Deck 3: Is Everything Relative

Question 1

The passage from Herodotus illustrates

A) moral objectivism.
B) historical relativism.
C) cultural relativism.
D) Greek objectivism.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Ruth Benedict believes that moral relativism is

A) false.
B) a dubious view of morality.
C) logically incoherent.
D) the correct view of morality.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

James Rachels argues that the cultural differences argument is

A) sound.
B) not sound.
C) valid.
D) timely.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Rachels asserts that cultural relativism implies that the idea of moral progress is

A) plausible.
B) reasonable.
C) dubious.
D) coherent.

Question 5

Cultural relativism implies that deciding whether actions are right or wrong is a matter of consulting the moral standards of

A) personal conscience.
B) one's society.
C) universal morality.
D) religious codes.

Question 6

Rachels argues that often the differences between cultures lie not in their values but in their

A) geography.
B) moral systems.
C) belief systems.
D) ethical standards.

Question 7

Rachels shows that the main problem with the cultural differences argument is that

A) there is no objective truth in morality.
B) there are too many premises.
C) the conclusion follows from the premises.
D) the conclusion does not follow from the premises.

Question 8

David Enoch says that moral relativism is

A) the commonsense view.
B) not really opposed to moral objectivism.
C) unfounded.
D) reasonable.

Question 9

If cultural relativism were true, we could no longer say that the customs of other societies are

A) morally permissible.
B) technologically inferior to our own.
C) different from our own.
D) morally inferior to our own.

Question 10

If cultural relativism were true, social reformers

A) could be morally right.
B) could not be morally right.
C) would be revered.
D) could not be morally wrong.

Question 11

Rachels believes that infanticide among the Eskimos

A) does not signal a fundamentally different attitude toward children.
B) signals a fundamentally different attitude toward children.
C) is a myth.
D) shows a total disregard for the welfare of children.

Question 12

According to Elshtain, for some time, judging in American culture has been

A) very popular.
B) widely accepted.
C) in bad odor.
D) in good taste.

Question 13

Elshtain believes that the nadir of judging in our culture is due in part to the

A) triumph of the ideology of judgment coupled with chauvinism.
B) triumph of the ideology of victimization coupled with philosophical discernment.
C) rise of cultural truths.
D) triumph of the ideology of victimization coupled with self-esteem mania.

Question 14

David Enoch says that until we get a conclusive argument against moral objectivity,

A) we should remain relativists.
B) objectivism should be the view to beat.
C) we should withhold our commitment to objectivism.
D) we should adopt utilitarianism.

Question 15

Elshtain asserts that an ideology of victimization

A) furthers the cause of women's rights.
B) promotes a self capable of discernment.
C) hurts the cause of women's rights.
D) promotes a self of strength.

Question 16

Midgley suggests that moral isolationism

A) makes perfect sense.
B) makes no sense at all.
C) is respectful.
D) is about judging.

Question 17

Midgley insists that real moral skepticism could lead only to

A) action.
B) an interest in moral questions.
C) intelligent debate.
D) inaction.

Question 18

David Enoch's theory of morality is

A) absolutist.
B) nihilistic.
C) subjectivist.
D) objectivist.

Question 19

David Enoch argues that there is not yet a conclusive argument against

A) moral objectivism.
B) moral relativism.
C) subjectivism.
D) natural law.

Question 20

David Enoch tries to show that

A) few of us assume an objectivist theory of morality.
B) moral relativism is a more natural stance than objectivism.
C) almost everyone assumes an objectivist theory of morality.
D) it's difficult to believe in objective morality.

Question 21

Jean Bethke Elshtain argues that we can and should make moral judgments.

Question 22

Rachels denies that all cultures have some values in common.

Question 23

According to Midgley, cultures cannot make judgments about one another.

Question 24

Midgley believes that moral isolationism would lay down a ban on moral reasoning.

Question 25

Midgley argues that understanding and judging other cultures is not possible.

Question 26

In "The Enemy of the People," Dr. Stockmann is a symbol of cultural relativism.

Question 27

Midgley believes that understanding and judging other cultures is possible only in Europe.

Question 28

According to Rachels, we must accept the fact that the murderous actions of Hitler or Pol Pot are morally permissible.

Question 29

Relativism implies that we could decide whether actions are right or wrong just by consulting the standards of our society.

Question 30

Rachels doubts that moral progress is possible.

Question 31

Rachels argues that all cultures have some values in common.

Question 32

Cultural relativism implies that female genital mutilation can be condemned by objective moral standards.

Question 33

Elshtain concludes that, unless we are as incorruptible as Jesus, we have no right to judge other people.

Question 34

Midgley argues against the doctrine of moral isolationism.

Question 35

Midgley contends that if we accept something as a serious moral truth about one culture, we can't apply it to other cultures.

Question 36

In "The Enemy of the People," Dr. Stockmann appears to be a man of integrity but is actually corrupt.

Question 37

Is Ruth Benedict correct in saying that our culture is "but one entry in a long series of possible adjustments"? What are the implications of this statement?

Question 38

Can we separate the descriptive (or fact-stating) aspect of anthropological study from the prescriptive (evaluative) aspect of evaluating cultures? Are there some independent criteria by which we can say that some cultures are better than others? Can you think how this project might begin?

Question 39

What are the implications of Benedict's claim that morality is simply whatever a culture deems normal behavior? Is this a satisfactory equation? Can you apply it to the institution of slavery or the Nazi policy of anti-Semitism?

Question 40

What is the significance of Benedict's statement, "The very eyes with which we see the problem are conditioned by the long traditional habits of our own society"? Can we apply the conceptual relativism embodied in this statement to her own position?

Question 41

Do you agree with Rachels' analysis of the cultural differences argument? Why or why not?

Question 42

Why does judging have a bad odor in American culture?

Question 43

Examine Elshtain's reasons for being judgmental, and for thinking nonjudgmentalism is "dangerous nonsense." Are they convincing? Explain your answer.

Question 44

What are Midgley's arguments against moral isolationism?

Question 45

Why does Midgley say that moral isolationism is an impossible position?

Question 46

If we can praise other cultures, can't we also blame them? Why or why not?

Question 47

Do you believe that the behavior of the "bisecting Samurai" is brutal? Are you a moral isolationist? Explain.

Question 48

Suppose someone accuses you of misunderstanding the true nature of the Samurai's actions. What would this response imply about your accuser's views toward other cultures?

Question 49

What is the key conflict in "The Enemy of the People"? How well does Dr. Stockmann deal with it?

Question 50

What would you do in Dr. Stockmann's position? Should he leave town as his wife and brother advise?

Question 51

What are the implications of Dr. Stockmann's actions for the issue of moral relativism?

Question 52

Is the problem portrayed in Ibsen's play relevant today? If so, what are we doing about it? Explain your answer.

Question 53

How important is it to proclaim the truth even when it may have social repercussions?

Question 54

What are Enoch's three tests that show that almost everyone assumes moral objectivism?

Question 55

According to Enoch, what are the weaknesses of moral relativism?