Question 1

According to Aquinas,natural law is composed of the moral principles that we can "read" clearly in the very structure of nature itself,including human nature.

Accepted Answer

According to Aquinas, natural law is composed of the moral principles that can be discerned through reason from the natural world, including human nature.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a common criticism of Kant's moral theory?
A) The notion that all categorical imperatives are absolute is contradicted by our considered moral judgments.
B) We can easily imagine situations in which we must choose between two allegedly perfect duties.
C) Because it is concerned primarily with the greatest good for the greatest number, it neglects the rights of the individual.
D) Its reliance on subjective judgment about what sort of principles should be universalizable leaves open the possibility of justifying heinous acts.

Accepted Answer

Kant's moral theory is criticized for focusing too heavily on individual duty and neglecting the broader societal implications of our actions. However, it is not criticized for neglecting the rights of the individual.

Question 3

Kant's first version of the categorical imperative rests firmly on:
A) perfection
B) utility
C) universality
D) imperfect duties

Accepted Answer

Kant's first version of the categorical imperative emphasizes the importance of universality, meaning that the maxim (or principle) of an action should be able to be applied universally and without contradiction. This stresses the idea of treating rational beings as ends in themselves, rather than as a means to an end.

Question 4

Categorical imperatives do not take into account our individual wants and needs.

Accepted Answer

Categorical imperatives, as proposed by Immanuel Kant, are moral principles that should be universally applied and not dependent on personal wants and needs. They focus on the inherent value and dignity of human beings and demand certain actions, regardless of individual desires or preferences.

Question 5

For Kant,to act with a good will is to:
A) act with a desire to do your duty simply because it is your duty
B) act with a desire to do your duty because it maximizes utility
C) take into account your desires and needs
D) act according to your natural inclinations

Accepted Answer

Kant believed that morality is based on the concept of duty, and that to act with a good will is to act with a desire to do your duty simply because it is your duty. This means that one should not act solely based on personal desires or external factors, but rather on the basis of a sense of obligation to uphold moral principles. Acting with a good will, according to Kant, involves acting out of respect for the moral law and the inherent dignity of humanity.

Question 6

Another term for a nonconsequentialist is:
A) a constructivist
B) a deontologist
C) an existentialist
D) a cognitivist

Accepted Answer

A nonconsequentialist is someone who believes that the morality of an action is not solely determined by its consequences. A deontologist is someone who follows a system of moral rules or duties, and is therefore a form of nonconsequentialism. Choice A, a constructivist, refers to a theory of knowledge and reality, and is not directly related to morality. Choice C, an existentialist, refers to a philosophy that emphasizes individual freedom and choice, but again is not directly related to morality. Choice D, a cognitivist, refers to a theory of knowledge that suggests that knowledge is based on mental processes, and is also not directly related to morality.

Question 7

According to Kant,all our duties can be derived from:
A) the Golden Rule
B) imperfect duties
C) perfect duties
D) the categorical imperative

Accepted Answer

According to Kant, all our duties can be derived from the categorical imperative, which is his foundational principle for moral reasoning. The categorical imperative states that "act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law." This means that we should only act in ways that we would want everyone else to act in the same situation, and that we should treat others as ends in themselves, rather than merely as means to our own ends. This principle can be used to derive both perfect and imperfect duties, and it is the basis for Kant's moral philosophy.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the traditional requirements that must be met in order for an action that has bad and good effects to be permissible,according to the doctrine of double effect?
A) The action is inherently either morally good or morally neutral.
B) The bad effect is not used to produce the good effect.
C) The bad effect cannot harm more than one person.
D) The intention must always be to bring about the good effect.

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of double effect states that an action with both good and bad effects can be permissible under certain conditions. These conditions include that the action is inherently either morally good or morally neutral, the bad effect is not used to produce the good effect, and the intention must always be to bring about the good effect. However, there is no requirement that the bad effect cannot harm more than one person.

Question 9

In natural law theory,the emphasis on reason makes morality:
A) independent of religion and belief in God
B) dependent on religion and belief in God
C) independent of perfect duties
D) dependent on consequences

Accepted Answer

Natural law theory emphasizes reason as the source of morality, which means that morality is independent of religion and belief in God. This is because reason is a human faculty, and humans can arrive at moral principles and rules through rational inquiry and reflection, without relying on divine revelation or religious authority. Natural law theory holds that there are certain moral principles that can be known through reason alone, such as the principle of non-aggression, the principle of justice, and the principle of respect for human dignity. These principles are considered to be universally applicable and binding, regardless of one's religious or cultural background.

Question 10

The idea that we must always treat people as ends in themselves,never merely as a means,is known as:
A) the Golden Rule
B) the categorical imperative
C) the means-end principle
D) the greatest-happiness principle

Accepted Answer

The answer of The idea that we must always treat...

