Question 1

Norcross argues that a certain degree of rationality must be possessed by one for one to be a moral patient.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues against the idea that rationality is a necessary condition for being a moral patient, suggesting instead that the capacity to suffer is what makes an entity a moral patient.

Question 2

Norcross argues that one's inability to be a moral agent is irrelevant to whether one can be a moral patient.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues that the capacity to be a moral agent (one who can act with moral responsibility) is not necessary for being a moral patient (one who can be wronged or have moral rights). This means that even if an individual cannot make moral decisions, they can still be treated in ways that are morally right or wrong.

Question 3

Norcross argues that the capacity to suffer is relevant to one's status as a moral patient.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues that the capacity to suffer is indeed relevant to determining one's status as a moral patient, as it is a significant factor in considering the interests and moral consideration owed to beings.

Question 4

Norcross thinks that the doctrine of double effect explains why it's wrong to consume factory-farm-raised animals.

Accepted Answer

Norcross actually argues against the doctrine of double effect as a justification for consuming factory-farm-raised animals, suggesting that it fails to adequately address the moral issues associated with supporting harmful practices through purchasing and consuming such products.

Question 5

Norcross concludes that any human use of nonhuman animals is morally wrong.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues against certain practices involving animals, particularly factory farming and its cruelty, rather than opposing all human use of nonhuman animals.

Question 6

Norcross argues that appeals to the Aristotelean criterion of rationality cannot answer the argument from marginal cases.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues that the Aristotelean criterion, which focuses on the capacity for rational thought as what grants moral status, fails to address the argument from marginal cases effectively. This argument points out that if we deny animals rights based on their lack of rationality, we must also deny rights to humans who lack typical levels of rationality (e.g., infants or those with severe cognitive impairments), which seems morally unacceptable.

Question 7

Norcross argues that nonhuman animals satisfy the Aristotelean criterion of rationality and, therefore, it is wrong to consume them.

Accepted Answer

Norcross argues against the consumption of factory-farmed animals due to their capacity to suffer, not specifically on the basis of their rationality according to Aristotelian criteria.

Question 8

Norcross argues for the immorality of purchasing and consuming factory-raised meat. Would his reasoning also lead to the conclusion that some other common human uses of animals is morally wrong? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Norcross argues for the immorality of purchasing...

Question 9

What is the problem of marginal cases? And how, according to Norcross, does it relate to this distinction between moral agents and moral patients?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the problem of marginal cases?...

Question 10

What is the difference between a moral agent and a moral patient? And why is rationality relevant to one but not the other?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between a moral...

Question 11

How might someone object to Norcross's claim that self-interest and moral rightness are distinct? Be sure to state the objection as an argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might someone object to Norcross's claim...

Question 12

Might there be other criteria-in addition to the capacity to suffer-that would render something a moral patient? What else, in addition to sentience, might be relevant to that status?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Might there be other criteria-in addition to...

Question 13

Which of the following best captures Dershowitz's conclusion in "Should the Ticking Bomb Terrorist Be Tortured?"

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz argues for a framework where the torture of terror suspects, in extreme cases like the "ticking bomb" scenario, should be regulated through legal means to ensure accountability and transparency, rather than being carried out in secret or without oversight.

Question 14

Which of the following best captures the cost-benefit analysis argument for the permissibility of nonlethal torture?

Accepted Answer

The cost-benefit analysis argument for the permissibility of nonlethal torture typically emphasizes the greater good, suggesting that the potential to save multiple innocent lives outweighs the harm caused to one individual, especially if that individual is guilty of terrorism or holds critical information that could prevent future attacks.

Question 15

Which of the following best captures Dershowitz's response to the objection that torture should not be used because it does not produce truthful information that saves lives?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz argues that while no method is foolproof, torture has been effective in some instances at producing valuable, life-saving information, which justifies its use under certain conditions.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a premise in Dershowitz's argument for the existence of court-issued torture warrants?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz argues that a system of torture warrants would lead to fewer instances of torture and better protect the rights of suspects, including preventing the torture of the innocent, but he does not claim that it would necessarily produce higher quality life-saving information.

Question 17

Which of the following is among the central reasons that Dershowitz believes an institutionalized public system for issuing torture warrants would result in fewer instances of torture than currently occur "off the books"?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz believes that by involving judges, who would demand more compelling evidence before authorizing torture, an institutionalized system would inherently be more cautious and judicious than the current clandestine practices, thereby potentially reducing the instances of torture.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT among Dershowitz's proposals for how terror suspects should be treated in accordance with a program of court-issued torture warrants?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz's proposals for handling terror suspects with court-issued torture warrants do not include inflicting the greatest bodily harm short of death. His suggestions are more focused on legal frameworks and limitations rather than endorsing extreme physical harm.

Question 19

Which of the following, according to Dershowitz, best captures the strongest argument against the resort to legitimized, public torture in ticking bomb cases?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz argues that one of the strongest arguments against the use of torture, even in ticking bomb scenarios, is the risk of establishing a precedent that could lead to the broader use of torture beyond those extreme cases.

Question 20

Which of the following is a key premise in Dershowitz's argument for the establishment of a visible, institutionalized system for carrying out torture?

Accepted Answer

Dershowitz argues that without a visible, institutionalized system, torture is more likely to occur in an unregulated manner, leading to abuses. He believes that a regulated system would help to control and limit the use of torture.

Quiz 13: Aristotle's Ethics: Exploring Virtue and Justice