Question 1

According to deontological ethics, the end never justifies the means.

Accepted Answer

Deontological ethics focuses on the morality of an action based on rules and duties, rather than the consequences of the action, implying that an action is right or wrong in itself, regardless of the outcome.

Question 2

According to Immanuel Kant, feelings are the most important element in ethics.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant argued that moral principles are grounded in rationality and duty, not in feelings or emotions.

Question 3

Kant rejected the notion that morality could be justified on the basis of human nature.

Accepted Answer

Kant argued that morality is grounded in reason and the categorical imperative, rather than in human nature or empirical observations. He believed that moral principles should be universally applicable and not based on contingent aspects of human nature.

Question 4

According to Kant, suicide would be immoral.

Accepted Answer

Kant argued that suicide is immoral because it violates the categorical imperative, which requires us to act in ways that could be universally willed, and to treat humanity, whether in oneself or in another, always as an end and never merely as a means.

Question 5

Kant says there is a difference between acting in conformity with the moral law and acting for the sake of the moral law.

Accepted Answer

Kant distinguishes between actions that merely conform to the moral law and those done out of respect for the moral law. The former might align with moral requirements by coincidence or for ulterior motives, while the latter are motivated by a recognition of the moral law's authority, embodying a genuinely moral act.

Question 6

In Kantian ethics, special circumstances could require that exceptions be made to the moral law.

Accepted Answer

In Kantian ethics, moral laws are universal and categorical, meaning they apply in all situations without exception. Kant argued that moral principles must be followed consistently, regardless of circumstances.

Question 7

Kant believed it was immoral to refrain from developing our talents.

Accepted Answer

Kant argued that it is our moral duty to develop our talents as part of fulfilling our potential and contributing to society, viewing the neglect of this development as contrary to the duty we owe to ourselves.

Question 8

According to Kant, lying is permissible if it is necessary to save someone's life.

Accepted Answer

Kant believed in the categorical imperative, which holds that lying is always morally wrong, regardless of the consequences.

Question 9

Heteronomy is the opposite of autonomy.

Accepted Answer

Heteronomy refers to being controlled by external forces or influences, while autonomy refers to self-governance or independence, making them opposites.

Question 10

Kant would say that when a car dealer charges honest prices, the action has moral worth if the man does it because&#10;A) doing so would created the best consequences both for him and for his customers.&#10;B) he would feel guilty if he cheated customers.&#10;C) he feels a sense of love and sympathy for his customers.&#10;D) he could not rationally make dishonesty into a universal law.

Accepted Answer

Kant's moral philosophy emphasizes acting according to a maxim that one can will to become a universal law. Charging honest prices because one recognizes that dishonesty cannot be universalized aligns with Kant's categorical imperative, which focuses on the intention behind actions rather than their consequences or emotional motivations.

Question 11

Which of the following is a hypothetical imperative?&#10;A) Tell the truth!&#10;B) Don't lie!&#10;C) If you want to be admired, then be honest.&#10;D) Always love your neighbor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a hypothetical...

Question 12

In Kantian ethics, to know if an action is morally right, I must ask myself:&#10;A) &#34;Would this create the greatest happiness for the greatest number?&#34;&#10;B) &#34;Will anybody be harmed by my action?&#34;&#10;C) &#34;Could I consistently will that everyone would follow the general rule that is guiding my action?&#34;&#10;D) &#34;Would my conscience bother me if I did this?&#34;

Accepted Answer

The answer of In Kantian ethics, to know if an...

Question 13

Kant viewed his categorical imperative as&#10;A) a list of all the actions he thought were immoral.&#10;B) a general rule of thumb for which there could be a few exceptions.&#10;C) a list of all the duties we must perform.&#10;D) a criterion by which to judge all other principles.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kant viewed his categorical imperative as&#10;A) a...

Question 14

For Kant, the word &#34;maxim&#34;means&#10;A) the maximum amount of happiness a potential action could produce.&#10;B) the general rule in accordance with which an agent intends to act.&#10;C) an action that goes beyond the call of duty.&#10;D) a moral rule based on social traditions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of For Kant, the word &#34;maxim&#34;means&#10;A) the maximum...

Question 15

A criticism of the first version of the categorical imperative made in the text is that&#10;A) it could lead one to conclude that trivial and even immoral actions are moral duties.&#10;B) it does not emphasize consistency enough.&#10;C) it does not provide us with any moral absolutes.&#10;D) it is only concerned with the external action and does not take a person's motives into account.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A criticism of the first version of...

Question 16

According to W. D. Ross, a prima facie duty is one that&#10;A) we must obey unless it is overridden by a more important duty.&#10;B) we must obey without any exceptions.&#10;C) is intrinsically contradictory.&#10;D) is determined by the consequences of an action.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to W. D. Ross, a prima...

Question 17

Kant's second formulation of the categorical imperative is:&#10;A) Do only those actions you would wish everyone to find out about.&#10;B) Always treat people, including yourself, as an end and never as a means only.&#10;C) Do that action that will produce the most happiness for others.&#10;D) Let your conscience be your guide.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Kant's second formulation of the categorical imperative...

Question 18

A criticism that the text made of the second version of the categorical imperative is that&#10;A) it values reason to the neglect of other values that have moral significance.&#10;B) if everyone followed it, society would break down.&#10;C) it is too abstract and says nothing about how we should treat our fellow human beings.&#10;D) it expects us to always sacrifice our own interests for everyone else

Accepted Answer

The answer of A criticism that the text made of...

Question 19

How would a utilitarian justify the conclusion that you should not cheat on a test? How would Kant justify this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would a utilitarian justify the conclusion...

Question 20

State in your own words, the second formulation of the categorical imperative. Explain Kant's justification of this principle.

Accepted Answer

The answer of State in your own words, the second...

Question 21

What are some criticisms that could be made of the first version of the categorical imperative? How strong do you think they are?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some criticisms that could be...

Question 22

What are some criticisms that could be made of the second version of the categorical imperative? Assess their strength.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are some criticisms that could be...

Question 23

What are the similarities between W. D. Ross's theory of prima facie duties and Kant's theory? What are their differences?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the similarities between W. D....

Question 24

What sorts of experiments did Stanley Milgram run? What was their significance for Kant's Principle of Autonomy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What sorts of experiments did Stanley Milgram...

Deck 26: Kantian Deontological Ethics