Deck 14: What Should We Do Part I?

Question 1

Of two optional actions, the sum of the numbers that measure the costs and the benefits that would result from your choosing either option is referred to as the __________ good.

A) sum total
B) quantitative
C) aggregate
D) cost-benefit

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The decision-making process where costs and benefits are usually measured in dollars is called a(n) __________ analysis.

A) sum total
B) quantitative
C) aggregate
D) cost-benefit

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Act consequentialism, in general, claims that the best thing to do, in any circumstance, is

A) that action that will maximize the aggregate good.
B) that action that will maximize the aggregate utility.
C) to follow that system of rules that-if generally accepted and followed-would maximize the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
D) to follow that system of rules that-if generally accepted and followed-would maximize aggregate utility.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following objections has been made against act consequentialism?

A) It will always be logically impossible to determine which action will maximize the aggregate good.
B) In many cases it will be logically impossible to determine which action will maximize the aggregate good.
C) It will always be very difficult to determine which action will maximize the aggregate good.
D) In many cases it will be very difficult to determine which action will maximize the aggregate good.

Question 5

Which of the following objections has been made against act consequentialism?

A) In all cases it is logically impossible to assign numerical values to the various costs and benefits.
B) In many cases it is logically impossible to assign numerical values to the various costs and benefits.
C) In all cases it is not clear how to assign numerical values to the various costs and benefits.
D) In many cases it is not clear how to assign numerical values to the various costs and benefits.

Question 6

Act consequentialists have responded to the difficulty/impossibility of determining the proper action to take under their theory by pointing out that

A) any ethicist who promises an easy-to-follow recipe for making big decisions is to be regarded with suspicion.
B) any ethicist who claims he has the answers to all the problems with his theory is lying.
C) no ethical theory can accomplish what is being asked of their theory.
D) the world is complicated!

Question 7

Act utilitarianism differs from act consequentialism, in general, by

A) incorporating the reasons for actions, rather than just examining their consequences.
B) incorporating a hedonist theory of value.
C) eliminating all costs and benefits that cannot be quantified.
D) eliminating cost-benefit analysis itself.

Question 8

The aggregate utility of an action is the sum of all the

A) benefits and costs that the action brings about.
B) utilities of the pleasures and pains that the action brings about.
C) benefits and costs brought about by following the general rule that includes whatever the action brings about.
D) utilities of the pleasures and pains that the action brings about.

Question 9

Act utilitarians believe that the best thing to do, in any circumstance, is

A) that action that will maximize the aggregate good.
B) to follow that system of rules which-if generally accepted and followed-would maximize aggregate good.
C) to follow that system of rules, which-if generally accepted and followed-would maximize aggregate utility.
D) that action that will maximize the aggregate utility.

Question 10

The English philosopher Jeremy Bentham was an early proponent of

A) act consequentialism.
B) act utilitarian.
C) rule consequentialism.
D) rule utilitarianism.

Question 11

__________ wrote, "It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong."

A) J. S. Mill
B) Jeremy Bentham
C) Peter Singer
D) Elizabeth Anscombe

Question 12

__________ argues that we should stop eating meat because the suffering of the farmed animals greatly exceeds the pleasures of meat-eating

A) J. S. Mill
B) Jeremy Bentham
C) Peter Singer
D) Elizabeth Anscombe

Question 13

Which of the following objection(s) has been raised against act utilitarianism?

A) It cannot account for the different opinions people have regarding pleasure and pain.
B) It cannot account for the duties that we have to people who are close to us such as relatives, friends, and compatriots.
C) It cannot measure pleasure and pain objectively.
D) All of the above

Question 14

__________ wrote, "But if someone really thinks, in advance, that it is open to question whether such an action as procuring the judicial execution of the innocent should be quite excluded from consideration-I do not want to argue with him; he shows a corrupt mind."

A) J. S. Mill
B) Jeremy Bentham
C) Peter Singer
D) Elizabeth Anscombe

Question 15

What type of utilitarianism leaves it as an open question whether the rights of one person may be sacrificed for the utility of the many?

