Deck 4: Egoism Altruism and the Social Contract

Question 1

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

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Cooperation cannot be explained from an egoistic perspective.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

What is akrasia ?

A)Weakness of will.
B)A character in Plato's dialogues.
C)A form of psychological egoism.
D)A form of ethical egoism.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

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 can make the wearer invisible
D)A geological formation in ancient Greece

Question 5

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 6

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

Question 7

Ayn Rand believed that egoism was morally wrong.

Question 8

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.

Question 9

What is the difference between these two claims:
Claim 1. "You shouldn't lie because lying will always come back to haunt you."
Claim 2. "You shouldn't lie because lying always causes someone to suffer."

A)Claim 1. would be a counsel of prudence, but claim 2. would be a moral claim.
B)Claim 1. would be a moral claim, but claim 2. would be a counsel of prudence.
C)Claim 1. would be an example of individual ethical egoism, but claim 2. would an example of universal ethical egoism.
D)Claim 1. would be an example of  universal ethical egoism , but claim 2. would an example of individual ethical egoism .

Question 10

Adam Smith believed that economic self-interest produces the best general outcome.

Question 11

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 12

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 13

For psychological egoism to be valid, we must show that 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 14

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

Question 15

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 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

Ethical egoism is a descriptive theory.

Question 18

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

Question 19

Social contract theory assumes that human beings are psychological egoists.

Question 20

Social contract theory is a form of reciprocal altruism.

Question 21

Explain the prisoner's dilemma. How does the prisoner's dilemma pose a problem for egoism?

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT true of Hobbes' social contract theory?

A)It is both a political and a moral position.
B)It assumes that a person's agreement to social rules will be grounded in self-interest.
C)It assumes that the outcome of the social contract will be a democratic government.
D)It assumes that a person's agreement to social rules will be rational.

Question 23

Describe the ways that Adam Smith's economic theory and Ayn Rand's social philosophy are similar.

Question 24

Where did Ayn Rand immigrate to the United States from?

A)France
B)China
C)Argentina
D)Russia

Question 25

Which of the following terms describes an economic system with minimal government regulation or intervention?

A)laissez-faire capitalism
B)capitalism
C)socialism
D)communism

Question 26

The term 'altruism' refers to

A)Universal ethical egoism.
B)Selfishness.
C)Selfless action.
D)Psychological egoism.

Question 27

What is reciprocal altruism? How can psychological egoism and/or ethical egoism account for reciprocal altruism? Can psychological egoism and/or ethical egoism account for all forms of altruism (even apparently non-reciprocal instances)?