Question 1

Is the fact that someone believes an action to be right enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The fact that someone believes an action to be right is not enough to make it right. Belief is subjective and can be influenced by personal biases, cultural norms, and societal pressures. What one person believes to be right may not align with what another person believes to be right. Additionally, just because someone believes an action to be right does not mean that it is morally or ethically justifiable.

In order for an action to be considered right, it should align with moral and ethical principles that are widely accepted and agreed upon by society. These principles often include concepts such as fairness, justice, and the well-being of others. Therefore, the mere belief of an individual is not sufficient to determine the rightness of an action. It requires a more objective and universally applicable standard.

Furthermore, the consequences of an action also play a crucial role in determining its rightness. Even if someone believes an action to be right, if it results in harm or negative consequences for others, it cannot be considered truly right.

In conclusion, the belief of an individual alone is not enough to make an action right. It requires consideration of objective moral and ethical principles, as well as the potential consequences of the action.

Question 2

Is the fact that a culture believes an action to be right enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The fact that a culture believes an action to be right is not enough to make it right. Morality and ethics are not determined solely by cultural beliefs. Just because a culture believes something to be right does not necessarily mean that it is morally or ethically justifiable.

There are universal principles and values that transcend cultural beliefs, and these principles form the basis for determining the rightness or wrongness of an action. For example, the belief in human rights, justice, and fairness are not contingent upon cultural beliefs, but are considered to be universal principles that should guide ethical decision-making.

Additionally, cultural beliefs can be influenced by a variety of factors such as tradition, history, and social norms, which may not always align with ethical principles. Therefore, it is important to critically evaluate cultural beliefs and practices in light of universal ethical principles in order to determine the rightness of an action. Ultimately, the fact that a culture believes an action to be right is not sufficient to make it right; it must also align with universal ethical principles.

Question 3

Is it necessarily TRUE that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

It is not necessarily true that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality. There are several reasons why individuals might arrive at different moral conclusions while sharing similar or even identical conceptions of morality:

1. **Differing Information or Beliefs**: People may have access to different information about the action or may hold different beliefs about the relevant facts. For example, one person might believe that a certain action caused harm while another might not be aware of the harm caused. These differences in perception or understanding can lead to different moral judgments without implying different moral frameworks.

2. **Contextual Interpretation**: Even with the same moral principles, individuals might interpret the context of an action differently. The importance of context can vary greatly in moral reasoning, and nuances in a situation can lead to divergent judgments.

3. **Priority of Values**: Within a shared moral framework, individuals might prioritize values differently. For instance, one person might prioritize fairness over kindness, while another does the opposite, leading to different judgments about what is the right action to take in a particular situation.

4. **Application of Principles**: People might agree on general moral principles but disagree on how those principles apply to a specific case. For example, two people might both value the principle of autonomy but disagree on whether a particular action respects or violates that principle.

5. **Emotional Responses**: Emotional reactions can influence moral judgments. Two individuals might share a conception of morality but have different emotional responses to an action, which can sway their judgment in one direction or another.

6. **Cultural and Personal Experiences**: Cultural backgrounds and personal experiences shape how individuals interpret and apply moral principles. People from the same moral culture might still make different judgments due to their unique life experiences.

7. **Moral Uncertainty or Dilemmas**: Some situations involve moral dilemmas where there is no clear-cut answer, and different people might resolve the uncertainty in different ways without necessarily having different moral conceptions.

8. **Reasoning Processes**: The cognitive process of reasoning can differ from person to person. Two individuals might use different methods of reasoning to arrive at a moral judgment, such as deontological (duty-based) versus consequentialist (outcome-based) reasoning.

In conclusion, while it is possible for different moral judgments to stem from different conceptions of morality, it is not a necessity. Shared moral frameworks can still lead to divergent moral judgments due to a variety of factors, including differing information, interpretations, priorities, applications, emotional responses, cultural influences, moral dilemmas, and reasoning processes. Understanding these nuances is important for navigating moral disagreements and fostering constructive ethical discussions.

Question 4

Is the fact that an action maximizes happiness enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is the fact that an action maximizes...

Question 5

Is the fact that an action falls under a rule that maximizes happiness enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is the fact that an action falls...

Question 6

What did Kant mean when he said that the only thing that's intrinsically valuable is a good will?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What did Kant mean when he said...

Question 7

Is the fact that an action does not treat anyone merely as a means enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is the fact that an action does...

