Question 1

A sociologist would typically be most concerned with which of the following?&#10;A) Empirical inquiry intended to describe or explain moral phenomena&#10;B) Normative inquiry into what is right, good, and obligatory in general&#10;C) Normative inquiry into what is right, good, and obligatory in a particular case&#10;D) Analytical or critical inquiry into how ethical values are established or justified

Accepted Answer

Sociologists focus on empirical inquiry to describe or explain phenomena within societies, including moral phenomena, rather than engaging in normative inquiries or analytical critiques of how ethical values are established.

Question 2

Which of the following reasons does Socrates not give for obeying the law?&#10;A) Keep your promises.&#10;B) The larger community usually knows best.&#10;C) Obey one's parents and teachers.&#10;D) Never harm others.

Accepted Answer

Socrates, as depicted in Plato's dialogues, emphasizes the importance of keeping promises, obeying one's parents and teachers, and never harming others as reasons for obeying the law. However, he does not explicitly argue that one should obey the law because the larger community usually knows best. His approach is more nuanced, focusing on moral and ethical principles rather than the wisdom of the majority.

Question 3

A typical pattern of moral reasoning involves which of the following?&#10;A) A general moral rule or principle&#10;B) A premise that involves a statement of fact&#10;C) A meta-ethical question&#10;D) Both a and b

Accepted Answer

A typical pattern of moral reasoning involves a general moral rule or principle (A) and a premise that involves a statement of fact (B), leading to a conclusion about what ought to be done in a particular situation. Meta-ethical questions (C) are about the nature of morality itself and are not a necessary component of a typical pattern of moral reasoning.

Question 4

Frankena claims that we have begun to engage in moral philosophy when&#10;A) we have begun to behave according to the rules of our society.&#10;B) we have completely internalized the rules of our society.&#10;C) we have learned to act according to our feelings.&#10;D) we have begun to think for ourselves about moral questions.

Accepted Answer

Frankena asserts that engaging in moral philosophy begins when we start to think independently about moral questions, rather than merely following societal rules, internalizing those rules, or acting based on feelings. This emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and personal reflection in moral philosophy.

Question 5

To say that it is always wrong to harm someone is to make which of the following kinds of claims?&#10;A) Normative&#10;B) Meta-ethical&#10;C) Empirical&#10;D) Descriptive

Accepted Answer

This statement is a normative claim because it expresses a value judgment about what is morally right or wrong, rather than stating a factual or descriptive observation.

Question 6

Someone who reflects on whether our moral judgments have any ultimate justification is engaged in what type of inquiry?&#10;A) Normative&#10;B) Meta-ethical&#10;C) Religious&#10;D) Descriptive

Accepted Answer

Meta-ethical inquiry involves examining the nature, scope, and meaning of moral judgments, including whether they can be justified. It goes beyond normative ethics, which prescribes how we ought to act, by questioning the foundations and meanings of ethical principles themselves.

Question 7

Descriptive claims are relevant to ethics because&#10;A) facts about what humans desire determine what makes an act right.&#10;B) facts about psychological and anthropological theories bear on some normative and meta-ethical questions.&#10;C) facts about the past may falsify some normative theories.&#10;D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Descriptive claims, such as those from psychological and anthropological theories, are relevant to ethics because they can inform or influence normative and meta-ethical questions, helping to understand the basis of ethical principles and how they are applied or interpreted in various contexts.

Question 8

Socrates believes that it is appropriate to act immorally if by doing so we can save ourselves from serious harm.

Accepted Answer

Socrates consistently argued that it is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong, emphasizing the importance of living a virtuous life regardless of the circumstances.

Question 9

Normative ethics has to do with what people generally think about moral issues.

Accepted Answer

Normative ethics is concerned with establishing how things should or ought to be, regarding moral actions and values, rather than what people generally think about them.

Question 10

According to Frankena, moral philosophy arises when we no longer rely upon tradition to direct our behavior.

Accepted Answer

Frankena suggests that moral philosophy emerges when individuals begin to question and seek reasons beyond tradition for guiding their actions, indicating a move towards critical thinking and ethical reasoning.

Question 11

The question &#34;What does it mean to say that something is morally 'right' or good?&#34; is meta-ethical.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The question &#34;What does it mean to...

Question 12

According to Socrates, moral questions can and should be settled by reason.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Socrates, moral questions can and...

Question 13

Socrates believes that doing the right thing means doing the thing that is most likely to maximize pleasure and minimize pain in any given situation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Socrates believes that doing the right thing...

Question 14

Socrates gives a threefold argument to show that he ought to break the laws by escaping.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Socrates gives a threefold argument to show...

Question 15

According to the Socratic view of morality summarized by Frankena, is a person brought up by immoral parents in a corrupt society capable of making correct moral judgments? Why or why not? Do you agree?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the Socratic view of morality...

Question 16

In defending his decision about whether to escape, Socrates offers three arguments that demonstrate a typical pattern of reasoning. Which of these arguments do you find most compelling? How might you rationally convince Socrates to change his mind?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In defending his decision about whether to...

Question 17

People commonly choose to act to conform to popular opinion. If popular opinion led to the same conclusions arrived at through moral reasoning, would it still be important to engage in moral philosophy? Why or why not? Support your answer with an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of People commonly choose to act to conform...

Deck 1: Morality and Moral Philosophy Wiliam K Frankena