Deck 22: What Is Morality

Question 1

According to your text, philosophers use the term "ethics" to refer to theoretical considerations and "morality" to refer to customs and practices.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

According to your text, every action is either morally right or wrong.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A supererogatory act is one that goes beyond the call of duty.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Utilitarianism is one form of teleological ethics.

Question 5

The term "teleological" comes from a Greek word which means "goal directed."

Question 6

Teleological ethics puts the emphasis on consequences in determining moral rightness or wrongness.

Question 7

Aristotle's ethics emphasized the importance of virtuous character.

Question 8

According to your text, two different motives could never lead to identical actions.

Question 9

According to your text, two acts may have opposite results and be equally good.

Question 10

According to your text, the purpose of morality has only the negative goal of preventing harm.

Question 11

The four domains of ethical assessment are

A) actions, commandments, duty, and punishments.
B) actions, consequences, character, and motive.
C) actions, principles, rewards, and punishments.
D) actions, consequences, responsibility, and duties.

Question 12

A deontological moral theory is one that puts the emphasis on

A) the social consequences of an act.
B) the personal consequences of an act for the person who performs it.
C) the nature of the act itself.
D) the relativity of all moral judgments.

Question 13

In the story of the dying millionaire, if you give the $2 million to the New York Yankees instead of to starving people, because you have a duty to keep your promise, you are

A) a deonotologist
B) a utilitarian.
C) a subjectivist.
D) an egoist.

Question 14

In the story of the two starving men on a raft, if you think the food should go to the scientist because of his greater social contribution, you are

A) a deonotologist
B) a utilitarian.
C) a subjectivist.
D) an egoist.

Question 15

The text uses the novel The Lord of the Flies to make the point that

A) human nature is basically good, but society corrupts us.
B) all morality ultimately depends upon religion.
C) moral codes restrain the evil tendencies in society and in the human heart.
D) one morality is just as good as another morality as long as it meets with the approval of your society.

Question 16

Which one of the following is NOT one of the purposes of morality mentioned in the text?

A) to resolve conflicts of interest justly.
B) to ameliorate human suffering.
C) to earn eternal happiness in the afterlife.
D) to promote human flourishing.

Question 17

Which of the following concepts correspond to the evaluative terms "good will"and "evil will"?

A) actions
B) consequences
C) character
D) motive

Question 18

Discuss the story of the dying millionaire. What would you do with the money? What sort of moral principle(s) could be used to justify your answer? Why do you think this is the correctmoral principle to follow?

Question 19

Discuss the four domains of ethical assessment presented in your text. Which one do you think is the most important one?

Question 20

According to the discussion in your text, what are some of the insights concerning morality that are found in the story of Lord of the Flies?

Question 21

Discuss the four purposes of morality. Which one do you think is the most important? Why?