Exam 3

A potential problem with pure-aretaic theories is that determining the virtues by the Golden Mean or ideal individual appears difficult is not impossible.

true

According to Aristotle, the mean is praiseworthy and the extremes are blameworthy.

true

According to Aristotle, the most important factor for being happy is being virtuous.

true

According to Aristotle, with regard to honor and dishonor the mean is "high mindedness".

true

According to Kant, every rational being exists as an end in himself.

true

According to Ross, moral principles are conditional.

true

According to rule-deontologists, rules are never determined by their consequences.

true

An act-deontologist claims that one's duty is determined apart from appealing to rules/principles.

true

An immoral person can exhibit no moral virtues.

true

Deontological and teleological theories are both action-based theories.

true

It is possible for act-utilitarians and act-deontologists to agree as to the morality of an action (though for different reasons).

true

Kant is not clear as to what constitutes an instnacr of contradiction or stultification.

true

Kant was an absolutist.

true

Kant's theory justifies actions intuitively considered immoral.

true

Kant's theory of morality is non-naturalistic.

true

Kant's theory prohibits actions intuitively considered moral or non moral.

true

Nonaretaic theories claim that virtues are derived from moral principles.

true

One of the problems with natural law theory is that there is no agreement as to what constitutes human nature.

true

Rationality is a virtue.

true

The Categorical Imperative is good only as a means to something else.

true

The determining factor of morality for an aretaic theorist is the agent.

true

The moral virtues are those virtues which are incompatible with an immoral life.

true

The term aretaic comes from the Greek word arete meaning "excellence".

true

Virtue-based theories stress moral examples and/or models.

true

Another term for "categorical".

unconditional

Another name for aretaic theories.

virtue-based theories

Excellences of character (may be either moral or nonmoral).

virtues

According to Kant, although the moral principles are self-evident upon reflection, they are not absolute.

false

According to Kant, empirical principles (principles based on experience) serve as the foundation of moral laws.

false

According to Kant, if a maxim cannot be universalized without contradiction then it is obligatory.

false

According to Kant, one can determine morality by imitating examples.

false

According to Kant, sometimes it is permissible to lie.

false

According to Kant, the supreme principle of morality is the heteronomy of the will.

false

According to Rashdall, intuitionism asserts that actions are right or wrong by referencing their consequences.

false

According to Rashdall, intuitionists must believe that their moral judgements are infallible (i.e., are always correct).

false

According to Rashdall, self-evident truths are truths that are evident to all.

false

According to Ross, duties of fidelity (keeping promises) always override all other duties.

false

Action-based theories reject the virtues.

false

An internal difficulty with Kant's theory of morality is that there is no objective way to evaluate and rank happiness or pleasure.

false

Aretaic theories are also know as Imperative theories.

false

Aretaic theories are never naturalistic.

false

Categorical means "conditional".

false

Courage is the opposite extreme from cowardice.

false

One of the problems for virtue-based theories is that in order to determine the virtues one must know the future.

false

Ross's duties appear to be the principles of a narrow understanding of natural law.

false

Self-evident propositions are incapable of proof.

false

Self-evident propositions are known immediately.

false

Self-evident propositions cannot be denied.

false

The determining factor of morality for the deontologist is the consequence of an action.

false

The traditional view of morality is that if a maxim is universalizable, then it is a moral principle.

false

The traditional view of morality is that universalizability is a sufficient condition for morality.

false

The virtues are determined by identifying that which results in the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number of people.

false

Whereas action-based theories stress "being", virtue-based theories stress "doing".

false

What is the nature of the moral principles according to Ross? Explain in detail what is and is not meant by self-evident principle. How does his deontological approach differ from Butler's and Kant's? Do you find Ross's approach persuasive? Why or why not?

A variety of relations among individuals are morally significant, including promiser-promisee, creditor-debtor, wife-husband, child-parent, friend-friend, and so on. Each of these relations is the foundation of what Ross calls a "prima facie duty". A prima facie duty is a characteristic in which an act has, in virtue of being of a certain kind, at the same time, which is morally significant. The moral principles known intuitionally, may be legitimately overridden when in conflict with another superseding moral principle. Ross's duties appear to be the principles of a broad understanding of natural law. Ross states that the duties are not self-evident. Self-evident means the proposition grounds itself and is not inferred. Self-evident does not mean the proposition is known by all, known to be self-evident, known immediately, incapable of proof, or undeniable. Kant believed that all duties can be derived from a purely formal principle and argued that, in his preoccupation with rational consistency, he neglected the concrete content of moral obligation. Ross came along in the 20th century and argued who held the numerous "prima facie duties", rather than a single formal principle for deriving them, are themselves immediately self-evident. I find Ross's interpretation to be a little too broad; though similar openings are presented in many of these theories, this one seems to particularly allow for anyone to assign whatever "intuitioned" behavior they like to that of a moral act.