A) Act utilitarianism
B) Rule utilitarianism
C) Neither a nor b
D) Both a and b

Question 16

What type of utilitarianism attempts to respond to the possibility that the rights of one person may be sacrificed for the utility of the many?

A) Act utilitarianism
B) Rule utilitarianism
C) Rule consequentialism
D) All of the above

Question 17

Rule consequentialism argues that one ought to always

A) obey that system of rules which-if generally accepted and followed-would produce the best consequences.
B) do that action that will maximize the aggregate good.
C) obey that system of rules which- if generally accepted and followed-would maximize aggregate utility.
D) do that action that will maximize the aggregate utility.

Question 18

Rule utilitarianism is a combination of

A) act consequentialism and rules.
B) rule consequentialism and hedonism.
C) hedonism and act consequentialism.
D) rules and hedonism.

Question 19

Rule utilitarianism claims that one ought to always

A) obey that system of rules which-if generally accepted and followed-would produce the best consequences.
B) do that action that will maximize the aggregate good.
C) obey that system of rules which-if generally accepted and followed-would maximize aggregate utility.
D) do that action that will maximize the aggregate utility.

Question 20

Act utilitarians have criticized rule utilitarians for

A) overgeneralizing from particular actions.
B) discounting personal, subjective pleasures.
C) rule worship.
D) All of the above

Question 21

For Kant, an action that is performed with praiseworthy motives is what type of action?

A) morally good
B) morally worthy
C) ethically serious
D) All of the above

Question 22

"To avoid accidents, I never drive when I'm tired." "To improve my health, I eat an apple every day with dinner." "So I don't get too cold, I wear a waterproof jacket when it rains." Kant calls such formulations

A) maxims.
B) ethical statements.
C) principles of action.
D) rules of conduct.

Question 23

Kant's universalization test states that given a maxim, we ought to consider whether it is possible for everyone to successfully adopt the maxim. Then,

A) if it is not possible to adopt a given maxim, then actions performed on the basis of that maxim do not have moral worth.
B) if it is possible for everyone to successfully adopt a given maxim, consider whether it is possible rationally to choose that everyone adopts the maxim.
C) if it is not possible for everyone to successfully adopt a given maxim, then actions performed on the basis of that maxim do not have moral worth.
D) All of the above

Question 24

"Many people are so sympathetically constituted that without any motive of vanity or selfishness they find an inner satisfaction in spreading joy and take delight in the contentment of others if they have made it possible." According to Kant, such behavior as described in this passage

A) has no true moral worth.
B) may or may not have any moral worth.
C) has imperfect moral worth.
D) has the highest moral worth.

Question 25

Kant calls the capacity for choosing goals and rationally pursuing them

A) purposiveness.
B) teleology.
C) rationality.
D) humanity.

Question 26

The basic idea behind Kant's humanity formula is that human beings, unlike things, are owed

A) praise.
B) grace.
C) respect.
D) equality.

Question 27

Kant claimed that a human being is not a thing and thus

A) cannot be used merely as a means.
B) ought to behave as a human being, not a thing.
C) can freely create his own moral code.
D) has a moral code given to him by nature.

Question 28

"So act that you use humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means." This quotation captures Kant's

A) humanity formula.
B) ends and means doctrine.
C) theory of personhood.
D) universality principle.

Question 29

Lying, for Kant, is

A) right or wrong depending on the motive underlying the lie.
B) right if it produces a morally worthy end.
C) wrong, unless it produces a morally worthy end.
D) always wrong.

Question 30

Explain act consequentialism and act utilitarianism, noting the similarities and differences between them. Use examples.

Question 31

Explain act utilitarianism and rule utilitarianism, noting the similarities and differences between them. Use examples.

Question 32

Explain Kant's argument for his universalization test as well as an objection against it.

Question 33

Explain Kant's humanity formula and how it relates to his concept of the human being.

Question 34

Using examples, describe the following concepts: cost-benefit analysis, aggregate good, and aggregate utility.