Deck 10: The Nature of Ethical Disagreement Charles L Stevenson

Question 1

Stevenson distinguishes between disagreement in

A) belief and attitude.
B) belief and interpretation.
C) attitude and preference.
D) interpretation and religion.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Stevenson cites two men's conflict over where to have dinner as an example of disagreement in

A) value.
B) interpretation.
C) belief.
D) attitude.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

If I am confident that Candidate O will become the next president, and you suspect it will be Candidate M, we have a disagreement of

A) value.
B) interpretation.
C) belief.
D) attitude.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

According to Stevenson, ethical conflict usually involves

A) disagreement in belief only.
B) disagreement in both belief and attitude.
C) disagreement in attitude only.
D) None of the above

Question 5

Stevenson claims that disagreements in belief can be resolved by

A) the methods of the sciences.
B) attitudinal changes.
C) moving oratory.
D) All of the above

Question 6

Differences in attitude may persist despite complete agreement in beliefs due to

A) differences in personal temperament.
B) early training.
C) social status.
D) All of the above

Question 7

According to Stevenson, the belief that science can always settle arguments about value is

A) a pipe dream.
B) a useful heuristic maxim.
C) well founded.
D) indisputably true.

Question 8

Ethical arguments usually involve disagreement predominately in belief.

Question 9

An argument that is concerned with attitudes is necessarily a disagreement in attitude.

Question 10

Disagreement in attitude determines what beliefs are relevant to an ethical argument.

Question 11

Ethical arguments can often be resolved without the two parties reaching agreement in belief.

Question 12

Stevenson thinks that the methods of science should have undisputed sway in normative ethics.

Question 13

If all our beliefs agree, it follows that we will agree in attitude as well.

Question 14

Any belief that is introduced into an argument about values is likely to bring about a difference in attitude.

Question 15

Stevenson argues that agreement in attitude tends to promote the resolution of ethical argument, whether or not disagreement in belief remains.

Question 16

Explain Stevenson's view of the role that science can play in resolving an ethical disagreement. Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not? Cite some concrete examples of scientific beliefs having an impact on ethical conflicts.

Question 17

How might you try to resolve a bitter disagreement between two of your friends over who the next president should be? In explaining your position, be sure to address Stevenson's arguments about the nature of ethical conflict.

Question 18

Stevenson describes a dispute between two people choosing where to eat dinner. How does this illustrate the distinction between disagreement in attitude and disagreement in belief? What other examples demonstrate this point?