Question 1

Identify the person who made the following claim: "Invading a right is far worse than inflating it."

Accepted Answer

Ronald Dworkin made this claim, emphasizing the importance of rights and the serious implications of violating them compared to the potential issues arising from expanding them.

Question 2

There are three classical definitions of equality. Find the one NOT discussed in the text.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There are three classical definitions of equality....

Question 3

There are several questions associated with the prospect of human cloning. The one that is NOT present in the textbook is whether

Accepted Answer

The question of whether a clone can love his or her "parents" is not typically found in textbooks discussing the ethical, legal, and social implications of human cloning. These discussions often focus on rights, identity, and the potential for exploitation, rather than the emotional capacities of clones.

Question 4

Identify the person who said the following: "Those who would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Accepted Answer

This quote is attributed to Benjamin Franklin. It reflects his belief in the importance of liberty and the dangers of sacrificing essential freedoms for the sake of temporary security.

Question 5

Identify the person who said the following: "As citizens in a democratic community, which must legally regulate practices of eugenic intervention, we surely will not be able to disburden ourselves from the task of anticipating the possible agreement or refusal of those affected by eugenic practices. . . ."

Accepted Answer

This quote is from Jürgen Habermas, a German sociologist and philosopher in the tradition of critical theory and pragmatism. He is known for his work on the concept of the public sphere and has engaged with issues of morality, democracy, and the modern state, including the ethical implications of new technologies and practices such as eugenics.

Question 6

In libertarian philosophy, three negative rights are emphasized. Which one of the following should NOT be on the list?

Accepted Answer

The right to work is not typically emphasized as a negative right in libertarian philosophy. Negative rights require others to refrain from interfering with one's actions (e.g., rights to liberty, life, and property), whereas the right to work can imply a positive obligation on others to provide employment, which is not a core principle of libertarianism.

Question 7

Three thinkers mentioned in the textbook agree about the three negative rights. Which thinker should NOT be on the list?

Accepted Answer

John Rawls is known for his theory of justice as fairness, which emphasizes positive rights and the redistribution of resources, rather than strictly upholding negative rights like Ayn Rand, John Locke, and John Hospers.

Question 8

Identify the person who claimed the following: "There is only one fundamental right: the right to your own life and to act free of coercion."

Accepted Answer

This statement aligns with the philosophy of Ayn Rand, who emphasized individual rights and freedom from coercion as central to her Objectivist philosophy.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the original position?

Accepted Answer

The original position is a hypothetical scenario used by philosopher John Rawls to argue for principles of justice. In it, individuals choose principles of justice without knowing their place in society, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

Question 10

Identify the person who said the following: "We need to loosen the hold that the atomistic picture has on our thinking, and recognize the importance that theory has on our judgments and our moral condition."

Accepted Answer

Elizabeth Wolgast emphasized the influence of theoretical perspectives on our judgments and moral conditions, critiquing the atomistic view of individuals in isolation from their social and moral contexts.

Question 11

Identify the person who said the following: "All therapeutic genetic interventions, including prenatal ones, must remain dependent on consent that is at least counterfactually attributed to those possibly affected by them."

Accepted Answer

Jürgen Habermas is known for his contributions to the discourse on bioethics, including the ethical implications of genetic interventions. His work emphasizes the importance of consent and the rights of individuals potentially affected by such interventions.

Question 12

Which of the following approaches to punishment, although popular, is NOT considered legitimate by most legal experts?

Accepted Answer

Vengeance is not considered a legitimate approach to punishment by most legal experts because it is driven by personal revenge rather than the principles of justice, law, and order. Legal systems aim for retribution (a form of justice), deterrence (preventing future crimes), and rehabilitation (reforming the offender), rather than acting on the emotional basis of vengeance.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a difference between retribution and vengeance?

Accepted Answer

Retribution is actually backward-looking as it seeks to punish for past actions, whereas vengeance is also backward-looking, focusing on retaliating for past wrongs. Therefore, stating that retribution is forward-looking is incorrect.

Question 14

Diane Whiteley argues that the most important natural response for a crime victim is

Accepted Answer

The answer of Diane Whiteley argues that the most important...

Question 15

Which of the following social issues is explored in the film Gattaca?

Accepted Answer

The film Gattaca explores the social issue of a future hierarchy of humans, focusing on the divide between those who are genetically engineered for perfection and those who are conceived naturally, with all the unpredictability that entails. This creates a class system based on genetic desirability.

Question 16

The film Green Book is about

Accepted Answer

Green Book is a film that explores racism through the relationship and experiences of an African American pianist and his Italian American chauffeur as they travel through the segregated American South in the 1960s.

Question 17

The film Mississippi Burning is about

Accepted Answer

Mississippi Burning is a film that focuses on the investigation into the murders of three civil rights activists in Mississippi in 1964, highlighting the racial tensions and violence of the era.

Question 18

The film Mississippi Burning depicts American problems with

Accepted Answer

Mississippi Burning is a film that addresses the deeply entrenched issues of segregation, hatred, and racism in America, particularly in the context of the civil rights movement. All these themes are central to the film's narrative.

Question 19

The film Ex Machina is about

Accepted Answer

The film Ex Machina is about a near future where a robot will be able to not only act like a human but have human emotions.

Question 20

A human being is always identified as a person.

Accepted Answer

Legally and philosophically, the concept of "personhood" can vary, and not all human beings are always granted personhood status in every context, such as in debates over fetal rights or the rights of indigenous peoples historically.

Quiz 7: Personhood, Rights, and Justice