Deck 14: The Importance of Character

Question 1

Many philosophers have realized that ______ presents a more subtle,rich,and realistic picture of the ethical life.

A)Aristotle
B)Kant
C)Rawls
D)Socrates

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Virtues can include natural qualities such as ______.

A)intelligence
B)strength
C)compassion
D)all of these

Answer 2

D

Question 3

For Aristotle,in order to answer the question of "What ought I to do," one must first answer the question ______?

A)what will make me happy
B)what will others say about what I do
C)what kind of person should I be
D)what kind of person am I

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In ______ ethics,the imperative is to do what is right,whereas in ______ ethics,the imperative is to be a good person.

A)virtue; deontological
B)moral; virtue
C)deontological; virtue
D)virtue; moral

Question 5

Rachels (1999)suggests that a reasonable ______ in relation to the virtue of generosity is that we should be as generous with our resources as is consistent with
Conducting our ordinary lives in a minimally satisfying way.

A)imperative
B)mean
C)act
D)decision

Question 6

What are personal qualities or traits of character that make us persons of excellent character?

A)morals
B)virtues
C)duties
D)ethics

Question 7

Aristotle was concerned with how people ______.

A)learn the proper ethical rules
B)evaluate the effects of their behavior
C)live an ethical life
D)adopt the proper maxims

Question 8

Plato and Socrates identified only ______ or ______ primary virtues.

A)two; three
B)three; four
C)four; five
D)five; six

Question 9

Contemporary virtue theory has been inspired by ______.

A)Plato
B)Aristotle
C)Socrates
D)Euripides

Question 10

The critical point is that ______ are necessary for conducting our lives well.

A)morals
B)rules
C)laws
D)virtues

Question 11

The proponents of ______ theory join in with Aristotle in believing that ethical knowledge involves a degree of wisdom or judgment that cannot be expressed in the
Form of an absolute rule.

A)moral
B)justice
C)virtue
D)Kantian

Question 12

Aristotle adopted a/an ______ approach to ethical problems.

A)empirical
B)virtuous
C)habitual
D)ethical

Question 13

Aristotle believed that a virtuous character is developed by ______.

A)leading others
B)following others
C)education
D)repetition

Question 14

An act,such as being a brave soldier in the Nazi military,may reflect the virtue of courage,but on the whole,it is not virtuous because the soldier ______.

A)could have made other choices
B)promotes an evil cause
C)should not follow orders
D)is blinded to the realities

Question 15

A virtuous person will ask him or herself ______?

A)how will this make me happy
B)what will others say about what I do
C)how will I be good in this situation
D)what kind of person am I

Question 16

______ does not seek to uncover a fundamental principle telling us what to do and how to act in an ethical way.

A)Aristotle
B)Kant
C)Rawls
D)Socrates

Question 17

Consequentialists and deontologists do not consider ______.

A)emotions
B)virtue
C)justice
D)desire

Question 18

Anscombe published an article suggesting that modern moral philosophy was misguided and that philosophers should stop thinking about ______ while placing virtue
Center stage.

A)obligation
B)duty
C)rightness
D)all of these

Question 19

For Aristotle,a good life is a/an ______ life.

A)ethical
B)happy
C)pleasurable
D)emotional

Question 20

According to ______ ethics,what is wrong with lying is not that it is unjust,but that it is dishonest,and dishonesty is a vice.

A)moral
B)virtue
C)justice
D)Kantian

Question 21

According to Aristotle,the good life is a happy life,or,more accurately,one that is ______.

A)a life without pain
B)a courageous life
C)a well-adjusted life.
D)a flourishing life

Question 22

One commonly accepted interpretation is that Aristotle is emphasizing that happiness is not ______ but is rather an activity.

A)dynamic
B)static
C)a feeling
D)all of these

Question 23

______ involves applying excellent character to a situation in light of an overall conception of what amounts to a good life.

A)Virtue
B)Compassion
C)Practical wisdom
D)Character

Question 24

Man's aim should be to find ______ in order to help us act rightly.

A)the Golden Mean
B)truth
C)justice
D)happiness

Question 25

What is a morally right or wrong act is ultimately to be judged in contrast to our final goal of ______.

A)life
B)happiness
C)morality
D)trust

Question 26

For Aristotle,living a life of excellence refers to a life of ______.

A)courage
B)justice
C)virtuous activity
D)charity

Question 27

Aristotle argues that ______ arises out of virtuous activity.

A)honesty
B)flourishing
C)courage
D)charity

Question 28

Aristotle's notion of the "Golden Mean" suggests that persons should always choose ______.

A)always seek to maximize all values simultaneously
B)moderation and not extremes
C)to do what the average virtuous person would do
D)seek to achieve average results

Question 29

Aristotle's concept of the "Golden Mean" is ______.

A)a principle which results in the same decisions for all persons
B)relative to each individual and their situation
C)a means of maximizing the greatest good for the greatest number
D)a way of doing what is best for society

Question 30

Applying practical wisdom is a/an ______ in which we reflect on circumstances and apply our wisdom to a specific case.

A)virtue
B)act
C)thinking process
D)Both virtue and act

Question 31

Virtues are strengths of character that promote human flourishing and well-being, and ______ are weaknesses of character that hinder human flourishing or well-being.

