Deck 4: Egoism Altruism and the Social Contract

Question 1

According to W.D.Falk,one would be given a good moral education if one were taught to be prudent.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

What does Glaucon want to demonstrate by giving two people rings?

A) Even "good" people will do evil if they can act without consequence.
B) The people have a deep bond with each other.
C) The people are children of the king.
D) People can be trusted with great power.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The counsels in Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac were examples of how practicing certain virtues was in a person's own best interest.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Why did Falk not think that a person who was taught that she should not lie because if she did others would not trust her would not have been given a moral reason?

Question 5

Psychological egoism is a theory that holds that we each ought to do what is in our own best interest.

Question 6

All of the following are used to evaluate ethical egoism except

A) Grounding in Psychological egoism.
B) Consistency and coherence.
C) Conformity to commonsense morality.
D) Effectiveness in satisfying individual interest.

Question 7

The story of Mr.Lincoln was supposed to illustrate the truth of ethical egoism.

Question 8

The ring of Gyges can best be described as which of the following?

A) A ring of inheritance indicating royalty.
B) A ring that represents a committed romance.
C) A ring that cam make the wearer invisible.
D) A geological formation in ancient Greece

Question 9

Ayn Rand held a negative view of altruism.

Question 10

In the story questioning Lincoln's ability to be selfless,Lincoln

A) Talked to the family of a fallen soldier.
B) Rescued a pig.
C) Entered the fight about Texas' right to become a slave state.
D) Ignored a person in need.

Question 11

One form of psychological egoism asserts that we always try do what we think is in our own best interest.

Question 12

For psychological egoism to be valid,we must show people

A) Act with an aim of achieving self-satisfaction.
B) Get self-satisfaction from their actions.
C) Use others in selfish ways.
D) Need to make other people happy

Question 13

To say that something is a normative theory is to say that it tells us what we ought to do.

Question 14

According to psychological egoism people

A) Act in ways that are harmful to them.
B) Often act against their own self interests.
C) Act in the way they perceive to be best for them.
D) Act out of deep subconscious needs.

Question 15

Is ethical egoism contrary to commonsense morality?

Question 16

Which of the following is not an example of ethical egoism?

A) We should treat others well because we want to be treated well in return.
B) We should treat others well so they will treat others well.
C) We should work hard because a "job well done is its own reward."
D) We should work hard because doing so is a good model for our children.

Question 17

One reason that people don't always do what is best for them is weakness of will.

Question 18

According to individual ethical egoism one should

A) Ignore the needs of others.
B) Help others to help themselves.
C) Do what is in one's self interest.
D) Do what makes one happy at the moment.

Question 19

Psychological egoism is a descriptive theory and ethical egoism is a normative theory.