Question 8

Is the fact that an action falls under a rule that would be approved by people in the original position enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is the fact that an action falls...

Question 9

Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the hunting of mammals? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the...

Question 10

Are you morally obligated to obey all the laws of your country? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Are you morally obligated to obey all...

Question 11

Is physician assisted suicide immoral? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is physician assisted suicide immoral? Why or...

Question 12

Is capital punishment immoral? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is capital punishment immoral? Why or why...

Question 13

Is homosexuality immoral? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is homosexuality immoral? Why or why not?...

Question 14

Some cultural relativists claim that once we recognize that there are no universal moral standards, we should tolerate the behavior of those who were raised in a different culture than we were. This view is inconsistent with cultural relativism, however, because
A) it suggests that tolerance only applies to relativists, not objectivists.
B) it suggests that tolerance is a value only for consequentialists, not formalists.
C) it assumes that tolerance is a universal value that should be recognized by everyone.
D) it assumes that tolerance is a value that no one should adopt.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some cultural relativists claim that once we...

Question 15

Equals should be treated equally according to the principle of
A) justice
B) mercy
C) parsimony
D) compassion
E) conservatism

Accepted Answer

The principle of treating equals equally is a fundamental aspect of justice. It ensures that individuals in similar situations are treated in the same way, reflecting fairness and impartiality in decision-making processes.

Question 16

According to the principle of mercy, _____ suffering is wrong.
A) all
B) no amount of
C) unnecessary
D) human-inflicted
E) unequal

Accepted Answer

The principle of mercy focuses on alleviating or preventing suffering that is avoidable or not essential. Thus, it specifically identifies "unnecessary" suffering as wrong, implying that efforts should be made to minimize or eliminate suffering that does not serve a purpose or that could be avoided.

Question 17

Actions that go above and beyond the call of duty are called
A) categorical.
B) hypothetical.
C) supererogatory.
D) imperatives.
E) meta-ethical.

Accepted Answer

Supererogatory actions are those that go beyond what is required or expected, often considered to be morally commendable but not obligatory.

Question 18

What makes an action right for someone is that it is approved by that person.
A) ethical egoism
B) categorical imperative
C) subjective relativism
D) virtue theory
E) rule-utilitarianism

Accepted Answer

Subjective relativism posits that an action is morally right if the individual approves of it. It emphasizes the individual's perspective in determining the morality of actions, rather than universal moral principles or societal norms.

Question 19

What makes an action right is that it promotes one's own best interest.
A) ethical egoism
B) categorical imperative
C) subjective relativism
D) virtue theory
E) subjective absolutism

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism is the moral theory that holds the view that an action is right if it promotes the actor's own best interest.

Question 20

What makes an action right is that everyone could act on it, and you would be willing to have everyone act on it.
A) ethical egoism
B) categorical imperative
C) subjective relativism
D) virtue theory
E) emotivism

Accepted Answer

The statement describes the categorical imperative, a key concept in the ethics of Immanuel Kant. It emphasizes that an action is morally right if it can be universalized, meaning that it could be applied consistently by everyone without leading to a contradiction or an undesirable world.

Quiz 5: The Problem of Relativism and Morality

Is the fact that someone believes an action to be right enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Is the fact that a culture believes an action to be right enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Is it necessarily TRUE that people who make different moral judgments about the same action have different conceptions of morality? Why or why not?

Is the fact that an action maximizes happiness enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Is the fact that an action falls under a rule that maximizes happiness enough to make it right? Why or why not?

What did Kant mean when he said that the only thing that's intrinsically valuable is a good will?

Is the fact that an action does not treat anyone merely as a means enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Is the fact that an action falls under a rule that would be approved by people in the original position enough to make it right? Why or why not?

Under what conditions would Bentham sanction the hunting of mammals? Why?

Are you morally obligated to obey all the laws of your country? Why or why not?

Is physician assisted suicide immoral? Why or why not?

Is capital punishment immoral? Why or why not?

Is homosexuality immoral? Why or why not?

Some cultural relativists claim that once we recognize that there are no universal moral standards, we should tolerate the behavior of those who were raised in a different culture than we were. This view is inconsistent with cultural relativism, however, because

Equals should be treated equally according to the principle of

According to the principle of mercy, _____ suffering is wrong.

Actions that go above and beyond the call of duty are called

What makes an action right for someone is that it is approved by that person.

What makes an action right is that it promotes one's own best interest.

What makes an action right is that everyone could act on it, and you would be willing to have everyone act on it.