According to Aristotle, who has the greatest potential to be the happiest? a) the priest b) the king c) the wise man d) all of the above

c) the wise man

Give a general description of aretaic theories. Explain in detail Aristotle's moral theory. Explain 2 objections that can be raised against pure-aretaic theories. How convincing do you find this approach?

Any theory of morality asserting that the rightness of an action is determined by ones character. They are virtue-based theories. Agent is the determining factor. The purpose is to promote human flourishing. They are naturalistic. There are 3 forms: 1) pure-aretaic: virtues are intrinsic and dominant, moral principles are derived from virtues. 2) complementary ethics: combination of action/virtue principles and values complement each other 3) nonaretaic: moral principles are dominant virtues are derived from moral principles. Aristotle's moral theory is pure-aretaic. It says virtues are intrinsic values which are dominant and moral principles are derived from the virtues. He believes happiness is the greatest good (among health, wealth, friendship, and happiness). Although many other things are required (health, whole of limb, comely) the primary requirement to obtain happiness is virtuousness. There are 2 types of virtue: 1) nonmoral (aka intellectual): contributes to moral life by may be compatible with an immorla life. It is learned by teachers. (Ex: rationality, patience, courage) 2) moral: necessary for moral life and incompatible with an immoral life. It is acquired by repitition (lived to learn) and becomes habitual (Ex: honesty, kindness, fairness, gratitude) It is determined by the Golden Mean or by examples (Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi). 2 objections against pure-aretaic theories are: 1) The virtues are not universal, they are relative to time and place. 2) Difficulty in determining the virtues; there is no reason given why the mean is considered the desirable goal and no objective way to determine the mean. It is one thing to know one should be just, but another to know exactly what this means or how it is manifested in particular situations.

Proponent of a virtue-based theory (person).

Aristotle

Give a general description of deontological theories of morality. Explain in detail Kant's Categorical Imperative. Explain an internal difficulty and an external difficulty that Kant's Categorical Imperative faces. How convincing do you find Kant's approach?

Deontological theories assert that the rightness of an action is determined by its conformity to duty (moral values are never determined by consequence). It is also called non-consequential theory. The act is the determining factor of morality and the purpose of morality is to justly resolve conflicts and maintain order. There are 2 forms of deontological theories. One is the act-deontological: one's duty is determined apart from appealing to rules/principles. The other is rule-deontological: one's duty is determined by appealing to rules/principles. The Categorical Imperative states that we act only according to the maxim by which we can at the same time, become universal law. It means universal command. The maxim is the act to be evaluated and is then universalized and asked "what if everybody did it?" The result is evaluated from the universalization to determine whether it is self-defeating, self-stulifying, self-contradictory, or not. If the maxim cannot be universalized without contradiction, it is immoral. If the maxim can be universalized without contradiction, it is permissible. If omitting the maxim, it is obligatory. There are several internal difficulties to the Categorical Imperative. One problem is which maxim to universalize. It is also not clear what counts as a contradiction. There is no way to adjudicate between 2 conflicting moral principles. An external difficulty with the Categorical Imperative is that it is counter-intuitive. With Kant's thoery, one can justify actions intuitively is considered immoral such as genocide. I do not find Kant's approach to be very convincing based on the internal and external difficulties.

The proponent of the Categorical Imperative (person).

Kant

Objectivist-rule ethicist asserting that the moral principles (duties) are known intuitively (person).

