Question 1

Which of the following terms refers to the process of making an effort to understand how each person involved in a situation perceives it and,further,imagining how each person would feel if placed in the others' position?

Accepted Answer

The term that refers to the process of making an effort to understand how each person involved in a situation perceives it and imagining how each person would feel if placed in the others' position is "Golden Rule role taking." This involves empathy and perspective-taking, which can help to foster understanding and positive relationships. Universal cognition and instrumental exchange are not related to this concept, and while care may involve empathy, it does not necessarily involve imagining oneself in another's position.

Question 2

Research indicates that law enforcement officers who have a college education are,on average,better able to empathize,communicate,and are generally more ethical than those who do not.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between higher levels of education and better communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making in law enforcement officers. This may be due to the fact that college education exposes individuals to diverse perspectives, challenges their biases, and cultivates their intellectual and social skills. Ultimately, these benefits can enhance the effectiveness, fairness, and legitimacy of law enforcement, as well as improve the relationship between police and the community they serve.

Question 3

Based on Kohlberg's model of moral development,committing illegal acts for the purpose of fighting injustice would (or should)be less morally reprehensible than criminality motivated by vigilante justice.

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg's model of moral development, individuals may progress through six stages of moral reasoning, with the highest levels being characterized by a concern for justice and universal ethical principles. In such a framework, committing illegal acts for the purpose of fighting injustice would be seen as more morally justifiable than engaging in criminal behavior for the sake of taking the law into one's own hands (i.e., vigilante justice), which could be seen as reflecting a more self-serving or egocentric moral perspective. However, it is important to note that Kohlberg's model of moral development has been subject to criticism and debate, and there are alternative moral frameworks that may offer different perspectives on these issues.

Question 4

The notion of moral development implies that some beliefs,values,and ways-of-thinking about moral issues reflect a more advanced and desirable form of ethical judgment.

Accepted Answer

Moral development theory, originally proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, posits that individuals progress through a series of stages of moral reasoning that reflect more advanced and desirable forms of ethical judgment. As individuals move through these stages, they are able to consider a broader range of moral issues and make more nuanced and sophisticated moral judgments. However, it should be noted that there is some debate within the field about the universality of this theory and whether it applies equally well across different cultures and societies.

Question 5

Which of the following ethical frameworks suggests that morality should be linked to human nature,including a concern for human dignity and universal human rights?

Accepted Answer

Natural law is an ethical framework that suggests morality should be linked to human nature. It argues that there are certain inherent moral laws that are derived from human nature, and that these laws should guide human behavior. This includes a concern for human dignity and universal human rights, as they are seen as fundamental aspects of human nature. Utilitarianism and ethical egoism are more concerned with achieving the greatest good for the greatest number or maximizing one's individual self-interest. Social hedonism is not a recognized ethical framework.

Question 6

According to Kohlberg,which of the following stages of moral development do the vast majority of people fail to reach?

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg, the vast majority of people fail to reach the highest stage of moral development, which is universal ethical principles. This stage involves individuals recognizing and accepting universal ethical principles, such as justice and equality, and making moral decisions based on these principles rather than personal gain or societal expectations. Kohlberg believed that only a small percentage of individuals ever reach this stage.

Question 7

Natural law theorists might argue that a law is unjust if it has which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Natural law theorists believe that laws must be based on moral principles and that any law that violates these principles is unjust. Discrimination and unjust application of a law are clear violations of moral principles. Additionally, natural law theorists argue that human dignity must be respected, and any law that degrades humans violates this principle. Therefore, any law with any of these characteristics is deemed unjust by natural law theorists.

Question 8

Carol Gilligan's work on moral development implies that morality may develop out of two different orientations: a "male" approach focusing on __________________,and a "female" approach grounded in_____________.

Accepted Answer

According to Carol Gilligan's work on moral development, the "male" approach focuses on justice and rights, while the "female" approach is grounded in compassion and interpersonal relationships. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Options A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect Gilligan's theory.

Question 9

According to Kohlberg,civil disobedience is characteristic of the most advanced stage of moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, civil disobedience is an example of the highest level of moral reasoning, known as the postconventional stage. This stage is characterized by an individual's ability to use abstract reasoning to uphold universal ethical principles, even if they conflict with laws or societal expectations. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 10

Though Nazi leaders and war criminals had not committed "crimes" according to German law at the time,we (and the United Nations)might argue that they had committed:

Accepted Answer

The term "crimes against humanity" was coined during the Nuremberg Trials to encompass the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, including the Holocaust, extermination of minorities, and other acts of mass murder and genocide. These acts violated not just German law, but also basic human rights and international laws governing war crimes. The concept of crimes against humanity has since been widely accepted as a legal and moral principle, and has been applied to numerous other cases of gross human rights violations.

