Deck 2: Generating Illustrative Examples

Question 1

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
Many people cannot or will not eat bacon.

A) It's true that many people will not eat bacon.
B) I don't eat bacon.
C) Famously vegetarian pop star Miley Cyrus does not eat bacon.
D) Guy Fiere is a celebrity chef who eats bacon.

Answer 1

Famously vegetarian pop star Miley Cyrus does not eat bacon.

Question 2

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
Large planets sometimes have more than one moon.

A) 51 Pegasus b is an exoplanet that might have lots of moons.
B) Most of the large planets we know about have more than one moon.
C) Venus has no moons.
D) Jupiter is a large planet that has more than 70 moons.

Answer 2

Jupiter is a large planet that has more than 70 moons.

Question 3

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
Some popular hobbies require expensive equipment.

A) Scuba-diving is a popular hobby that requires expensive equipment.
B) Watching TV is a popular hobby because it is cheap.
C) Tying friendship bracelets is a popular hobby that doesn't require expensive equipment.
D) Celebrities usually have popular hobbies that require expensive equipment.

Answer 3

Scuba-diving is a popular hobby that requires expensive equipment.

Question 4

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
It is morally permissible to cause someone temporary pain if that is the only way to save them from significant harm.

A) It was morally permissible for John Lithgow's to tell Harry to go away.
B) Imagine that you see a child playing in the street, about to be hit by an oncoming car. The only way you can save them is to physical tackle them out of the street and out of harm's way. It is morally permissible to cause that child temporary pain to save them from being run over.
C) It is true that causing pain to avoid serious harm is often morally permissible.
D) Imagine that you learn that your best friend is planning to go out to a rock and roll concert the night before she has an important presentation at work. You can see clearly that this is the wrong decision for her, but the only way you have to stop her is to lock her in your basement for the night, where you are confident she'll get a good night's sleep. It is morally permissible to cause her the temporary pain of missing the concert to save her from doing a bad presentation at work.

Question 5

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
There are some situations in which answering a question truthfully is the morally wrong thing to do.

A) Suppose you robbed a bank, and thought you got away with it. But a year later you are caught and put on trial. While you are on the stand, the prosecutor asks you, "did you rob that bank?" It would be morally wrong to answer that question truthfully.
B) During World War II, some Germans hid Jewish families in their homes, to protect them from the Nazis. Imagine that a Nazi police officer knocks on the door, and asks one of those Germans if they know of any Jewish people hiding in the neighborhood. In that situation, it would be morally wrong to answer that questions truthfully.
C) Imagine that your friend is trying on new glasses, and asks you if you like the current pair. You actually hate them. It would be morally wrong to be honest in this situation.
D) Honesty may be the best policy, but there a lots of situations in which honesty is counterproductive, or even morally wrong.

Question 6

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
In some cases, when parents are sure their teenage children have made a bad decision, they have an obligation to step in and stop their children from acting on that decision.

A) Imagine that parents know that their teenage son is trying to join a gang. They find out that he has been assigned, as part of his initiation, to murder a member of a rival gang. If it is possible for them to step in and prevent him from leaving the house to do the murder, they should do that.
B) Imagine a teenager has headed off to college. Their parents find out that they intend to declare a major in philosophy, even though the parents had suggested a pre-med major. If the parents are able to step in and stop their child from declaring a philosophy major, they should do that.
C) This isn't true. Parents should support their children in their life choices, even when they disagree.
D) This is true. If a teenager decides to do something dangerous, parents should put a stop to that.

Question 7

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that:
In some cases, it is morally wrong to hold a person responsible for a crime they have committed.

A) It is near Halloween, and a visitor to the USA who doesn't speak any English sees the piles of pumpkins outside the grocery store. He thinks they are free for the taking, so he carries a few away. He has shoplifted, but shouldn't be held r esponsible, because he didn't know he was doing anything wrong.
B) The death penalty punishes killers for the crimes they have committed.
C) Imagine a person who was raised in an abusive home, who has anger- management issues. One day, in a fit of road rage, he runs another driver off the road and into a ditch. He shouldn't be held responsible, because of his difficult circumstances.
D) Sacco and Vanzetti were wrongly held responsible for the crime of spying.

Question 8

Which of the following options is the best ILLUSTRATIVE example for the claim that: Malicious intentions sometimes result in good outcomes.

A) In an attempt to harm her seriously ill roommate, Amy flushes all of Andie's medications down the toilet. Andie's condition immediately improves, because she had been misdiagnosed and her medications were making her condition much worse. Amy's malicious intentions had a good outcome in this case.
B) When Dreyfus attempted to murder Inspector Clouseau most maliciously, the outcomes for everyone were good. (Except for Dreyfus!)
C) Iago, the villain in Shakespeare's Othello is an example of malicious intentions leading to good outcomes. Iago conspired to betray and kill the king and queen, and he succeeded in doing that. His intentions were malicious, but the outcome was just.
D) An angry teen sets fire to his high school and it burns to the ground. His intentions were malicious, but all the students got to get the rest of the year off from school.