Question 11

According to natural law theory,the general principles of right and wrong vary from person to person and from culture to culture.

Accepted Answer

According to natural law theory, the general principles of right and wrong are universal and apply to all individuals regardless of their cultural or personal beliefs.

Question 12

Imperfect duties are always to be followed; there are no exceptions.

Accepted Answer

Imperfect duties, unlike perfect duties, are not always binding and allow for discretion and personal judgment in their execution. Therefore, there may be exceptions to follow them in certain situations.

Question 13

Nonconsequentialist moral theories say that an action is right not because of what it produces,but:
A) because of who benefits from it
B) because of its consistency with other right actions
C) because of what that action is
D) because God ordained it

Accepted Answer

Nonconsequentialist moral theories focus on the inherent nature of the action itself, rather than the consequences it produces or who benefits from it. Therefore, the correct choice is C, which states that an action is right because of what it is.

Question 14

The doctrine of double effect says that performing a good action may be permissible even if it has bad effects,but performing a bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible.

Accepted Answer

The doctrine of double effect allows for the permissibility of performing a good action even if it has bad effects, as long as those bad effects are not intended and are merely foreseen. However, it does not allow for performing a bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects, as this would be considered inherently immoral.

Question 15

The means-ends principle maintains that:
A) we must always behave toward people to maximize their happiness
B) we must always treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as a means
C) we must never treat people as a means
D) we must treat people according to their wishes

Accepted Answer

The means-ends principle, also known as Kant's categorical imperative, states that we must always treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as a means. This means that we should respect people's dignity and autonomy, and not use them to achieve our own goals without their consent or against their will. This principle is considered a fundamental principle of ethics by many philosophers and is the basis for human rights and respect for persons. A, C, and D are incorrect because they either oversimplify or misunderstand the principle.

Question 16

Kant thinks that criminals should be punished:
A) to promote the good of society
B) only because they committed crimes
C) to protect the public
D) to rehabilitate criminals

Accepted Answer

Kant believed in the concept of universal law and held that individuals who refuse to abide by the law should be punished solely because they violated the law. Punishment should not be used as a means for promoting the common good, protecting the public, or rehabilitating the criminal, but rather as a way of upholding the principle of respect for the law.

Question 17

The Golden Rule is identical to the means-end principle.

Accepted Answer

The Golden Rule states "treat others as you would like to be treated", while the means-end principle states that actions are taken to achieve a desired end or goal. While they may share some similarities in promoting positive and ethical behavior, they are not identical principles.

Question 18

According to Aquinas,right actions are those that accord with the natural law.

Accepted Answer

Aquinas believed that right actions are those that fulfill the natural law, which he understood as the rational understanding of the objective order of creation that is inherent in human nature. According to Aquinas, the natural law is accessible through reason and is grounded in God's eternal law.

Question 19

For Kant,keeping a promise is a perfect duty.

Accepted Answer

Kant believed that keeping a promise is a perfect duty, meaning that it is morally required and cannot be abandoned under any circumstances. This is because promises are a form of voluntary commitment that one makes to another person, and breaking them not only harms the person who relied on the promise but also undermines trust and the moral fabric of society.

Question 20

In Kant's theory,the rights and duties of persons override:
A) the moral law
B) the means-ends principle
C) absolutist principles
D) consequentialist concerns

Accepted Answer

According to Kant's theory, the rights and duties of persons should not be violated or compromised for the sake of any consequences or utilitarian outcomes. Therefore, consequentialist concerns cannot override the moral principles that guide human actions.

Quiz 6: Nonconsequentialist Theories: Do Your Duty

According to Aquinas,natural law is composed of the moral principles that we can "read" clearly in the very structure of nature itself,including human nature.

Which of the following is NOT a common criticism of Kant's moral theory?

Kant's first version of the categorical imperative rests firmly on:

Categorical imperatives do not take into account our individual wants and needs.

For Kant,to act with a good will is to:

Another term for a nonconsequentialist is:

According to Kant,all our duties can be derived from:

Which of the following is NOT one of the traditional requirements that must be met in order for an action that has bad and good effects to be permissible,according to the doctrine of double effect?

In natural law theory,the emphasis on reason makes morality:

The idea that we must always treat people as ends in themselves,never merely as a means,is known as:

According to natural law theory,the general principles of right and wrong vary from person to person and from culture to culture.

Imperfect duties are always to be followed; there are no exceptions.

Nonconsequentialist moral theories say that an action is right not because of what it produces,but:

The doctrine of double effect says that performing a good action may be permissible even if it has bad effects,but performing a bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible.

The means-ends principle maintains that:

Kant thinks that criminals should be punished:

The Golden Rule is identical to the means-end principle.

According to Aquinas,right actions are those that accord with the natural law.

For Kant,keeping a promise is a perfect duty.

In Kant's theory,the rights and duties of persons override: