Ethics quiz 1-3

True/False: In utilitarianism, actions that benefit the most amount of people are always the morally correct.

False

True/False: Under utilitarianism, it is never morally permissible to lie.

False

True/ False: In order for the Argument for Paradigmatic cases to work as a successful argument against ethical egoism, it has to be the case that ethical egoism will sometimes require that we torture or kill innocent people.

True

True/False: The existence of altruism would make the theory of psychological egoism false

True

True/False: Psychological Egoism is a normative theory

false

The Principle of Utility (also called "the Greatest Happiness Principle in class) is _______________. A. All of these answers are correct B. The normative principle at the center of utilitarianism C. A consequentialist principle D. The general rule for utilitarianism

A. All of these answers are correct

To say that Utilitarianism is impartial is to say: A. All of these answers are correct B. That it does not allow you to place special importance on the happiness of your loved ones C. It is impartial to the kinds of things that people desire to make themselves happy D. That it places no special importance on the happiness of the agent (the person doing the action)

A. All of these answers are correct

If a person believes that pleasure is the only thing of intrinsic value they are most likely a: A. Hedonist B. Altruist C. Ethical Egoist D. Psychological Egoist

A. Hedonist

As Shafer-Landau (the author) describes it, consequentialism requires that we aim for the results that are the most: A. Optimific B. Aggrandizing C. Unconventional D. Moral

A. Optimific

Rule consequentialists can create a rule that states "You ought to take care of your family first" and argue that if most everyone followed this rule, it would result in better consequences than if we didn't have this rule. This is a response to which objection to Utilitarianism? A. The objection that Utilitarianism is too impartial B. The Problem of Injustice C. Supererogation D. The problem that there are no intrinsic wrongs

A. The objection that Utilitarianism is too impartial

What is the relationship between consequentialism and utilitarianism? A. Utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism. B. Utilitarianism and consequentialism are mutually exclusive. C. Utilitarianism and consequentialism are identical to one another. D. Consequentialism is a type of utilitarianism

A. Utilitarianism is a type of consequentialism.

A ethical theory that is meant to mainly give us a method of reliably guiding our decisions is: A. The proper motivation B. A decision procedure C. Supererogation D. A standard of rightness

B. A decision procedure

Act consequentialists believe all actions are morally neutral and that no actions are intrinsically wrong. This means that: A.They don't know how to judge the bombing of Hiroshima. B. They never claim that a particular type of action is always morally wrong. C. They believe that everything is permitted D. They only think that certain actions are right, and never claim that any action in the past is wrong

B. They never claim that a particular type of action is always morally wrong

One objection to Utilitarianism is that is must be wrong because we can't precisely measure well-being. This objection fails to completely defeat Utilitarianism because: A. We can measure pain with FMRI machines B. We can easily make other comparisons like who's tallest c. In most cases it is completely obvious that some actions will result in worse consequences than others so we don't need a precise measurement D. When the exact consequences are unclear we can just do what we want.

C. In most cases it is completely obvious that some actions will result in worse consequences than others so we don't need a precise measurement

In response to the objection that Utilitarianism must fail because we can't precisely measure well-being or pleasure, John Stuart Mill argues that: A. There is a precise measurement, called "Hedons" that we can use B. The number of people who benefits always known C. Some pleasures are more valuable than others and so ought to be weighed more heavily D. We don't need a measurement for pleasure- we only need one for suffering

C. Some pleasures are more valuable than others and so ought to be weighed more heavily

While Utilitarianism requires that you focus on the consequences of an action, it does allow that you also consider: A. Religious Virtue B. The Doctrine of Double Effect C. None of these answers are correct D. Your own well-being first

C. none of these answers are correct

According to the book, why do many utilitarians believe that the morality of an action depends on the actual results rather than on the expected results? A. Because we are not fortune-tellers B. Because the morality of actions depends entirely on intent. C. None of these answers are correct D. Because we would be required to say that actions that turn out to have disastrous consequences were morally required.