Question 11

According to Kohlberg,if we "stay on the right path," most people will eventually reach the postconventional level of moral development.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory suggests that not all people will reach the postconventional level of moral development, as this level requires a high level of abstract and independent thinking, as well as a strong sense of personal values and principles. Additionally, external factors such as cultural influences and life experiences can influence an individual's moral development trajectory.

Question 12

Engaging in lawbreaking behavior to achieve a reputation or gain status among peers would be most consistent with which of the following stages of moral development:

Accepted Answer

Engaging in lawbreaking behavior to gain status among peers aligns with the stage of "Interpersonal exchange and conformity" in Kohlberg's stages of moral development. This stage emphasizes behavior driven by social approval and conformity to group norms, rather than adherence to laws or a sense of social contract.

Question 13

Perhaps characteristic of those having reached higher stages of moral development,civil disobedience refers to:

Accepted Answer

Civil disobedience is a nonviolent form of protest, wherein a person or a group of people refuse to follow a law that they consider to be unjust. This act of disobedience is usually done to bring attention to the issue and to initiate change in the system. It is a characteristic of people who have reached higher stages of moral development because it requires the ability to critically evaluate the laws and social norms in the context of justice and equity. It is not a vigilante attitude towards lawbreakers, nor is it a duty to obey democratically-created laws at all times, and it is not related to one's decision to vote or not.

Question 14

At which of the following levels of moral development might we place a person whose moral values and principles are self-chosen,arrived at through independent reflection?

Accepted Answer

This level of moral development, also known as the principled level, is characterized by individuals having self-chosen and independent moral values and principles that they abide by, regardless of external pressures or societal norms. These individuals are guided by a sense of universal ethics, justice, and respect for human rights.

Question 15

According to Kohlberg,which of the following likely plays an important role in our progression through higher stages of moral development?

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg, role-taking opportunities are critical for progressing through higher stages of moral development. This involves being able to imagine oneself in someone else's position and consider their values and perspectives. Through this process, individuals can develop a more complex understanding of morality and move beyond rule-following to a more principled approach to ethical decision-making. While factors such as family and education may also contribute to moral development, role-taking opportunities are seen as particularly influential. Social class and financial well-being are not believed to be directly related to moral development.

Question 16

Reasoning such as,"killing is wrong because it is against the law" or "abortion is wrong because the Bible says so" is characteristic of the law-and-order orientation and stage of moral development.

Accepted Answer

The law-and-order orientation and stage of moral development is based on conforming to laws and rules. This stage is typically seen in children and adolescents and is characterized by an external sense of morality based on obeying the rules and avoiding punishment. In this stage, moral reasoning is primarily based on authority figures (such as parents, teachers, or religious leaders) and the rules and laws they set forth. Therefore, reasoning such as "killing is wrong because it is against the law" or "abortion is wrong because the Bible says so" is characteristic of this stage of moral development.

Question 17

Engaging in actions such as environmental terrorism,draft-dodging,or committing illegal acts to advance the cause of justice would reflect a preconventional level of development in Kohlberg's model.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's model of moral development suggests that actions such as environmental terrorism, draft-dodging, or committing illegal acts to advance the cause of justice would more likely reflect a post-conventional level of development, where individuals make moral decisions based on universal ethical principles that may transcend laws and rules.

Question 18

Which of the following,based in research indicating gender differences in responses to moral dilemmas,suggests that we reserve a greater role for compassion,interpersonal relationships,and concern for and responsiveness to the welfare of others in our moral reasoning?

Accepted Answer

Care ethics is a feminist ethical theory that emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships, compassion, and concern for the welfare of others in moral reasoning. Research has shown that women tend to prioritize these values more than men when making moral decisions, leading to the development of care ethics as a gender-sensitive approach to ethics.

Question 19

Using drugs to earn respect from one's peers most closely resembles the reasoning characteristic of which level of moral development?

Accepted Answer

Using drugs to earn respect from peers is characteristic of the conventional level of moral development, where social approval and maintaining the expectations of one's immediate group are significant motivators for behavior.

Question 20

Carol Gilligan's work utilizing the "Heinz Dilemma" revealed that males tend to resolve moral dilemmas using impartial principles,while females tend to focus on finding alternative solutions that take into account the needs of all people involved.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate representation of Carol Gilligan's research findings.

Quiz 7: Becoming Ethical: The Development of Morality