Question 1

Peter Singer asserts that our moral duty applies to needy people regardless of:

Accepted Answer

Peter Singer's philosophy of effective altruism asserts that our moral duty to help those in need is not dependent on their proximity to us, but rather on the amount of suffering we can prevent or alleviate by donating our resources. Therefore, option C - their distance from us - is not a factor in our moral duty to help needy people.

Question 2

Someone holding a(n)______ theory of justice would insist that all persons have equal value and deserve equal respect and therefore have equal rights to the world's resources.

Accepted Answer

An egalitarian theory of justice holds that all individuals have equal value and therefore deserve equal treatment and resources. This contrasts with libertarian theories, which prioritize individual rights and freedoms, and utilitarian theories, which prioritize the greatest good for the greatest number. Impartiality is a concept that can apply to any theory of justice and refers to the need for fairness and objectivity in decision-making.

Question 3

Suppose you strongly believe you have no duty to help the poor and hungry of the world,that you are not obligated to share your resources with those less fortunate.Your view would be consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Libertarianism is a political philosophy that advocates for minimal government intervention in economic and social affairs, including redistributive policies aimed at reducing income inequality. Libertarianism emphasizes individual rights, including property rights, and posits that individuals should be free to accumulate wealth without interference from the government or other individuals. This view is consistent with the idea that individuals have no duty to help the poor or provide assistance to those in need.

Question 4

Critics of Peter Singer's view admit that we do have an obligation to aid distant people but,they say,we also have a duty to help:

Accepted Answer

Critics argue that while we do have an obligation to aid distant people, we also have a special obligation to those with whom we have a close relationship, such as family and friends. This view is based on the idea that our relationships with those closest to us create special duties that override our obligations to distant strangers. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 5

Robert Nozick and John Hospers believe that people have a right NOT to be interfered with and to do whatever they want with their own property as long as they do not violate the liberty rights of others.This line is clearly:

Accepted Answer

The statement aligns with the principles of libertarianism, which emphasizes individual rights and limited government intervention. It is not utilitarian, as it prioritizes individual rights over the greatest good for the greatest number. It is not explicitly liberal or egalitarian, as those philosophies may prioritize other values (such as social justice or equality) over absolute individual liberty.

Question 6

Suppose you adopt a libertarian theory of justice,and the government decides to raise taxes to pay for universal health care.You will likely _____ these new taxes.

Accepted Answer

According to libertarian theory of justice, individuals should have the right to keep the fruits of their labor and property, and any interference with these rights by the government is unjust. Raising taxes to pay for universal health care would be an interference in individuals' property rights, and therefore, a libertarian would likely oppose these new taxes.

Question 7

Justice concerning the fair distribution of society's goods is called:

Accepted Answer

Distributive justice refers to the fair distribution of society's goods, such as wealth, income, opportunities, and resources among its citizens. Egalitarian justice refers to the equal distribution of goods, which may not always be fair, and beneficent justice focuses on doing good or promoting the welfare of others. Retributive justice is concerned with punishing those who have committed wrongdoing.

Question 8

A Kantian theorist would reject Peter Singer's argument because:

Accepted Answer

Kantian ethics reject utilitarianism and focus on the inherent worth and dignity of each person. Kant argues that we should not use people as means to an end, which Singer's argument may be construed as doing by suggesting that we give to the hungry in order to maximize overall happiness. While Kant believed in the duty to help others, he argued that it stems from the categorical imperative to treat people as ends in themselves, rather than from any calculation of overall happiness or well-being.

Question 9

A person's claim or entitlement to something,a moral demand that obligates others to act accordingly,is referred to as a:

Accepted Answer

A right is a person's claim or entitlement to something that obligates others to act or not act in certain ways. Rights are often upheld by legal and moral systems to ensure individuals can expect certain treatments or freedoms from others.

