Question 1

This Greek philosopher chose to die rather than give up his beliefs and the freedom to teach them.

Accepted Answer

Socrates chose to die by drinking hemlock rather than renounce his beliefs and his commitment to teaching. He was sentenced to death by the Athenian court for allegedly corrupting the youth and impiety.

Question 2

This Greek philosopher said that everything has an ideal counterpart and all we see, like shadows on a cave wall, are imperfect reflections.

Accepted Answer

Plato is the philosopher who proposed the Theory of Forms, which suggests that the physical world is not really the 'real' world; instead, ultimate reality exists beyond our physical world. The Allegory of the Cave is a famous section in Plato's work "The Republic" where he describes prisoners who only see shadows of objects on a wall, which is a metaphor for how humans perceive the world around them.

Question 3

This kind of Aristotelian justice argues that all people should get what they deserve.

Accepted Answer

Distributive justice, according to Aristotle, concerns what is just in distribution, meaning that goods should be distributed to individuals in proportion to their merit or need.

Question 4

Making sure that honors and privileges (the "Telos") go to those who deserve them due to effort and ability was this Greek philosopher's argument.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle was a proponent of the idea that honors and privileges should be allocated based on merit, reflecting his broader ethical and political philosophy that emphasized virtue, effort, and ability as criteria for distributing societal rewards.

Question 5

According to the text, which issues suggest that ancient philosophy remains relevant today?

Accepted Answer

The issues mentioned (affirmative action in higher education, Purple Heart military medals, and the case of professional golfer Casey Martin) are contemporary issues that can be explored through the lens of ancient philosophy, suggesting its ongoing relevance in addressing modern ethical, social, and legal dilemmas.

Question 6

This philosophy believes that the best choices are those that produce the greatest amount of happiness.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism is the philosophy that posits the best choices are those that result in the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Question 7

The main proponent of the philosophy of Utilitarianism was:

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill is most closely associated with the development and promotion of the philosophy of Utilitarianism, which argues that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as that which produces the greatest well-being of the greatest number of people.

Question 8

The "end justifies the means" is a position connected to this philosophy.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "the end justifies the means" is most closely associated with Utilitarianism, a philosophical theory that suggests the best action is the one that maximizes utility, typically defined as that which produces the greatest well-being of the greatest number of people. This principle can justify actions that might be seen as morally wrong in other ethical frameworks, as long as they lead to a greater overall good.

Question 9

The father of "categorical thinking" and main critic of Utilitarianism is:

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant is known as the father of "categorical thinking" and a main critic of Utilitarianism, emphasizing duty and moral principles over the consequences of actions.

Question 10

Doing good for its own sake with no desire of reward is a basic tenet of this philosopher.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant is known for his deontological ethics, which emphasizes duty and the morality of actions independent of their outcomes or rewards. He argued that actions are morally right if they are done out of a sense of duty and for the sake of duty itself, rather than for any external reward.

Question 11

Natural rights, those fundamental rights for all humans, include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Natural rights, as conceptualized by philosophers like John Locke, include life, liberty, and property. These rights are considered fundamental and inalienable, belonging inherently to all human beings.

Question 12

This philosopher believed government should promote "high culture" and demote "low culture."

Accepted Answer

The answer of This philosopher believed government should promote "high...

Question 13

This philosopher tried to explain the origin of the basic principles of fairness by talking of decisions reached behind a "veil of ignorance."

Accepted Answer

John Rawls is known for his theory of justice as fairness, which he discusses in his work "A Theory of Justice." He introduces the concept of the "veil of ignorance" as a way of determining the principles of justice that would be chosen in an original position of equality.

Question 14

One of the earliest known "maxims" of the just or good life comes from this father in ancient Egypt.

Accepted Answer

Ptahhotep, an ancient Egyptian official during the late 25th century BC, is credited with authoring a collection of moral and philosophical instructions, often referred to as "The Maxims of Ptahhotep," which are among the earliest known writings advocating for ethical conduct and wisdom in life.

Question 15

These philosophers would agree with "Dr. Death" and assisted suicide laws.

Accepted Answer

John Stuart Mill's principle of utilitarianism, which advocates for actions that promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number, could be interpreted to support assisted suicide in cases where it alleviates suffering.

Question 16

This philosopher understood that in a land of liberty citizens must give up some liberties to maintain order in a "social contract."

Accepted Answer

The answer of This philosopher understood that in a land...

Question 17

With regard to when a professional athlete or movie celebrity earns millions, this philosopher would argue that the athlete/celebrity does not own his or her talents and therefore has a responsibility to share his or her wealth.

Accepted Answer

John Rawls, in his theory of justice, argues that social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society. He suggests that individuals do not morally deserve the benefits of natural talents and circumstances, implying a responsibility to share wealth derived from such talents.

Question 18

Although inequalities of talent and abilities exist, Rawls would argue, a moral society is one in which:

Accepted Answer

Rawls' theory of justice emphasizes fairness and the principle that social and economic inequalities should be arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged members of society. Sharing wealth with the less fortunate aligns with his principle of redistributive justice.

Question 19

Prohibition of certain lowly pleasures (e.g., alcohol, gambling, prostitution) is permissible for the higher good, according to this philosopher.

Accepted Answer

Aristotle's philosophy includes the concept of achieving the higher good, which can involve regulating or prohibiting certain actions or pleasures that are considered lowly or detrimental to the well-being of the individual or society.

Question 20

The modern notion of "cost/benefit analysis" is more closely associated with this philosophy.

Accepted Answer

The modern notion of "cost/benefit analysis" is more closely associated with Utilitarianism, a philosophy that evaluates actions based on their outcomes, specifically aiming to maximize benefits and minimize costs for the greatest number of people.

Quiz 2: Philosophy and Justice