Deck 45: Are You Morally Responsible for Your Student Loans

Question 1

Present an objection to Samual Garner's argument, focusing on one of his premises. What would have to be true to undermine this claim? Then, consider how Garner might respond to your objection.

Answer 1

-Offer an objection to Garner's argument on why students aren't morally responsible for their loans that makes a serious attempt to respond to Garner's concerns about it.
-Accurately summarize, and then apply, Garner's ideas to the defense just offered.

Question 2

Explain Samual Garner's three conditions for diminished responsibility. Do you think that this way of understanding responsibility forgives too much? Does it forgive too little? Explain your answer. Then, consider another activity where, if we apply Garner's framework, the person acting has diminished responsibility for some act.

Answer 2

-Exhibit an understanding of Garner's conditions that help to show when some person has diminished responsibility for her activity.
-Appropriately apply Garner's conditions for diminished responsibility to some other activity.
-Include a thesis that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
-Clearly and succinctly state the main argument for the thesis.
-Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.

Question 3

If you've taken out loans, were any of Garner's points true of you? If so, explain which points were true and why. If not, explain what helped you to avoid that situation. If you haven't taken out loans, see if you can find a friend or family member who would be willing to chat with you about their experience.

Answer 3

-Discuss the author's experience of student loans using Garner's insights to guide the discussion.
-Include a thesis that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.

Question 4

Why would it be a problem for a doctor to only talk about the benefits of an expensive and life-altering drug without talking about any of the risks?

A) This is an example of medical malpractice
B) This is not what taking responsibility looks like
C) This makes the patient legally responsible for any negative outcomes
D) This is not what informed consent looks like
E) This treats the patient as a means to an end

Question 5

Garner argues that, as a general rule, people are less responsible for the consequences of their actions when ________:

A) They are under the age of 21
B) They're unable to make adequately informed decisions
C) They choose to do the wrong thing instead of the right one
D) They don't have the opportunity to speak to a lawyer about some decision
E) They willfully believe things they've been told are false

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT one of Garner's arguments?

A) Even if students do have a meaningful choice, students aren't given proper information
B) Students have the moral right to deliberately forgo their student loan payments
C) The vast majority of students don't have a meaningful choice regarding whether to attend college
D) Students don't adequately understand the information they're given before taking out the loans
E) The vast majority of students don't have a meaningful choice regarding whether to take out loans

Question 7

When do you have diminished moral responsibility, according to Garner?

A) When you aren't under pressure to act well
B) When you lack relevant life experience
C) When you weren't able to act in a fully autonomous way
D) When you were forced or coerced into some action
E) When you don't comprehend what's in your own best interest

Question 8

The fact that there is a social stigma attached to not attending college is an example of what?

A) How students don't understand the information they're currently given
B) The fact that students don't have a meaningful choice of whether to attend college
C) A reason why it would be morally permissible for a student to forgo a loan payment
D) How students aren't given proper information
E) The fact that students don't have a meaningful choice of whether to take out loans

Question 9

The data that Garner presents strongly suggest that leaving college without loans is ________ for the vast majority of Americans.

A) Impossible
B) Extremely unlikely
C) Somewhat unlikely
D) Somewhat likely
E) Extremely likely

Question 10

The fact that colleges often engage in misleading or even deceptive advertising is an example of what?

A) How students don't understand the information they're currently given
B) The fact that students don't have a meaningful choice of whether to attend college
C) A reason why it would be morally permissible for a student to forgo a loan payment
D) How students aren't given proper information
E) The fact that students don't have a meaningful choice of whether to take out loans

Question 11

The fact that it's unreasonable to expect 18 year olds to understand the contracts they sign even if they read them is an example of what?

A) How students don't understand the information they're currently given
B) A reason why it would be morally permissible for a student to forgo a loan payment
C) A reason why it would be morally permissible for a student to forgo a loan payment
D) How students aren't given proper information
E) The fact that students don't have a meaningful choice of whether to take out loans

Question 12

Garner argues that the solution to the student debt crisis is ________:

A) Students should receive more and better information about loans
B) To have an accountability system that tracks individual degrees of moral responsibility
C) To launch campaigns that discourage students from attending college
D) Students should simply not be put in this position at all
E) To ensure that students are morally responsible for their student loans

Question 13

Garner affirms that, when it comes to public policy, we should design and implement a loan accountability system that's sensitive to an individual's degree of moral responsibility.