Question 1

John Rawls argues that a liberal society has a right to go to war to acquire more territory.

Accepted Answer

John Rawls argues for a theory of justice and fairness in the structure of society, not for war to acquire more territory. His principles focus on ensuring liberty, equality, and fairness, not on expansionist policies.

Question 2

In the context of the death penalty, some retentionists argue that a conviction followed by execution is a deterrent.

Accepted Answer

Retentionists, those who support the death penalty, often argue that the fear of being executed serves as a deterrent to committing capital crimes, thereby potentially reducing the incidence of such crimes.

Question 3

According to Belsey and Chadwick, the virtues of journalism include objectivity and integrity.

Accepted Answer

Belsey and Chadwick argue that the virtues of journalism, which are essential for its practice, include objectivity and integrity among others. These virtues are crucial for maintaining the credibility and trustworthiness of journalism.

Question 4

Seligson and Choi argue that being immersed in an "ethical culture" has more of an impact on employees than an actual ethics program.

Accepted Answer

Seligson and Choi's research suggests that the surrounding ethical culture of an organization has a more significant influence on employee behavior than formal ethics programs alone. This is because an ethical culture permeates daily activities and decisions, providing continuous, informal guidance on ethical behavior, whereas ethics programs are often more formalized and may not be as integrated into everyday work life.

Question 5

The British philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft argued that it is fundamentally unfair to set up separate systems of virtue for separate groups of people, because, ethically, what is wrong for one group ought to be wrong for the other.

Accepted Answer

Mary Wollstonecraft, in her seminal work "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792), argued against the notion of separate moral standards for men and women, advocating for a universal standard of virtue applicable to all human beings regardless of gender.

Question 6

In The Law of Peoples, John Rawls states that well-ordered peoples have a right to war in the pursuit of any rational interests that they may have.

Accepted Answer

In "The Law of Peoples," John Rawls argues that well-ordered peoples do not have a right to war for any rational interest but rather restricts the right to war to certain stringent conditions, such as self-defense or the defense of human rights.

Question 7

According to the critics of the ideal land ethic concept, the assumption that American Indians were some early form of environmentalists is a romantic misrepresentation.

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that the portrayal of American Indians as early environmentalists is an oversimplification and romanticizes their relationship with nature, ignoring the complex and varied ways indigenous peoples interacted with their environments.

Question 8

According to the principle of lex talionis, we should punish the guilty with an eye toward further social consequences.

Accepted Answer

The principle of lex talionis focuses on retributive justice, suggesting that punishment should be equivalent to the offense ("an eye for an eye"), rather than considering further social consequences.

Question 9

Retentionists argue that the homicide rate is generally higher in the United States than in other Western nations, so the United States needs special measures to curb homicides.

Accepted Answer

Retentionists believe that the higher homicide rate in the U.S. compared to other Western countries justifies the need for special measures, such as the death penalty, to deter crime.

Question 10

In the United States, animals have been put on trial in the past for hurting their masters or their own offspring.

Accepted Answer

Historically, there have been instances where animals were put on trial for various offenses, including harming humans or their own offspring. These trials occurred in medieval Europe and, by extension, in the early colonial periods of what would become the United States, reflecting the anthropomorphic view of animal behavior prevalent at the time.

Question 11

In a paper from 1995, Ethics as a Vehicle for Media Quality, Andrew Belsey and Ruth Chadwick argue that if the media has too many legal restrictions, journalists are going to be distracted by trying to get around them rather than simply following professional ethics.

Accepted Answer

In their paper, Belsey and Chadwick discuss the balance between legal restrictions and ethical journalism, suggesting that excessive legal constraints can indeed lead to journalists focusing more on circumventing these restrictions rather than adhering to ethical standards.

Question 12

Ursula K. Le Guin believes that telling stories is a form of life denial.

Accepted Answer

Ursula K. Le Guin viewed storytelling as a fundamental aspect of human culture and communication, often emphasizing its role in understanding ourselves and the world around us, rather than denying life.

Question 13

According to Erik Erikson, a person with ego integrity is one who is mature enough to ask himself or herself questions such as "Why did I do that?" or "Why didn't I do such and such?"

Accepted Answer

Erik Erikson's concept of ego integrity involves the feeling of wholeness and satisfaction with life achieved in old age, reflecting back on life with a sense of fulfillment, rather than questioning past actions.

Question 14

It is possible to approach the abortion issue from both a utilitarian and a deontological point of view, regardless of whether one is pro-choice or anti-abortion.

Accepted Answer

Both utilitarianism and deontologism offer frameworks for ethical reasoning that can support arguments for or against abortion, depending on how one applies the principles of maximizing overall happiness (utilitarianism) or adhering to moral duties and rights (deontologism).

Question 15

Unlike in the United States, in Belgium and the Netherlands, a terminal diagnosis is not considered necessary in the euthanasia debate.

Accepted Answer

In Belgium and the Netherlands, euthanasia laws do not strictly require a terminal diagnosis for euthanasia to be considered; instead, they focus on unbearable suffering without prospect of improvement.

Question 16

In "The Jigsaw Man," Lew is in prison, awaiting trial for organ-legging.

Accepted Answer

In "The Jigsaw Man," Lew is in prison, but he is not awaiting trial for organ-legging; instead, he is there because he has been sentenced for the crime.

Question 17

The Insider depicts whistle-blowing and deontology.

Accepted Answer

"The Insider" is a film that portrays the act of whistle-blowing within the tobacco industry, and its narrative aligns with deontological ethics by emphasizing the duty and moral obligation of the protagonist to expose the truth, regardless of the consequences.

Quiz 13: Applied Ethics: A Sampler