Chapter 3 Practice Quiz

Which of the following in NOT a major approach to study the phenomenon of moral differences? Ethical egoism Soft universalism Hard universalism Ethical relativism

Ethical egoism

Which one of these four arguments is NOT a main argument against ethical relativism? If ethical relativism is followed to its logical conclusion, then there will be no basis for condemning or praising other cultures. In ethical relativism it is hard to determine whether the morality is professed morality or the actual morality of the majority in a group. Ethical relativism forces us to bow to majority rule. Ethical relativism permits people to do anything they want, since there are no universal moral rules.

Ethical relativism permits people to do anything they want, since there are no universal moral rules.

According to the text, multiculturalism failed in Germany because the law mandated each immigrant to know the German language. True False

False

Benedict tells of the Northwest Coast Indians that when the chief's sister died the tribe set out to find the culprits who killed her and kill them. True False

False

Cultural relativism is a normative theory. True False

False

Hard universalism is the theory that we are each entitled to our own moral opinion and that there is no universal moral code. True False

False

One of the universal cultural values suggested by James Rachels is a rule against incest. True False

False

Ruth Benedict claims that what is normal for a culture is not what is moral in that culture. True False

False

Since we can verify that the earth is round, we can also verify which moral viewpoints are better than others. True False

False

The moral nihilist believes that there are no universal moral values; that is, each culture has its own set of rules that are valid for that culture. True False

False

The problem of induction is that it persuades people to think for themselves. True False

False

There is no difference between what is moral and what is legal. True False

False

Who argues that there is a culture-neutral standard: "Whether the social practice in question is harmful or beneficial to the people who are affected by it."? Alice Walker James Rachels Bhikhu Parekh Ruth Benedict

James Rachels

Who expresses the claim "Mankind has always preferred to say, It is morally good," rather than "it is habitual."... But historically the two phrases are synonymous"? Alice Walker James Rachels Ruth Benedict Bhikhu Parekh

Ruth Benedict

Suppose a mother is part of a community that generally supports the idea that both parents should work and contribute to a middle class standard of living. Furthermore, she is also part of a religious community that believes that mothers should remain at home and raise children even if it means having a lower standard of living. According to the theory of ethical relativism, the mother should do which of the following? She can choose to either work or stay at home as she will be moral in either case. She would still be following the moral conventions of at least one of the groups. Ethical relativism fails to say what she should do, since she is a member of two different cultures with conflicting moral values. This illustrates one of the shortcomings of ethical relativism. She should work as then she would be following the moral conventions of the larger, more inclusive culture. She should stay at home as that would allow her to follow the moral conventions of her religion, which trumps all other groups.

She can choose to either work or stay at home as she will be moral in either case. She would still be following the moral conventions of at least one of the groups.

Which of the following is NOT true of Ruth Benedict's theory of ethical relativism? The majority of any group conforms to the values of the group; the deviants are a few. The concept of the normal is a variant of the concept of good in a cultural context. Some cultures use immoral solutions to problems. Normality is culturally defined.

Some cultures use immoral solutions to problems.

What do the three theories of moral nihilism, moral skepticism, and moral subjectivism have in common apart from their mutual rejection of universal moral values? They have no conflict-solving capacities. They are typically selfish theories. They are sexist. They have nothing else in common.

They have no conflict-solving capacities.

What do moral subjectivism and ethical relativism have in common? They have excellent problem-solving capacities. They force us to bow to majority rule. They have nothing in common. They view moral values as relative.

They view moral values as relative.

A good way to test a moral theory is to examine its capacity for solving problems. True False

True

A normative ethical theory involves a moral judgment, evaluation, or justification. True False

True

Benedict states that morality is culturally defined. True False

True

Cultural relativism states that different cultures have different moral codes. True False

True

Ethical relativism cannot logically make a claim that tolerance is universally good, since it also claims that there are no universal values. True False

True

Ethical relativism is a normative theory. True False

True

Inclusive multiculturalism is also referred to as pluralism. True False

True

King Darius found that the Callatians refused to give up eating their dead. True False

True

One of the arguments against ethical relativism is that the theory does not distinguish between the actual morality and the professed morality of a culture. True False

True

Soft universalism claims there are some underlying values all cultures share. True False

True

Some cultures feel that it is their moral duty to dispose of their seniors when they become unproductive. True False

True

According to Rachels, there are at least three universal moral values. Which one of these is NOT on his list? a rule against lying a rule against murder a rule against incest a policy of caring for enough infants to keep society going

a rule against incest

Naturalism holds the viewpoint that there is no ultimate moral foundation for our laws. Laws are based on mere consensus. laws reflects or ought to reflect a set of universal moral standards, standards that apply to all people. some laws are contextual and relative and others reflect universal moral standards. laws reflect or ought to reflect values found throughout all of nature and the animal kingdom.

laws reflects or ought to reflect a set of universal moral standards, standards that apply to all people.

The problem of induction is a problem for ethical relativism because induction does not distinguish between actual and professed morality. according to induction the key argument proposed by ethical relativism is faulty. with induction it can never be known for certain whether enough material has been accumulated to conclude that there are no universal moral values. induction persuades people to think for themselves instead of following cultural norms.

with induction it can never be known for certain whether enough material has been accumulated to conclude that there are no universal moral values.