Deck 6: Morality,Human Nature,and Social Cooperation

Question 1

To what are we referring when we discuss that,"set of rules governing how people are to treat one another,that rational people will agree to accept,for their mutual benefit,on the condition that others follow those rules as well"?

A)Justice
B)Mutual aid
C)Substantive law
D)The social contract

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Values and behaviors that are (or appear to be)shared by all human beings,everywhere,are referred to as:

A)Ethnocentrisms.
B)Objective traits.
C)Pragmatic traits.
D)Human universals.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following concepts might be used to explain why parents are often willing to sacrifice their own interests and welfare for the sake of their children:

A)Reciprocal altruism.
B)Indirect reciprocity.
C)Mutual aid.
D)Inclusive fitness.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

"Gut feelings" about right and wrong that seem to arise within our consciousness without us being aware of why or how they arose are sometimes referred to as:

A)Inner consciousness.
B)Empathy.
C)Moral intuition.
D)Mutual aid.

Question 5

Taking what appears to be moral behavior and explaining it instead in terms of self-interest is a strategy known as:

A)Pragmatism
B)Assigning the general to the particular
C)Innatism
D)Reinterpreting motives

Question 6

Which of the following refers to the idea that we sometimes set aside our own interests for the sake of others because we expect that,in the future,others will do the same for us?

A)Kin selection
B)Psychological egoism
C)Psychological altruism
D)Reciprocal altruism

Question 7

Which of the following is a key theme discussed in the text as appearing most prominently and carrying the most moral weight in Western cultures:

A)Sensitivity to harm and the suffering of others
B)Expectations of reciprocity
C)Similarity-leniency
D)Both A and B

Question 8

When we embody a "wholeness" or,in Plato's words,"inner balance" in our personal and professional lives which comes from choosing and acting with consistency and in light of a conception of justice and the good life,we could be said to live and work with:

A)Honor.
B)Integrity.
C)Intuition.
D)Egoism.

Question 9

If the similarity-leniency hypothesis were true,which of the following would also (likely)be true?

A)White jurors would be more likely to favor minority defendants
B)White jurors would be harsher when a case involves a white victim and non-white perpetrator
C)Minority jurors would be harsher on minority defendants
D)All of the above

Question 10

Based on Axelrod's "tit for tat" simulation,the decision-making approach which best serves our own long-term interests is to exploit the kindness of others.

Question 11

A strict psychological egoist would argue that it is not possible for human beings to be motivated by anything other than self-interest.

Question 12

Which of the following hypothetical attitudes most closely resembles the notion that life is a "zero-sum game"?

A)"Everyone is created equal"
B)"You can only win if someone else loses"
C)"We all die in the end,so why be good?"
D)"Live and let live"

Question 13

Ethical egoism argues that our motivation for moral behavior should be our own rationally derived interests.

Question 14

Altruistic acts are those:

A)Intended to serve our own interests.
B)Undertaken solely for the benefit of others.
C)That punish cheaters.
D)That strengthen social norms.

Question 15

Psychological egoism is a theory of human motivation which can be scientifically examined and shown to be true or false.

Question 16

Which of the following refers to a form of human motivation whereby our decisions and actions are motivated primarily (if not exclusively)by our own interests?

A)Egoism
B)Psychological determinism
C)Altruism
D)Ethnocentrism

Question 17

The "best case scenario" in the prisoner's dilemma - the most favorable outcome for all parties involved - is produced through cooperation and trust.

Question 18

If we claim that a professor giving everyone in the class an "A" on the next exam is not an act of kindness or generosity but is best regarded as that professor taking delight in demonstrating his own power,we are offering an egoistic explanation.

Question 19

To willingly accept some cost to ourselves in order to ensure that those who violate laws and social norms suffer consequences for their behavior is referred to as:

A)Altruistic punishment.
B)Common punishment.
C)Indirect reciprocity.
D)Inclusive fitness.

Question 20

Psychological and ethical egoism are explanations of human behavior that emphasize the role of __________________ in decision-making.

A)Mutual respect
B)Self-interest
C)Religious values
D)Socialization

Question 21

Psychological egoism is a prescriptive argument,whereas ethical egoism is descriptive.

Question 22

Define and briefly explore the notion of strong reciprocity,including some consideration for the role of altruistic punishment.

Question 23

Seeking revenge against someone who has harmed you would be an example of third-party punishment.

Question 24

Racial and ethnic minorities now represent the majority of the prison population in the United States.

Question 25

Briefly describe the notions of reciprocity and indirect reciprocity and their role in motivating moral behavior.Illustrate your response with an example from criminal justice.

Question 26

Briefly discuss the notion of a "fair" social contract,utilizing your response to critically assess inequalities of race,class,and gender that are common in the contemporary United States.

Question 27

Briefly describe what is meant by the term,"human universal," providing at least two examples.

Question 28

A non-zero-sum game might be described as one with the possibility of a "win-win" outcome,rather than a "win-lose" outcome.