Question 1

One criticism of Bentham's quantitative model of the utility principle is that it could lead to results that seem deeply unjust. For example,
A)it could allow a sadistic dictator to get away with torturing his subjects, on the grounds that his pleasure is so great it outweighs their collective pain.
B)it oppresses strong, creative people with its slave morality.
C)it tells us that we always ought to act selfishly in all circumstances.
D)it requires us to put duty before pleasure.

Accepted Answer

Bentham's model only considers the total amount of pleasure and pain, without taking into account the distribution or allocation of them. Therefore, in the scenario described, if the sadistic dictator derives a massive amount of pleasure from torturing his subjects, it would be considered morally justifiable under his model, regardless of how much pain is inflicted upon the population. This is a clear example of how the quantitative approach can lead to results that seem deeply unjust.

Question 2

Kant believed that
A)an action cannot be morally right if it causes more pain than pleasure overall.
B)an action is morally right if it is in accordance with the Ten Commandments.
C)an action is morally right if it seems to me to be morally right.
D)an action can be morally right even though its consequences turn out to be bad.

Accepted Answer

Kant believed in the concept of "deontological ethics", which states that the morality of an action is based on the intention behind it, rather than the consequences that result from it. Therefore, an action can still be considered morally right even if its consequences turn out to be bad, as long as the intention behind the action was morally right.

Question 3

When John Stuart Mill says, "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied," he is implying
A)that Socrates wasn't a very happy person.
B)that Socrates should have enjoyed himself more.
C)that all pleasures are equal.
D)that some pleasures are better than others.

Accepted Answer

Mill is suggesting that there are different levels of pleasure, or different qualities of enjoyment. Being human and capable of intellectual pursuits and critical thinking allows for a higher quality of pleasure than simply satisfying basic animalistic desires like a pig. Similarly, someone like Socrates who values philosophy and intellectual pursuits may experience a more fulfilling and meaningful pleasure than a fool who is content with shallow and fleeting pleasures.

Question 4

People who are cultural relativists believe that
A)whatever a culture or a society holds to be right is therefore right, at least for them.
B)different people around the world (and even in the same society)hold different values and believe in different moral codes.
C)what's true for one is, in fact, false for another.
D)moral absolutism must be true.

Accepted Answer

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A)whatever...

Question 5

Distinguish between cultural relativism and ethical relativism.

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Question 6

What does Kant mean by "autonomy"?

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Question 7

Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism.

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Question 8

What does Kant mean by a moral principle's universalizability ?

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Question 9

Suppose that Mary is a committed ethical relativist who happens to disapprove of female circumcision in Africa. One implication of her viewpoint is that
A)she must give up her pluralism.
B)she cannot disapprove of female circumcision.
C)she cannot really say female circumcision is objectively wrong.
D)she does not demonstrate moral absolutism.

Accepted Answer

As an ethical relativist, Mary believes that moral values are relative to one's culture or society. Therefore, she cannot claim that female circumcision is objectively wrong since it is a cultural practice in certain African communities. However, she can still personally disapprove of it based on her own cultural values and beliefs.

Question 10

When Nietzsche said that "God is dead," he meant that
A)belief in God is no longer the center of peoples' lives.
B)atheism must be true.
C)atheism is now true, although it once was false.
D)while it's true that God exists, we have fallen away from true belief.

Accepted Answer

Nietzsche's statement "God is dead" did not affirm the non-existence of God but rather pointed to the waning of belief in God as the center of people's lives. He saw a shift in the cultural and philosophical perspective towards a more secular worldview.

Question 11

List six of Aristotle's virtues.

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Question 12

For Kant, it was always wrong to
A)disregard the consequences for others of our actions.
B)act without first thinking through the action.
C)use people for our own purposes or as a means to achieve our own goals.
D)tell the truth when a lie would keep everyone feeling more comfortable in the situation.

Accepted Answer

Kant's ethical theory, deontology, emphasizes that moral actions should be determined by one's duty to follow moral rules, rather than by the consequences of the action. Kant believed that humans have inherent worth and should never be treated as mere means to an end, but always as ends in themselves. Therefore, using people for our own purposes or as a means to achieve our own goals is always wrong for Kant. Disregarding consequences for others and acting without thinking through the action may both lead to negative consequences, but they are not necessarily always wrong according to Kant's theory. Finally, Kant believed that lying was always wrong, regardless of the situation, as it violated the duty to be truthful and treated others as mere means to achieve one's own goals.

Question 13

Carol Gilligan claimed to show that women tend to think of ethics in terms of
A)right and wrong answers.
B)personal moral responsibility.
C)abstract moral principles.
D)irrational emotional perceptions.

Accepted Answer

Carol Gilligan's research showed that women tend to think of ethics in terms of personal moral responsibility, specifically taking into account the needs and feelings of others in their decision-making process. This is in contrast to traditional ethical theory, which often emphasizes abstract moral principles or right and wrong answers. Gilligan argued that women's perspective on ethics was valuable and needed to be included in the wider conversation about ethical philosophy.

Question 14

What is the good life, according to hedonists?

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Question 15

What is the utility principle?

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Question 16

What is Stage Three in Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development?

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Question 17

What is Aristotle's argument against hedonism?

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Question 18

Aristotle's virtues seem to share the common thread of being
A)concerned with the sexual mores of individuals.
B)absolute duties.
C)concerned with the flourishing of a person in a community.
D)concerned with maximizing happiness for the greatest number.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's virtues are concerned with the flourishing of a person within a community, as he believed that individuals should strive to live a virtuous life in order to achieve eudaimonia, or a state of flourishing and well-being. The virtues are not absolute duties, as they allow for some flexibility and require practical wisdom in their application. They are also not solely concerned with the sexual mores of individuals or maximizing happiness for the greatest number, although living a virtuous life may ultimately lead to greater happiness for oneself and others.

Question 19

Nietzsche believed that the true beneficiaries of traditional Judeo-Christian morality were
A)strong, noble, creative individuals.
B)weak, oppressed, suffering individuals.
C)members of the master race.
D)everyone alive.

Accepted Answer

Nietzsche argued that traditional Judeo-Christian morality favored the weak, oppressed, and suffering individuals by promoting values such as humility, patience, and compassion, which he believed were used to control the strong and noble.

Question 20

What is ethics?

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Quiz 8: Morality and the Good Life

One criticism of Bentham's quantitative model of the utility principle is that it could lead to results that seem deeply unjust. For example,

Kant believed that

When John Stuart Mill says, "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied," he is implying

People who are cultural relativists believe that

Distinguish between cultural relativism and ethical relativism.

What does Kant mean by "autonomy"?

Distinguish between psychological and ethical egoism.

What does Kant mean by a moral principle's universalizability ?

Suppose that Mary is a committed ethical relativist who happens to disapprove of female circumcision in Africa. One implication of her viewpoint is that

When Nietzsche said that "God is dead," he meant that

List six of Aristotle's virtues.

For Kant, it was always wrong to

Carol Gilligan claimed to show that women tend to think of ethics in terms of

What is the good life, according to hedonists?

What is the utility principle?

What is Stage Three in Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development?

What is Aristotle's argument against hedonism?

Aristotle's virtues seem to share the common thread of being

Nietzsche believed that the true beneficiaries of traditional Judeo-Christian morality were

What is ethics?