Question 1

An acceptable ethical theory should have good explanatory power. This amounts to:
A) saying something about everything in morality.
B) being useful in real-life applications.
C) helping us understand what makes something right or wrong.
D) agreeing with our deepest moral intuitions.

Accepted Answer

An ethical theory with good explanatory power should help us understand the principles or reasons that make actions right or wrong, providing a clear framework for moral evaluation.

Question 2

Unless an ethical theory is well-confirmed morally, it is unacceptable. Moral confirmation includes:
A) saying something about everything in morality.
B) being useful in real-life applications.
C) helping us understand what makes something right or wrong.
D) agreeing with our deepest moral intuitions.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Practicability requires that an ethical theory achieve all of the following, except
A) provide clear, not vague guidance.
B) be useful to us even with our limited knowledge.
C) tell us what makes things right or wrong.
D) resolve dilemmas.

Accepted Answer

Practicability in an ethical theory focuses on providing clear guidance, being useful with limited knowledge, and resolving dilemmas. It does not necessarily require explaining what makes things right or wrong, which is more about the theory's foundation rather than its practical application.

Question 4

If a moral theory starts telling us what we must wear or gives us other morally irrelevant prescriptions, then it has a problem with
A) moral confirmation.
B) explanatory power.
C) practicability.
D) completeness.

Accepted Answer

A moral theory that prescribes actions or behaviors that seem morally irrelevant, such as what to wear, may lack moral confirmation because it does not align with our intuitive sense of what is morally significant or relevant.

Question 5

Suppose a computer program could immediately answer any of our questions about what is good or bad, right or wrong with perfect accuracy, but not do anything else. This program would lack
A) moral confirmation.
B) explanatory power.
C) practicability.
D) completeness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose a computer program could immediately answer...

Question 6

Suppose a theory generates prescriptions that directly conflict with each other yet gives no way to determine which should be followed. This theory has a problem with
A) completeness.
B) practicability.
C) explanatory power.
D) moral confirmation.

Accepted Answer

Practicability refers to the ability of a theory to be applied in real-world situations. If a theory generates conflicting prescriptions without guidance on which to follow, it lacks practicability.

Question 7

A moral theory that approves torturing innocents or allows widespread dishonesty would fail at which criterion?
A) completeness.
B) practicability.
C) explanatory power.
D) moral confirmation.

Accepted Answer

A moral theory that approves of torturing innocents or allows widespread dishonesty would fail at the criterion of moral confirmation, as it would not align with our deeply held moral intuitions and beliefs about what is right and wrong.

Question 8

"How do people form their beliefs about moral right and wrong?" and "What makes something right or wrong?" ultimately ask the same thing.

Accepted Answer

The first question is about the process of belief formation regarding morality, while the second question is about the criteria or principles that determine moral rightness or wrongness.

Question 9

It is more important for an ethical theory to address how people form their moral beliefs than what makes something right or wrong.

Accepted Answer

An ethical theory primarily aims to determine what makes actions right or wrong, while understanding how people form moral beliefs is more related to moral psychology.

Question 10

One of the aspects of practicability has to do with a theory's providing moral guidance that is clear, precise, and not overly vague.

Accepted Answer

Practicability in moral theories involves offering guidance that is actionable and understandable, avoiding ambiguity to ensure effective application in real-life situations.

Quiz 1: Part II-Introduction: Ethical Theories and Perspectives

An acceptable ethical theory should have good explanatory power. This amounts to:

Unless an ethical theory is well-confirmed morally, it is unacceptable. Moral confirmation includes:

Practicability requires that an ethical theory achieve all of the following, except

If a moral theory starts telling us what we must wear or gives us other morally irrelevant prescriptions, then it has a problem with

Suppose a computer program could immediately answer any of our questions about what is good or bad, right or wrong with perfect accuracy, but not do anything else. This program would lack

Suppose a theory generates prescriptions that directly conflict with each other yet gives no way to determine which should be followed. This theory has a problem with

A moral theory that approves torturing innocents or allows widespread dishonesty would fail at which criterion?

"How do people form their beliefs about moral right and wrong?" and "What makes something right or wrong?" ultimately ask the same thing.

It is more important for an ethical theory to address how people form their moral beliefs than what makes something right or wrong.

One of the aspects of practicability has to do with a theory's providing moral guidance that is clear, precise, and not overly vague.