Question 1

Virtue ethics would argue that abortion is morally acceptable depending upon whether the agent is acting virtuously or viciously,or neither.

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics considers the morality of an action based on the character and intentions of the agent. Therefore, whether abortion is morally acceptable or not depends on whether the agent (the woman having the abortion, the doctor performing it, etc.) is acting virtuously or viciously, or neither. Some virtue ethicists may argue that choosing to have an abortion may be the virtuous choice if it is done with compassion, wisdom, and with the intention of respecting the well-being of all involved, while others may argue the opposite.

Question 2

Which of the following would be an example of subjective ethical relativism?

Accepted Answer

All three options are known for their contributions to subjective ethical relativism. Hemingway was known for his philosophy that there is no absolute right or wrong, and that everything is subjective to individual experience. The Sophists were a group of ancient Greek philosophers who believed that morality was subjective and varies from person to person. Sartre is famous for his existentialist philosophy, which holds that individuals create their own meaning and values.

Question 3

Which one of the following is an objection raised against psychological egoism by Bishop Butler?

Accepted Answer

Bishop Butler objected to psychological egoism by arguing that personal satisfaction is often the consequence of getting what we desire, not its goal. This suggests that not all actions are motivated by self-interest, as psychological egoism claims.

Question 4

In the reading by James Rachels,he criticizes the cultural differences argument by saying that

Accepted Answer

Rachels argues that the cultural differences argument relies on the premise that what people believe is true, but the conclusion is based on what really is the case, which is a fallacious way of arguing since beliefs and reality are not always the same.

Question 5

Ruth Benedict's position was that of

Accepted Answer

Ruth Benedict was a proponent of conventional ethical relativism, which posits that moral values and ethics are culturally relative and what is considered morally right or wrong varies from one society to another.

Question 6

The reading by Herodotus illustrated the position of

Accepted Answer

The reading by Herodotus suggests a conventional ethical relativism, as it describes the different customs and beliefs of different cultures and how they shape their moral values and practices. Herodotus does not argue that any one of these cultures is objectively right or wrong, but rather explores how their beliefs and behaviors vary based on their cultural context.

Question 7

Which of the following statements contradicts ethical objectivism?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements contradicts ethical...

Question 8

Which of the following is not a problem the text raised with divine command theory of ethics?

Accepted Answer

The text does not raise the issue that most religious traditions are concerned with the afterlife and do not address ethical issues. In fact, many religious traditions do address ethical issues and provide moral guidance. The other options are problems with divine command theory that the text discusses.

Question 9

In the reading from Plato's Republic,Glaucon says that the reason to be moral is because

Accepted Answer

Glaucon argues that people are moral because of the social consequences of being immoral, such as punishment or damage to one's reputation, rather than morality being an intrinsic good.

Question 10

John Ladd uses the term "the dependency thesis" to refer to the claim that

Accepted Answer

The term "the dependency thesis" is associated with the idea that morality is dependent on the moral beliefs and practices of a particular society. This means that what is considered morally right or wrong can vary depending on the culture or society in question, and there is no one objective standard of morality that applies to all situations and contexts. This view is often contrasted with the idea of moral absolutism or the belief that there are universal moral principles that hold true regardless of cultural or personal differences.

Question 11

James Rachels says that a consequence of cultural relativism is

Accepted Answer

All of the given options are consequences of cultural relativism, as per James Rachels. 
Option A is a consequence because if we accept cultural relativism, then we cannot say that the customs of another society are morally inferior to our own since there is no objective standard for morality.
Option B is a consequence because cultural relativism implies that each society has its own set of moral standards, which cannot be compared or judged by outside standards.
Option C is a consequence because if we accept that morality is entirely culturally constructed, then the idea of moral progress would be called into doubt since each society's morality is equally valid.

Question 12

The text explained that __________ morality refers to the study of various cultures' moral beliefs and practices and __________ ethics refers to the philosophical task of discerning which moral principles are rationally defensible.

Accepted Answer

The first part of the statement clearly refers to descriptive morality, which involves studying cultural moral beliefs and practices. The second part of the statement refers to ethical philosophy which aims to rationally defend moral principles, making it normative ethics. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

Question 13

Which of the following claims would be that of a universal ethical egoist?

Accepted Answer

Universal ethical egoism is the belief that everyone ought to act in their own self-interest. Option C aligns with this belief by stating that everyone should do what serves their own interests. Option A suggests a personal belief to maximize self-interest, but does not make a claim about others, while option B is too extreme and unrealistic to be a universal ethical egoist claim. Option D is a descriptive claim about human behavior, rather than a prescriptive claim about what one ought to do.

Question 14

A problem that the text raised with the divine command theory of ethics is that

Accepted Answer

The text raises a problem with the divine command theory of ethics that if moral goodness is defined in terms of God's will, it makes it meaningless to say God's will is good. This is because there is no independent standard of goodness by which to judge God's will. Additionally, this view also raises the question of whether God could command something morally abhorrent, making it difficult to see how this view can provide a stable foundation for ethics. Option A is clearly incorrect, as many intelligent people believe in God. Option B is also true, but it does not address the central problem with the divine command theory.

Question 15

Kantian ethics would argue that abortion fails the universality test.

Accepted Answer

Kantian ethics emphasizes the importance of the universality test, which states that an action can only be considered morally permissible if it can be applied universally without contradiction. Since the act of abortion involves ending the life of a human being, it cannot be applied universally without contradicting the principle of treating all human life as inherently valuable. Therefore, Kantian ethics would argue that abortion fails the universality test and is morally impermissible.

Question 16

Utilitarian ethics would argue that abortion is morally impermissible.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian ethics prioritizes the greatest overall happiness or well-being for the greatest number of people. The morality of abortion would depend on the specific circumstances and potential outcomes, such as the well-being of the pregnant person, the fetus, and society as a whole. Therefore, utilitarian ethics do not necessarily take a definitive stance on the morality of abortion.

Question 17

Ruth Benedict said that "it is morally good" is synonymous with

Accepted Answer

Ruth Benedict, an anthropologist, argued that moral values are culturally relative. According to her, what is considered "morally good" in a society is essentially what is socially approved within that society.

Question 18

Which one of the following claims of the ethical absolutist distinguishes this position from other forms of ethical objectivism?

Accepted Answer

Ethical absolutism is a form of ethical objectivism that claims there are universal, objective moral principles that cannot be overridden or have any exceptions. The other options (A, B, and D) are shared by other forms of ethical objectivism.

Question 19

Which of the following claims would be that of a psychological egoist?

Accepted Answer

Psychological egoism is the theory that people always act in their own self-interest, even if what they do appears altruistic. Therefore, option D, which states that everyone always acts to serve their own interests, directly reflects this viewpoint.

Question 20

According to Ayn Rand,if an ethical egoist loved another person,the egoist would

Accepted Answer

According to Ayn Rand's philosophy of ethical egoism, an individual should act in their own rational self-interest. However, this does not preclude the possibility of an egoist loving another person. If the egoist derives happiness and benefits from being in a loving relationship, it can be seen as a rational choice that serves their self-interest. In fact, Rand believed that such a relationship would be based on mutual respect and admiration, rather than sacrificing one's own interests for the other person. Thus, the ethical egoist can pursue their own interests while also caring for another person.

Quiz 5: The Search for Ethical Values