Answer

Jeremy Bentham's philosophical idea of utilitarianism holds that the greatest happiness for the greatest number of individuals is the ultimate goal of society, and that the interests of the community are the sum total of the interests of its members. Therefore, A is the correct answer.

Question 4

Immanuel Kant believed that it is only when we act out of empathy for others that our actions have moral worth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Immanuel Kant believed that it is only...

Question 5

A hypothetical imperative tells us to act as we would want everyone to act in that situation.

Accepted Answer

A hypothetical imperative is conditional and tells us what to do in order to achieve a specific goal, unlike the categorical imperative which would tell us to act as we would want everyone to act in a given situation.

Question 6

A supererogatory act is an act that would be good to do, but not doing it is not wrong.

Accepted Answer

A supererogatory act is not required, but it exceeds the moral expectations and is praiseworthy. Therefore, not doing it is not considered wrong.

Question 7

According to Adam Smith, if business is left to pursue its self-interest, the good of society will be compromised and harmed.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Adam Smith, in his book "The Wealth of Nations", argues that if businesses operate in a competitive market with a system of natural liberty, their self-interest will actually lead to greater prosperity and benefit for society as a whole. Smith believed that the pursuit of self-interest through competition would result in efficient allocation of resources, innovation, and a higher standard of living for all.

Question 8

A prima facie obligation is an obligation that can be overridden by a more important obligation.

Accepted Answer

A prima facie obligation is not an absolute obligation and may be overridden by a stronger obligation. For example, the obligation to tell the truth can be overridden by the obligation to prevent harm to someone.

Question 9

One feature about utilitarianism that makes it appealing as a standard for moral decisions in business and nonbusiness organizations is that it provides a clear and straightforward basis for formulating and testing policies.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall happiness or wellbeing, which can be measured and compared quantitatively. This makes it easier to formulate policies and evaluate their effectiveness in achieving desired outcomes.

Question 10

Ethical egoism says that human beings are, as a matter of fact, so constructed that they must behave selfishly.

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is a normative theory that suggests individuals ought to act in their own self-interest; it does not claim that people must behave selfishly as a matter of their construction.

Quiz 2: Normative Theories of Ethics