Deck 9: What Are Right Actions Constructing an Ethical Theory

Question 1

What is natural law theory? What reasons are there to think that there is a "natural law"?

Answer 1

not answered

Question 2

What is relativism? How is it applied to moral stances?

Answer 2

not answered

Question 3

What are virtues? Can they be made the basis of an ethical system?

Answer 3

not answered

Question 4

What does it mean for the good will to be the greatest good? Do you agree with this idea?

Question 5

What is a moral dilemma? What makes a moral dilemma so challenging to address?

Question 6

Virtue ethics says that doing the right thing is ultimately a matter of .

A) knowledge
B) character
C) obeying the law
D) conscience

Question 7

What is ethical egoism? What is to be said for it as an ethical theory?

Question 8

Kant thought that the fundamental moral value is .

A) unselfishness
B) a good will
C) cultivated virtue
D) temperance

Question 9

Kant thought that moral values .

A) are a product of virtue
B) came from the will of God
C) varied from culture to culture
D) could be discovered by our rational faculties

Question 10

How does a utilitarian approach moral issues? Does its principle work in all cases?

Question 11

Aristotle defines the good as .

A) that which is informed by knowledge
B) doing what the gods demand
C) living a meaningful life
D) that at which all things aim

Question 12

Explain divine command theory. What are its limitations?

Question 13

What is existentialism? Can it provide a foundation for ethics?

Question 14

How is Nietzsche's approach to ethics especially radical? What can we learn from
Nietzsche?

Question 15

Aristotle thinks of virtuous actions as being moderate because .

A) they are learned by cultivating good habits
B) the good is capable of being learned by anyone
C) virtue is that which does not hurt anyone
D) a virtuous person is always seeking knowledge

Question 16

Describe the subject matter of ethics. How do you tell an ethical question from a non-ethical question?

Question 17

What is ethical absolutism? Do you think it is plausible? Explain.

Question 18

What is the main problem with ethical relativism?

Question 19

What is attractive about ethical subjectivism? What is its biggest drawback?

Question 20

What is the difference between descriptive ethics and normative ethics? What is the danger with getting confused between them?

Question 21

For Kierkegaard, the moral goal in life is to achieve a state of .

A) happiness
B) perfect knowledge
C) honesty about one's beliefs
D) awareness of one's place in the world

Question 22

"Speciesism" is the belief that _ .

A) capacity for happiness can differ between species
B) species is a valid biological concept
C) all species are inherently equal in value
D) the good of one species is intrinsically preferable

Question 23

What does Sartre's principle that "existence precedes essence" mean?

A) we create our own meaning
B) existence requires meaning
C) we exist because of our actions
D) actions are predetermined by existence

Question 24

For Nietzsche, the greatest good in life is to become .

A) willing
B) strong
C) aware
D) honest

Question 25

Hedonism says that .

A) one should work to better oneself
B) one should always do whatever brings about the best outcome for everyone
C) physical pleasures are the ultimate good
D) whatever brings pleasure is the ultimate good

Question 26

What does the ethics of care focus on that is missing in other ethical theories?

A) increasing others' happiness
B) the role of the virtues
C) the emotional component
D) the good will

Question 27

Utilitarianism says that the ultimate moral good is .

A) attaining the highest virtues
B) whatever people want to do
C) whatever brings about the most happiness for the most people
D) whatever results from a good will

Question 28

Existentialism is the belief that the ultimate good is .

A) existing for as long as possible
B) defining oneself as an individual
C) finding how to be as happy as possible
D) giving oneself to others

Question 29

Utilitarians do not necessarily have to believe that .

A) physical pleasure is the greatest good
B) everyone's happiness is equally important
C) happiness is subjectively experienced
D) happiness may be found in a variety of ways

Question 30

The point of Kant's categorical imperative is that .

A) people should not make exceptions of themselves
B) everyone has the same duty
C) virtue calls everyone to right actions
D) rationality is the ultimate good