Question 10

The key premise in Peter Singer's argument for aiding the world's needy is:

Accepted Answer

Singer's argument is based on the principle of "effective altruism," which holds that individuals should do the most good they can do with the resources they have. This principle leads to the key premise that if we have the power to prevent something bad from happening, without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, then we have a moral obligation to do so. In the context of global poverty, Singer argues that since we have the resources to provide basic needs like food, shelter, and medicine to those in the developing world, without sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we are morally obligated to do so. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Question 11

A moral obligation to benefit others is known as a:

Accepted Answer

The duty of beneficence is the moral obligation to benefit others and promote their welfare. This duty goes beyond the duty of non-maleficence, which is simply to avoid harming others. The duty of benevolence (A) is similar to the duty of beneficence, but it implies a more active commitment to promoting the well-being of others. The duty of autonomy (B) is the respect for an individual's right to make their own decisions. The duty of fairness (D) is the obligation to treat people fairly and distribute benefits and burdens equitably. While all of these duties are important in ethical decision-making, the best choice for the moral obligation to benefit others is C, the duty of beneficence.

Question 12

The morality of persons getting what is fair or what is their due is known as:

Accepted Answer

The concept of individuals receiving what is fair or what they are due is based on the principles of justice. Libertarianism emphasizes individual liberty and limited government intervention, while egalitarianism promotes the idea of equality in distribution. Jurisprudence refers to the philosophy of law and the study of legal systems.

Question 13

A person's right that obligates others to help that person obtain something is called a:

Accepted Answer

A positive right is a right that obligates others to provide something, such as healthcare or education. A positive claim is a related concept, but it refers more broadly to any claim that one person has against another (including negative claims, which do not oblige others to provide something). Positivist right is not a commonly used term in philosophy, and negative right is the opposite of a positive right (it obligates others to refrain from interfering with a person's actions or choices).

Question 14

A person's right that obligates others NOT to interfere with that person's obtaining something is known as a:

Accepted Answer

A negative right is a right that obligates others to refrain from interfering with a person's obtaining something, while a positive right obligates others to take active steps to provide something for that person. A negative claim refers to a person's claim that others should refrain from interfering with their rights. A reciprocal obligation involves both parties having obligations towards each other.

Question 15

Imagine that Congress is debating a bill that would increase the amount of taxpayer money the United States spends on fighting hunger and poverty in developing countries.You oppose the bill because you are a staunch:

Accepted Answer

The best choice would be the libertarian position as libertarians generally advocate for limited government intervention and support free markets. Increasing taxpayer money for fighting poverty and hunger would be seen as government intervention, and therefore, libertarians would likely oppose it.

Question 16

Suppose you are asked by the local hospital to donate one of your kidneys to save the life of a stranger.Are you obligated to give away your kidney for a good cause? John Arthur says NO because:

Accepted Answer

John Arthur argues that individuals have a right to their own bodies, meaning that they are not morally obligated to donate their kidney. This choice weighs against any duty to help and therefore, the decision to donate must be voluntary. While it is a good cause to save the life of a stranger, individuals have the right to keep their body's integrity intact.

Question 17

According to Peter Singer's theory,we (the affluent)ought to give to the needy until we reach the level of marginal utility-which means that in giving the appropriate amount,we would reduce ourselves to very near the material circumstances of:

Accepted Answer

According to Singer's theory, we should give until we reach the level of marginal utility, meaning the point where giving any more would cause us to experience a significant decrease in our own well-being. The level of marginal utility varies depending on individual circumstances, but Singer suggests that for most of us, it would mean reducing ourselves to the material circumstances of a Bengali refugee. This is because refugees are among the most vulnerable and impoverished people in the world, and we have a moral obligation to help those who are suffering the most. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 18

The moral issue of whether we have a duty to help the poor and hungry of the world is compelling mainly because the:

Accepted Answer

The moral issue of whether we have a duty to help the poor and hungry of the world is compelling mainly because the misery of the world's poor is profound and the economic gap between rich and poor is wide. This creates a moral obligation for those who are better off to help those who are in need. The other choices either do not accurately reflect the situation or are not relevant factors in this moral issue.

Question 19

Suppose your friend is a strong believer in individual liberties and negative rights,and she often complains about the government's establishment of positive rights.It sounds like she may be a(n):

Accepted Answer

A strong belief in individual liberties and negative rights is a core tenet of libertarianism, which values limited government intervention and emphasizes individual freedom and responsibility. The opposition to government intervention in establishing positive rights (such as the right to healthcare or education) is also in line with libertarian principles.

Question 20

The richest 10 percent of people in the world amass 54 percent of the global income,whereas the poorest 40 percent get ______ percent.

Accepted Answer

The poorest 40 percent of people in the world amass only about 5 percent of the global income, highlighting significant income inequality.

Quiz 17: Global Economic Justice