Ross

Of the following, who embraces a broad interpretation of natural law? a) Lewis b) Aristotle c) Aquinas d) none of the above

a) Lewis

The determining factor of morality for aretaic theories is the a) agent b) act c) consequences d) none of the above

a) agent

Any theory of morality asserting that the rightness of an action is determined by one's character is a) aretaic b) teleological c) deontological d) all of the above

a) aretaic

According to Kant, rational beings are called a) humans' b) animals c) men d) none of the above

a) humans

According to Kant, imperatives are either categorical or a) hypothetical b) conjunctive c) theoretical d) none of the above

a) hypothetical

If a proposition is self-evident this means a) it is not inferred b) it is known to be self-evident c) it is known by all d) all of the above

a) it is not inferred

According to Ross, the self-evident duties are analogous to a) mathematical/logical truths b) scientific truths c) historical truths d) none of the above

a) mathematical/logical truths

Kant appears to treat universalizability as a a) sufficient condition for morality b) necessary condition for morality c) deficient condition for morality d) none of the above

a) sufficient condition for morality

The Categorical Imperative is a philosophical expression of a) the Golden Rule b) the Ten Commandments c) the Hedonistic Calculus d) none of the above

a) the Golden Rule

The determining factor of morality for deontological theories.

act

Determining factor of morality for aretaic theories.

agent

The determining factor of morality for the deontologist is the a) agent b) act c) consequences d) none of the above

b) act

The phrase prima facie means a) primary fact b) first face c) primary duty d) none of the above

b) first face

According to Aristotle, what defines man more than anything else? a) reason b) happiness c) virtuous d) all of the above

b) happiness

According to Aristotle, being virtuous is a a) sufficient condition for happiness b) necessary condition for happiness c) unnecessary condition for happiness d) none of the above

b) necessary condition for happiness

According to Kant, breaking a promise is a) sometimes morally necessary b) permissible c) always permissible d) none of the above

b) permissible

According to Kant, if a maxim can be universalized without contradiction it is a) immoral b) permissible c) obligatory d) none of the above

b) permissible

One of the problems with virtue-based theories is that a) it is impossible to know all the consequences of one's actions b) the virtues are not universal c) there are difficulties surrounding which maxim to universalize d) none of the above

b) the virtues are not universal

Which of the following claims that the moral principles are never overridable? a) act-deontology b) objectivist rule-deontology c) absolutist rule-deontology d) none of the above

c) absolutist rule-deontology

Nonmoral virtues are a) acquired by repetition b) are incompatible with an immoral life c) are learned from teachers d) all of the above

c) are learned from teachers

Asking the question, "What would Jesus do?" is most compatible with which ethical theory? a) deontological b) teleological c) aretaic d) none of the above

c) aretaic

Which of the following is not an internal difficulty faced by Kant's Categorical Imperative? a) which maxim to universalize b) resolving conflicting obligations c) greatest happiness d) all of the above

c) greatest happiness

A moral theory asserting that moral principles are dominant and make up the core of morality and claim that the virtues are derived from moral principles is a) pure-aretaic b) a complementary ethic c) nonaretaic d) none of the above

c) nonaretaic

Aristotle believed that morality was determined by a) the hedonistic calculus b) the Categorical Imperative c) the Golden Mean d) none of the above

c) the Golden Mean

According to Rashdall, which of the following is potential problem with intuitionism? a) different people have different intuitions b) all moral rules - grounded in intuitions - have exceptions c) the existence of contradictory moral intuitions requires an appeal to consequences d) all of the above

d) all of the above

Virtue-based theories a) ask "what should I be?" b) emphasize being c) emphasize moral examples and/or models d) all of the above

d) all of the above

Which of the following is a moral value? a) honesty b) kindness c) fairness d) all of the above

d) all of the above

"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law" is the a) hypothetical imperative b) categorical explanation c) hypothetical explanation d) none of the above

d) none of the above

According to Aristotle, the ultimate good in life is a) virtue b) rationality c) health d) none of the above

d) none of the above

According to Kant, acting according to duty is based on a) feelings b) impulses c) inclinations d) none of the above

d) none of the above

According to Kant, what is the only thing that is good without qualification? a) a gift of fortune b) a gift of nature c) a quality which serves the good will d) none of the above

d) none of the above

Any theory of morality asserting that the rightness of an action is determined by its conformity to duty is a) teleological b) consequential c) virtue-based d) none of the above

d) none of the above

Which of the following was as Intuitionist? a) Mill b) Bentham c) Kant d) None of the above

d) none of the above

Any theory of morality asserting that the rightness of an action is determined by its conformity to duty.

deontological

According to Aristotle, happiness is the sole (only) good in life.

false

According to Aristotle, the ultimate good in life is virtue.

false

Purpose of morality emphasized by aretaic theories.

promote human flourishing