Question 1

According to Adam Smith,if business is left to pursue its self-interest,the good of society will be compromised and harmed.

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith believed that if businesses pursue their self-interest through competition, it would lead to an overall benefit for society through the increase in innovation, efficiency, and quality of goods and services. This is known as the concept of the "invisible hand."

Question 2

According to Immanuel Kant,moral reasoning is based on factual knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant argued that moral reasoning is based on rational principles and the concept of duty, not on empirical or factual knowledge.

Question 3

By "maxim," Immanuel Kant meant the subjective principle of an action,the principle that people in effect formulate in determining their conduct.

Accepted Answer

This is indeed what Kant meant by "maxim." He believed that our subjective principles, or maxims, shape our actions and should be universalizable.

Question 4

Ethical egoism says that human beings are,as a matter of fact,so constructed that they must behave selfishly.

Accepted Answer

Ethical egoism states that individuals ought to behave in their own self-interest, but it does not necessarily claim that they are inherently selfish or constructed to be selfish.

Question 5

When a utilitarian like Jeremy Bentham advocates "the greatest happiness for the greatest number," we must consider unhappiness or pain as well as happiness.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism considers both pleasure and pain as factors to determine the morality of an action or policy. The aim is to maximize happiness while minimizing suffering for the greatest number of people. Thus, Bentham's principle of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number" takes into account both happiness and unhappiness.

Question 6

Adam Smith made the point that individual pursuit of self-interest (egoistic conduct),even when subject to rules and constraints,always undermines the utilitarian goal of producing the most good for all.

Accepted Answer

Adam Smith believed that individual pursuit of self-interest, when subject to rules and constraints, could actually lead to the greatest good for society through the mechanism of the invisible hand.

Question 7

Immanuel Kant believed that prostitution was immoral because,by selling their sexual services,prostitutes allow themselves to be treated as only a means to an end.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant's ethical theory is based on the idea that people should be treated as ends in themselves, and not merely as means to achieve one's goals. He believed that prostitution violates this principle, as it reduces a person to a commodity to be bought and sold for sexual pleasure. Therefore, Kant argued that prostitution is immoral.

Question 8

The statement that best defines rights is

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately defines rights as an entitlement to act or have others act in a certain way. This definition encompasses both legal and moral rights, as well as both positive (entitlement to receive certain benefits) and negative rights (entitlement to be free from certain harm). However, option A and D are incorrect because not all moral rights are legal or human rights and option B is incorrect because a negative right does not entail an entitlement to receive benefits.

Question 9

Rule utilitarians

Accepted Answer

Rule utilitarians believe that the optimal moral code will not normally produce 100% compliance because they recognize that there may be situations where following a particular rule may not lead to the greatest amount of happiness. Instead, they believe that rules should be followed in most situations because they generally promote the greatest amount of happiness overall.

Question 10

Jeremy Bentham thought that a community is no more than the individuals who compose it and that the interests of the community are simply the sum of the interests of its members.

Accepted Answer

Bentham believed that the concept of the community only exists as a collection of individuals and their interests.

Question 11

For those who are trying to make moral decisions

Accepted Answer

Clarifying the facts and principles in a moral discussion can help individuals come to a solution. It is not necessary for everyone to share the same moral theory, and endorsing a moral principle also does not require it to be applied in all similar situations. Moral judgments may or may not be related to general moral principles.

Question 12

A hypothetical imperative tells us to act as we would want everyone to act in that situation.

Accepted Answer

A hypothetical imperative is a command of reason that applies only if one desires the goal it leads to, unlike the categorical imperative which commands unconditionally and would fit the description of acting as one would want everyone to act.

Question 13

Immanuel Kant believed that it is only when we act out of feeling or sentiment that our actions have moral worth.

Accepted Answer

Immanuel Kant believed that actions have moral worth only if they are guided by a sense of duty or moral obligation, rather than by sentiments or emotions. He argued that moral actions must be guided by a universal principle, such as the categorical imperative, and not by personal desires or inclinations. Therefore, according to Kant, purely sentimental actions do not have moral worth.

Question 14

According to Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill,pleasure is the one thing that is intrinsically good or worthwhile.

Accepted Answer

Both Bentham and Mill believed in utilitarianism, a theory that states that actions should be taken to maximize overall happiness or pleasure for the greatest number of people. Therefore, pleasure is considered the only intrinsic good in their philosophy.

Question 15

In ethics,normative theories propose some principle or principles for distinguishing right actions from wrong actions.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Normative theories in ethics aim at providing principles that help distinguish right actions from wrong ones.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true regarding human rights?

Accepted Answer

Human rights are universal and apply to all human beings regardless of their nationality, race, gender, or any other status. They cannot be taken away or transferred from one person to another, which rules out option B. Option C suggests that human rights are limited to certain roles or relationships, which is not accurate. Finally, option D is incorrect as human rights are considered inherent to all humans regardless of legal or political systems.

Question 17

Egoists only do what they feel like doing.

Accepted Answer

While egoists prioritize their own self-interest, they may still choose to do things they don't necessarily "feel like" doing if it ultimately serves their self-interest.

Question 18

A practical basis for discussing moral issues involves taking account of

Accepted Answer

Effects refer to the consequences of actions, ideals refer to the principles or values that guide behavior, and obligations refer to the duties or responsibilities individuals have to others or to society. Taking account of these three factors helps to provide a practical basis for discussing moral issues. Effort, duties, organization, compassion, intellect, patience, compliance, and contribution may also be relevant to moral discussions, but they do not encompass the full scope of factors that should be considered.

Question 19

One feature about utilitarianism that makes it appealing as a standard for moral decisions in business and nonbusiness organizations is that it provides a clear and straightforward basis for formulating and testing policies.

Accepted Answer

Utilitarianism focuses on maximizing overall happiness and minimizing overall suffering, which can be easily measured and tested in various scenarios. This makes it a practical standard for making decisions in both business and nonbusiness organizations.

Question 20

The view that associates morality with self-interest is egoism.

Accepted Answer

Egoism is the view that associates morality with self-interest or self-concern.

Quiz 2: Normative Theories of Ethics