A)habits
B)vices
C)bad morals
D)none of these

Question 32

An individual of practical wisdom is a person ______.

A)able to reason correctly about ethical matters
B)someone who has the vision to see which is the correct course of action
C)is able to deliberate well
D)all of these

Question 33

What is defined by Aristotle as an activity of the soul in accord with perfect virtue?

A)loyalty
B)trust
C)happiness
D)compassion

Question 34

For Aristotle,a person who led a virtuous or moral life was also one who would ______.

A)achieve great material success
B)also become a great leader
C)be rewarded in the next life
D)flourish and find happiness

Question 35

Aristotle's theory cannot be reduced to a set of rules because his theory is ______.

A)vague
B)unquantifiable
C)relativistic
D)without concrete meaning

Question 36

People with "practical wisdom," according to Aristotle,are those who delibertate about ______.

A)the consequences of their deeds for others
B)what is good for their life as a whole
C)what to do with their life
D)whether others see them as virtuous

Question 37

People who practice ______ deliberate well as reflect ethically about the good life in general.

A)act consequentialism
B)ethical wisdom
C)ethical absolutism
D)virtue ethics

Question 38

Aristotle concludes that man's function is that which is ______.

A)unique to us as human beings
B)right
C)an activity of soul exhibiting excellence
D)both a and c

Question 39

According to Aristotle,how do we acquire practical wisdom?

A)It is gained through a good upbringing that includes associating with good people and through acting in a good way.
B)It is gained as a virtue in the developmental process.
C)We do not acquire it.We must earn it as we identify our virtues and develop our character.
D)It is evident in the Golden Mean.

Question 40

Aristotle argues that the way to behave in a moral or ethical sense is in accordance with ______.

A)the mean
B)our happiness
C)courage
D)industriousness

Question 41

Practical wisdom is useless according to Aristotle.

Question 42

Aristotle's theory seeks to uncover fundamental principles governing specific actions.

Question 43

Both Aristole and MacIntyre (1984)have linked ______ to particular forms of life.

A)virtue
B)happiness
C)families
D)communities

Question 44

A common criticism of Aristotle's theory is that it is an ethics ______.

A)for the ruling classes
B)without flexibility for difficult situations
C)that fails to take happiness into account
D)that ignores character issues

Question 45

One problem with Aristotle' theory is that his virtues are ______.

A)relative to the society or community in which the individual lives
B)never listed
C)not tied in with human happiness
D)not tied in with character

Question 46

Hursthouse (1999)argues that virtue ethics can provide ______.

A)affirmations
B)action guidance
C)justifications
D)rules and guidelines

Question 47

Aristotle was a famous Roman philosopher.

Question 48

Hursthouse (1999)argues that each virtue generates a prescription.Which of the following are examples she provides as such a prescription?

A)Do what is honest.
B)Do what is charitable.
C)Do what is generous.
D)All of these

Question 49

Aristotle's list of 12 virtues does not include justice or wisdom.

Question 50

Critics of Aristotle's theory contend that it shows class and gender bias.

Question 51

Feminist critics of Aristotle argue that his notion of virtue ______.

A)is from a male perspective only
B)says nothing about male-female relationships
C)allows rape and sexual abuse
D)fails to mention equal employment opportunity

Question 52

According to Blum (1996),virtues can only be sustained within ______.

A)families
B)individuals
C)communities
D)prison

Question 53

Which of the following is not one of Hinman's (1998)arguments regarding the criticisms of Aristotle's virtues?

A)argues there are some universal elements in the list of virtues
B)suggests all we need to develop certain attitudes to cope with our lives
C)There is no middle course in his list of virtues.
D)suggests the excess is pity or bleeding heart,the deficiency is acting callously,and the mean compassionately

Question 54

Critics of character theory,including Hursthouse,argue that there can be inconsistencies and conflicts between the virtues listed by Aristotle.

Question 55

Aristotle was a student of Plato.

Question 56

Pincoffs (1998)is referring to ______ when he suggests that when faced with an ethical dilemma,the approach is to ask what the right thing to do is,emphasizing action
Rather than character.

A)character ethics
B)virtue ethics
C)moral ethics
D)quandary ethics

Question 57

Aristotle's theory is not concerned with happiness or flourishing as a human being.

Question 58

Aristotle termed his theory of moderation "the Golden Mean."

Question 59

Aristotle regarded the Athenian ______ as the epitome of human excellence.

A)woman
B)gentleman
C)virtue
D)compassion

Question 60

The Golden Mean rule may mean different things when applied to different people.

Question 61

Aristotle was a tutor to the young ______.

Question 62

Aristotle argues that people should practice ______ wisdom.

Question 63

Define quandary ethics.

Question 64

The principle of moderation was termed the Golden ______ by Aristotle.

Question 65

Define spheres of existence.

Question 66

Aristotle's virtues do not include wisdom or ______.

Question 67

Unlike ______ theorists,Aristotle was not concerned with the effects or results of behavior.

Question 68

______ is primarily concerned with persons and character rather than with duties or with the consequences of actions.

Question 69

Unlike the philosopher ______,Aristotle's theory does not stress duties.

Question 70

Aristotle was a student of ______ another famous philosopher.