Deck 6: Egoism

Question 1

The selfish gene theory is based upon which of the following?

A) Our genes are programmed to behave in selfish manners.
B) We are programmed by a gene that causes us to act selfishly.
C) We are genetically programmed to preserve our genes.
D) We can reprogram our genes in order to behave less selfishly.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

An important debate in moral philosophy concerns the question of whether an action has moral worth if it is not done for moral reasons.This debate is about which of the following?

A) moral motivation
B) selfish gene theory
C) dogmatism
D) group egoism

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Briefly explain what tensions the prisoner dilemma displays for rational decision making.Which option do you believe you should take? Why?

Answer 3

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer should/would explain the difference between good in the instance compared to good in repetition,provide if the student would confess or not,and explain why the short- or long-term consequence opposed to his or her stance is not significant.

Question 4

A psychological egoist's modest argument against common morality would hold which of the following?

A) Morality is the basis for human dignity.
B) Humans are never capable of acting morally.
C) Humans are often not capable of acting morally.
D) Human dignity makes moral behavior mandatory.

Question 5

Defenses of and refutations of psychological egoism often reduce to what?

A) relativism
B) nihilism
C) pragmatism
D) dogmatism

Question 6

Garrett Hardin popularized the term tragedy of the commons to refer to the negative impact of human action on shared and unregulated resources,like air or oceans.Briefly discuss the tension in contract theory between self-interest and cooperation with others when it comes to the sharing of these commons.

Question 7

In Leviathan,Hobbes describes people living in the absence of a social contract.What would your campus be like if there was no social contract in place?

Question 8

Briefly explain the argument that social contract theory diminishes the impact of morality.

Question 9

A kin altruist would hold which of the following?

A) There are special obligations we have to family members that we don't have to nonfamily members.
B) Above all else,we are required to be kind to others.
C) We are morally required to treat all of humanity as if they were kin.
D) The more closely we are related to someone,the more altruistic we are toward him or her.

Question 10

Which of the following is the best summary of ethical egoism?

A) Ethical agents have the duty to pursue their self-interests even at the expense of others.
B) Ethical agents form their moral compasses by reflecting upon their own ideals.
C) We are driven to achieve our self-interests because of biological mechanisms.
D) Self-identity together with our instincts and consciences form the totality of our beings.

Question 11

Imagine that a girl assists an elderly woman to get from one corner of an intersection to another.How might a psychological egoist best explain this action?

A) She is acting altruistically.
B) She could be trying to get a "helping an old lady cross the street" merit badge from scouting.
C) Assisting the elderly is good in itself.
D) This is an instance of acting in the interests of efficiency.

Question 12

Which of the following is true of Ayn Rand's view of morality?

A) It is a form of egoism that allows for generous behavior toward friends and family.
B) It is a form of egoism that focuses on advancing the common good by pursuing actions in the agent's self-interest.
C) It is the view that value is found only in promoting the interests of others at one's own cost.
D) It is the view that might best be expressed as "If you scratch my back,I'll scratch yours."

Question 13

As noted in the chapter,theorists Pateman and Mills have both objected to social contract theory for distinct but related reasons.Briefly describe their criticisms and provide a possible response.

Question 14

An egoist defender of capitalism's free market would say which of the following?

A) Capitalism accentuates selfishness by transferring the means of production from private ownership to state ownership.
B) In order to maximize one's own profit,a shopkeeper must provide what the customers want.
C) Capitalists have absolute freedom in their decision making;they are not beholden to the various wants and needs of their workers or consumers.
D) Free market capitalism allows for maximum consideration of the goods of the many.

Question 15

Occasionally one will hear of long sequences of people patronizing a coffee shop who will anonymously pay in advance for the next person in line,who in turn may pay for the next person.In one instance,a continuous chain of paying for the next person lasted for eleven hours.To which aspect of morality does this practice MOST closely relate?

A) Smithian capitalism
B) selfless altruism
C) kin altruism
D) reciprocal altruism

Question 16

An objection to altruistic moralities is that such systems allow for some to participate in society in a manner unequal to their contributions to society.This objection is known as what?

A) pure egoism
B) free riding
C) private vices
D) selfish genes

Question 17

Which stance holds that we take actions in order to make things better for ourselves?

A) ethical egoism
B) kin egoism
C) sociopathy egoism
D) psychological egoism