D. Because we would be required to say that actions that turn out to have disastrous consequences were morally required.

The book lists the widening of the scope of the moral community as one of the virtues of Utilitarianism. How does utilitarianism do this? A. By including robots B. By including people of other nationalities C. By including children D. By including animals

D. By including animals

Rule Utilitarianism attempts to answer many of the objections levied against Act utilitarianism. It answers the Problem of Injustice by: A. Claiming that injustice is subjective B. Claiming that rights are nothing but "nonsense on stilts." C. Denying the intrinsic value of justice D. Claiming that just policies maximize well-being

D. Claiming that just policies maximize well-being

The fact that Utilitarianism must sometimes require that we let the guilty go free is an example of: A. The objection that Utilitarianism is too impartial B. The problem of precisely measuring pleasure C. The objection that Utilitarianism is too demanding D. The Problem of Injustice

D. The Problem of Injustice

Which of the following is a virtue that the book lists for the theory of utilitarianism? A. The ability to explain the Golden Rule B. The Importance of Consent C. None of these answers are correct D. The ability to explain Slippery Slope Arguments

D. The ability to explain Slippery Slope Arguments

In response to the objection that we can't always (at all times) be motivated by the idea of doing good for others and so Utilitarianism is too demanding, the books states that we should remember that: A. We can treat justice as intrinsically valuable B. Animals matter too C. Nothing that is easy is worth doing D. Utilitarianism is a standard of rightness and not a decision procedure

D. Utilitarianism is a standard of rightness and not a decision procedure

According to Utilitarianism, the only thing that is morally valuable (also called "intrinsically valuable" in the book) is: A. Puppies B. Good intentions C. Justice D. Well-being

D. Well-being

In defense of their position, psychological egoists claim that purportedly altruistic actions are really done so that the actor can avoid feeling a guilty conscience, and since lack of a guilty conscience is a benefit, anything done to avoid a guilty conscience is done out of self-interest. Why is this a bad argument? a.In order for this argument to work, it must be that many people do care about the welfare of others (in order to even have a conscience). And this claim undermines psychological egoism. b. we do often do things to avoid a guilty conscience c. feeling guilty subjectively benefits a person d. often people fail at avoiding a guilty conscience anyway

a. In order for this argument to work, it must be that many people do care about the welfare of others (in order to even have a conscience). And this claim undermines psychological egoism.

The argument from Expected Benefit states that because we can reasonably expect to benefit from any action we take, psychological egoism must be true. One way that this argument is mistaken is that: a. it does not respect the difference between aiming for(intending) some result and knowing that the result might reasonably follow from an act b. we never have the motivation to benefit ourselves c. even when we aim to benefit ourselves we sometimes fail d. we do always expect to benefit from our actions

a. it does not respect the difference between aiming for(intending) some result and knowing that the result might reasonably follow from an act

From the perspective of ethics, why is it important that Psychological Egoism be proven to be false? a. philosophers hate psychologists b. because nearly all conceivable moral theories will require that we do actions for reasons other than self-interest c. psychological egoism is a normative theory d. empirical facts have no bearing on philosophical/ethical theses

b. because nearly all conceivable moral theories will require that we do actions for reasons other than self-interest

In the book, the author argues against the claim: "If there is good reason for you to do an action, then doing it must make you better off." His arguments is that you have reason to do actions that don't make you better off. Which of the following is an accurate rephrase this argument? a. an action being good for you is the only reason for you to do it b. that something makes you better off is not a necessary condition for you to have a good reason to do it c. that something make you better off is a necessary condition for you to have a good reason to do it d. that you have a good reason to do some act is sufficient for knowing that the act must be good for you

b. that something makes you better off is not a necessary condition for you to have a good reason to do it

Which of the following rights does the ethical egoist think is most important? a. the right to liberty b. the right to life c. Ethical egoists don't believe in rights d. the right to property

c. Ethical egoists don't believe in rights

Why can't the ethical egoist use libertarianism to justify his moral theory? a. Egoism denies that we have a morally duty to follow through with our agreements b. Egoism denies that we have a duty to repair wrongs to other people c. all of these answers are correct d. Egoism denies that we can morally wrong another person

c. all of these answers are correct

What's the source of moral duty according to ethical egoists? a. Self, family, country b. Self-interest, consent, and reparations c. Self and Family d. Self-interest only

d. self-interest only