Question 1

Which of the following statements is true of ethical theories?

Accepted Answer

Ethical theories aim to provide a systematic approach to determining what is right and wrong, guiding actions and offering justifications for why certain behaviors are prescribed or discouraged.

Question 2

Which of the following ethical traditions implies that a greedy person who does distasteful and selfish things will not lead a fulfilling and good human life?

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics focuses on the character and virtues of an individual as the basis for ethical behavior, suggesting that living a virtuous life leads to fulfillment and happiness. It implies that a greedy and selfish person would not lead a fulfilling and good human life because these traits are contrary to virtuous living.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of utilitarian ethics?

Accepted Answer

Utilitarian ethics is a form of consequentialism, meaning it evaluates the morality of an action based on its outcomes or consequences. The core idea is that an action is right if it leads to the greatest overall good.

Question 4

Which proposition correctly describes the concept of a right?

Accepted Answer

Rights are designed to protect a person's interests, ensuring that their fundamental needs and freedoms are respected and safeguarded.

Question 5

Which of the following statements is consistent with principle-based ethics?

Accepted Answer

Principle-based ethics, also known as deontological ethics, emphasizes duties, rights, and principles over the consequences of actions. Statement B reflects this by asserting that individual rights should not be sacrificed for the collective good, aligning with the deontological emphasis on respecting individuals' rights and duties.

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true of Kant's categorical imperative?

Accepted Answer

Kant's categorical imperative emphasizes the moral obligation to treat individuals as ends in themselves and not merely as means to an end, highlighting the intrinsic value of human beings.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true of virtue ethics?

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics emphasizes the role of one's character and the virtues that one's character embodies for determining or evaluating ethical behavior. It focuses on moral character, rather than on the consequences of specific actions or the rules governing them, guiding individuals towards leading a virtuous life.

Question 8

Principle-based ethics is based on the concepts of promises, justice, fairness, rights, and duties.

Accepted Answer

Principle-based ethics, also known as deontological ethics, focuses on the adherence to moral principles or duties such as promises, justice, fairness, and rights, guiding actions regardless of the outcomes.

Question 9

Child labor is a very common phenomenon with cases of employing children in the manufacturing of athletic shoes and clothing being the most well-publicized instances.

Accepted Answer

Child labor has been a significant issue in various industries, including the manufacturing of athletic shoes and clothing, where cases have been well-publicized, highlighting the exploitation of children in these sectors.

Question 10

Because utilitarianism focuses on consequences, producing the greatest happiness for the greatest number as the sole criterion for determining ethical right and wrong, no action is ever right or wrong in itself, in all cases, in every situation-even, perhaps, lying.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism evaluates the morality of actions based on their outcomes, meaning that no action is inherently right or wrong; it depends on the consequences and whether they maximize happiness for the most people.

Question 11

Principle-based ethics, also called rights-based ethics, refers to the concept that the correct path to ethical decision making is determined by duties, such as obligations, commitments, and responsibilities, and not by consequences.

Accepted Answer

Principle-based ethics, indeed, focuses on duties, obligations, and commitments as the primary guide for ethical decision-making, rather than the outcomes or consequences of actions.

Question 12

Principle-based ethics might allow the sacrifice of individual rights if the overall good demanded it.

Accepted Answer

Principle-based ethics, also known as deontological ethics, focuses on the adherence to moral principles or duties rather than the consequences of actions. Therefore, it typically does not allow the sacrifice of individual rights for the overall good, as that approach is more aligned with consequentialist ethics, such as utilitarianism.

Question 13

According to Kant, any action's maxim that cannot be universalized is ethically wrong and should not be performed.

Accepted Answer

Kant's categorical imperative states that an action is only morally right if its maxim can be universalized, meaning it can be consistently applied to everyone without contradiction.

Question 14

One way to understand rights is to identify them with a person's wants. Rights protect these wants even though, objectively, they may conflict with what is really good for a person.

Accepted Answer

Rights are typically understood as entitlements or freedoms that are protected by moral and legal principles, not merely as protections for a person's subjective wants. They often aim to safeguard what is considered objectively good or necessary for individuals, rather than simply what individuals may desire.

Question 15

The theory of virtue ethics focuses on a full and detailed description of those character traits that would constitute a good and human life. Egoism is simply not a factor in the ethical decision making of caring, empathetic, charitable, and sympathetic persons.

Accepted Answer

Virtue ethics emphasizes character traits that contribute to a good life, while egoism, which focuses on self-interest, is not aligned with the virtues of caring and empathy.

Question 16

The condition of plenty or surplus and competition allows everyone to get what they want; this is a condition of free market capitalism.

Accepted Answer

In a free market capitalism, while surplus and competition can increase availability and choices, not everyone may get what they want due to factors like income inequality, market failures, and externalities.

Question 17

There is a consensus among utilitarians on how to measure and determine the overall good.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarians often disagree on what constitutes the overall good and how to measure it, with debates ranging from focusing on happiness, preferences, or other values.

Question 18

Historically, utilitarians place a very high value on individual freedom of choice, even though free individuals do not always choose what is good for them.

Accepted Answer

Historically, utilitarians have placed a high value on individual freedom of choice, even though they recognize that free individuals may not always make choices that are in their own best interests.

Question 19

According to principle-based ethics, individuals possess certain basic rights that should not be violated even if doing so would increase the overall good or social happiness.

Accepted Answer

Principle-based ethics, also known as deontological ethics, emphasizes that certain principles or rights, such as the right to life, freedom, and fairness, should be upheld regardless of the consequences, including the overall good or social happiness.

Question 20

A version of utilitarian ethics invoking the tradition of Adam Smith claims that competitive markets are the best means for attaining utilitarian goals. This is "market" utilitarianism.

Accepted Answer

Market utilitarianism is a perspective that combines utilitarian ethics with Adam Smith's ideas on competitive markets, arguing that such markets are the most effective way to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Quiz 2: Ethical Theory and Business