Question 1

Driver rejects subjectivism for which of the following reasons?
A) It is intolerant.
B) It cannot explain how moral disagreement is possible.
C) It denies that moral judgments have truth-values.
D) It makes the community the authority on moral questions.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism, which posits that moral judgments are based on individual feelings or attitudes, struggles to account for the possibility of genuine moral disagreement. If moral truths are entirely subjective, then when two individuals have a disagreement about a moral issue, it implies that they are merely expressing different personal preferences rather than engaging in a substantive debate about an objective moral fact. This undermines the concept of meaningful moral discourse.

Question 2

As a form of moral relativism, subjectivism
A) holds that moral truth can be explored by science.
B) recognizes at least a few universal moral truths.
C) is consistent with the phenomenon of moral disagreement.
D) holds that moral truth varies from person to person.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism is a form of moral relativism that suggests moral truths are based on individual perspectives, meaning they can vary from person to person.

Question 3

If subjectivism is true, then when a person says, "Abortion is wrong," this means
A) "I disapprove of abortion."
B) "God forbids abortion."
C) "Every human life is precious."
D) "Abortion is bad for society."

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism in ethics suggests that moral judgments are expressions of the speaker's feelings or attitudes. Therefore, if someone says, "Abortion is wrong," according to subjectivism, it means they personally disapprove of abortion.

Question 4

According to Driver, we discover the truth of descriptive claims by
A) consulting tradition.
B) consulting popular opinion.
C) investigating the world.
D) testing our ideas against each other.

Accepted Answer

Driver suggests that the truth of descriptive claims is discovered by investigating the world, which involves empirical observation and gathering evidence about the state of affairs being described.

Question 5

The form of subjectivism that Driver focuses on treats moral claims as
A) reports about community standards.
B) reports about expert consensus.
C) reports of an individual's approval or disapproval.
D) expressions of divine authority.

Accepted Answer

Driver focuses on a form of subjectivism where moral claims are understood as reports of an individual's approval or disapproval, emphasizing the subjective nature of moral judgments.

Question 6

According to Driver, if subjectivism is false, then which of the following must be true?
A) Some moral truths are known by everyone.
B) Moral disagreement is impossible.
C) There are objective moral values.
D) Something beyond individual belief is needed to morally justify an action.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Driver, if subjectivism is false,...

Question 7

By Driver's lights, the view that "what is 'right' for me may not be 'right' for you" has the troubling implication that
A) there are no moral truths.
B) virtually any practice, however clearly evil, could be considered true.
C) morality has no basis in scientific fact.
D) society has the right to silence dissenters.

Accepted Answer

Driver's perspective suggests that if what is "right" for one person may not be "right" for another, it opens the door to the possibility that any practice, no matter how universally condemned, could be justified by someone as being morally correct for them. This relativistic view of morality can lead to the troubling implication that practices considered clearly evil by a majority could still be deemed morally acceptable by some individuals.

Question 8

Driver thinks that it is natural to believe that, when moral argumentation occurs,
A) something objective is at stake.
B) at least one party must be wrong.
C) there is always a right answer.
D) there can be no final resolution.

Accepted Answer

Driver suggests that moral argumentation implies that there is something objective at stake, as it involves discussions about right and wrong, which are typically based on objective standards or principles.

Question 9

Driver's ultimate view of subjectivism can best be described as
A) endorsement.
B) partial acceptance.
C) rejection.
D) ambivalence.

Accepted Answer

Driver's ultimate view of subjectivism is best described as rejection, as she critiques and dismisses the idea that moral truths are based solely on individual or cultural perspectives.

Question 10

Driver believes that the example of Heinrich Himmler
A) refutes subjectivism.
B) supports subjectivism.
C) has more to do with descriptive claims than normative ones.
D) is a problem for any theory of moral judgment.

Accepted Answer

Driver uses the example of Heinrich Himmler to argue against subjectivism by showing that even if Himmler sincerely believed his actions were morally right, it doesn't make them so, thus refuting the idea that moral truth is merely a matter of individual opinion or sentiment.

Question 11

Driver argues that moral claims are radically different from descriptive claims.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Driver argues that moral claims are radically...

Question 12

According to Driver, subjectivism is a form of moral relativism.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism is a form of moral relativism because it posits that moral judgments are based on individual feelings and perspectives, making morality relative to each person's subjective experience.

Question 13

Driver explains that subjectivism is the proper way to understand descriptive judgments.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism is a philosophical stance that interprets descriptive judgments based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions, rather than claiming it as the proper way to understand all descriptive judgments, which can also be based on objective facts and evidence.

Question 14

Subjectivism, as presented by Driver, holds that the larger social community determines whether a given practice is morally right or wrong.

Accepted Answer

Subjectivism, as presented by Driver, actually posits that moral judgments and the rightness or wrongness of actions are determined by individual attitudes or feelings, not by the larger social community.

Question 15

On Driver's view, claims like "Abortion is always wrong" cannot be true for one person but false for another.

Accepted Answer

The statement is a claim about the truth value of a moral proposition. Moral propositions are not true or false in the same way that factual propositions are. They are not subject to empirical verification or falsification. Rather, they are true or false based on the values and beliefs of the person making the claim.

Question 16

Driver rejects moral subjectivism partly on the grounds that it cannot explain how genuine moral disagreement is possible.

Accepted Answer

Driver argues against moral subjectivism by pointing out that if moral judgments are merely expressions of personal preferences or attitudes, then what appear to be moral disagreements would not be genuine disagreements about facts in the world, but rather differences in personal taste or sentiment. This perspective challenges the possibility of true moral disputes under moral subjectivism, as it suggests that there are no objective moral truths over which to disagree.

Question 17

Driver supports the view that a person's beliefs are what determines morality for them.

Accepted Answer

Driver argues from a virtue ethics perspective, suggesting that morality is more about the character and virtues of a person rather than merely their beliefs or actions.

Question 18

Driver explains that, in her view, a moral statement must be believed by someone or other in order for it to have a truth-value.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Driver explains that, in her view, a...

Question 19

Driver admits that subjectivism is an attractive view because it appears tolerant of diverse viewpoints.

Accepted Answer

Driver acknowledges the appeal of subjectivism due to its inherent tolerance for a wide range of perspectives, as it suggests that moral truths can vary based on individual or cultural beliefs.

Question 20

Subjectivism views morality as being about personal preference, not truth-values.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Subjectivism views morality as being about personal...

Quiz 4: Subjectivism Julia Driver

Driver rejects subjectivism for which of the following reasons?

As a form of moral relativism, subjectivism

If subjectivism is true, then when a person says, "Abortion is wrong," this means

According to Driver, we discover the truth of descriptive claims by

The form of subjectivism that Driver focuses on treats moral claims as

According to Driver, if subjectivism is false, then which of the following must be true?

By Driver's lights, the view that "what is 'right' for me may not be 'right' for you" has the troubling implication that

Driver thinks that it is natural to believe that, when moral argumentation occurs,

Driver's ultimate view of subjectivism can best be described as

Driver believes that the example of Heinrich Himmler