Deck 8: Are There Moral Truths Thinking About Ethics

Question 1

A value is anything with .

A) character
B) moral worth
C) monetary worth
D) intrinsic worth

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Explain Kant's argument from morality for the existence of God.

Answer 2

not answered

Question 3

Can you identify your ethical values? Do they apply to every situation?

Answer 3

not answered

Question 4

The term ethics comes from the notion of .

A) a way of life
B) goodness
C) virtue
D) charity

Question 5

Explain Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God.

Question 6

Why do people tend to believe in ethical relativism and subjectivism? What are the major drawbacks of these points of view?

Question 7

What are the attractions of egoism as an ethical theory? Do you find it plausible?

Question 8

Ethical subjectivism is the view that .

A) emotions determine what is right or wrong
B) there are always going to be people who put themselves first
C) people can never agree on what is morally right
D) each person determines what is morally right

Question 9

Describe the three major monotheistic religions, and compare and contrast them.

Question 10

What are some of the major characteristics of religion? Discuss whether all specific religions have some features in common.

Question 11

In what way does ethical absolutism help solve the problems with relativism and subjectivism? What new problems does it introduce?

Question 12

The main problem with ethical subjectivism is that .

A) people cannot actually believe in it
B) it sets the bar too high for moral rightness
C) it cannot explain how people can be wrong
D) it does not explain how we come by moral knowledge

Question 13

Describe some Eastern religions, and compare and contrast them.

Question 14

Explain the argument from design for God's existence, as introduced by Aquinas and
refined by William Paley.

Question 15

Explain Aquinas' argument from gradations of perfection to the existence of God.

Question 16

Summarize Aquinas' argument from a first cause for the existence of God.

Question 17

Which of the following is a moral question?

A) When does an embryo's heart begin beating?
B) Is the death penalty a just punishment?
C) How much does morality differ between cultures?
D) What are the effects of life imprisonment on a person?

Question 18

Supposing God exists, do you find divine command theory a plausible theory of right and wrong?

Question 19

What is the main idea of Aquinas' cosmological argument for the existence of God
from contingency?

Question 20

Describe the argument from evil against the existence of God, and the best defense against it. Which do you think succeeds? Explain.

Question 21

Ethical absolutism states that .

A) there are facts about right and wrong that apply to everyone
B) no one is wrong in their ethical views
C) people are free to invent any ethical values that they want
D) one should not tolerate opposing ethical views

Question 22

One of the main reasons many people do not like the idea of absolute right or wrong answers to moral questions is that they think .

A) that reality is not factual
B) that it would entail being intolerant
C) it is too hard to think deeply about moral issues
D) they might be in the wrong

Question 23

One of the main reasons people are drawn to ethical subjectivism is that .

A) they think that people basically agree about most things
B) they do not think that moral disagreements are of great importance
C) they want to find out who is really right about moral questions
D) they observe that there is great variety of moral opinions

Question 24

According to natural law theory, .

A) moral truths can be found in what makes us essentially human
B) it is natural for morality to be given in the form of laws
C) it is natural for there to be governments that proscribe appropriate behavior
D) morality is something that every person has to determine for him- or herself

Question 25

Ruth Benedict thought that .

A) people eventually learn to invent their own morality B. cultural relativism does not match the facts
C) cultural differences are not as great as they seem
D) no culture is inherently better than any other

Question 26

Cultural relativism says that .

A) cultures will often disagree on values
B) morality is decided by philosophers
C) each culture decides its own values and morals
D) each person can make their own ethical values

Question 27

Ethical egoists maintain that .

A) their own views are morally correct
B) people will always look out for their own interests
C) people should always look out for their own interests
D) people do not always look after the interests of others

Question 28

A bad reason to believe in ethical egoism is to suppose that .

A) each person knows what is best for him- or herself
B) what's good for others is not good for oneself
C) people with different ethical views are free to disagree
D) ethical egoism makes sense of differing ethical views

Question 29

Divine Command Theory says that .

A) God will only command what is right
B) religions always provide a reliable moral guide
C) Gods commands are accessible to everyone
D) what is right is whatever God commands

Question 30

The main task of normative ethics is to .

A) find out what people ought to do
B) describe differences between cultures
C) determine the best way to resolve disagreements
D) make people's moral beliefs clear