PHI 115 - Chapter 1 REVIEW

(CH 1) All major religious thinkers have accepted the divine command theory. True False

False

(CH 1) All norms are moral norms. True False

False

(CH 1) Feelings do not play an important role in our moral experience. True False

False

(CH 1) Religious moral codes typically provide clear and direct answers to all moral questions. True False

False

(CH 1) There are never any good reasons for treating someone differently from the way we treat others. True False

False

(CH 1) According to Christopher Phillips, the Socratic Method "compels us to explore alternative perspectives, asking what must be said for or against each". True False

True

(CH 1) Many great religious thinkers have relied on reason to understand the truths of morality. True False

True

(CH 1) Which of the following BEST summarizes the Euthyphro dilemma that Socrates raises for divine command theory? a) Either actions are morally right because God wills them to be so, or God commands actions because they are right, and both options lead to problems for divine command theory. b) If God gives commands that humans cannot follow, we will not have any useful guidance on how to act. c) God cannot simply will actions to be right without having a reason to think that they are right, so God relies on moral reasoning just like humans do. d) The divine command theory must be wrong because God's commands conflict and leave out important details.

a) Either actions are morally right because God wills them to be so, or God commands actions because they are right, and both options lead to problems for divine command theory.

(CH 1) Which field would study the following question: "What does it mean for an action to be wrong?" a) metaethics b) normative ethics c) descriptive ethics d) applied ethics

a) metaethics

(CH 1) What is the dominance of moral norms? a) that moral norms override nonmoral norms when there is a conflict b) that nonmoral considerations are allowed to dominate over moral norms c) that moral norms derive their power from a dominating force, such as a threat of violence d) that moral norms are just one kind of norm, among many other kinds

a) that moral norms override nonmoral norms when there is a conflict

(CH 1) Ethics, or moral philosophy, is a) the philosophical study of topics such as right and wrong, good and bad. b) the study of social roles and the ways they have changed over time. c) the study of religious texts and principles to determine their best interpretation. d) the scientific study of human beliefs about what is right or wrong, good or bad.

a) the philosophical study of topics such as right and wrong, good and bad.

(CH 1) Which of the following is required by the principle of impartiality? a) to justify any discriminatory treatment by providing morally relevant differences b) to treat everyone exactly the same in all situations c) to set aside your individual biases and do whatever is favored by the group d) to always put the interests of others before your own

a) to justify any discriminatory treatment by providing morally relevant differences

(CH 1) What does it mean if something is instrumentally valuable? a) Its value comes from its use as a tool. b) It is a means to obtaining something intrinsically valuable. c) It is not intrinsically valuable. d) It is psychologically valuable, because we believe it is valuable.

b) It is a means to obtaining something intrinsically valuable.

(CH 1) The principle of universalizability demands that a moral statement that applies to one situation must apply in: a) no other situations. b) all other situations that are relevantly similar. c) all situations involving the same people. d) all other situations.

b) all other situations that are relevantly similar.

(CH 1) Which field studies the moral principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and judgments? a) metaethics b) normative ethics c) descriptive ethics d) applied ethics

b) normative ethics

(CH 1) What is descriptive ethics? a) the philosophical study of right and wrong through the use of descriptive details b) the scientific study of moral beliefs and practices c) the ethical rules and principles concerning the proper way to give descriptions d) the interpretation of great moral writings

b) the scientific study of moral beliefs and practices

(CH 1) Which of the following statements BEST summarizes what the author describes as important features of ethics? a) Ethics requires that we always set aside our feelings and make decisions based on universally accepted rules. b) Ethics allows us to make exceptions to moral norms when legal or aesthetic norms override them. c) Ethics requires that we be able to give good reasons for our judgments, especially when we judge that two people should be treated differently. d) Ethics allows us to consider both sides of moral issues and helps us see how both sides are right in some sense.

c) Ethics requires that we be able to give good reasons for our judgments, especially when we judge that two people should be treated differently.

(CH 1) Which of the following is a reason that religious believers need to do ethics? a) All major religions and religious thinkers promote ethical behavior. b) Religious moral codes provide guidance on how to live or what to do. c) Religious rules of conduct sometimes conflict with each other or with our beliefs. d) Many people do not follow the rules laid down in their religion.

c) Religious rules of conduct sometimes conflict with each other or with our beliefs.

(CH 1) Which of the following statements BEST summarizes the disadvantages of trying to avoid doing ethics? a) You will never be sure whether your actions are ethical in the eyes of God. b) You will be forced to allow other people to hold different moral beliefs, and you will have to admit that your beliefs are no better than anyone else's. c) You will not really be in control of your own choices, and you will run a risk of being lost if your moral beliefs do not answer certain questions. d) You will have to deny that anything is morally wrong and accept that all actions are morally permissible.

c) You will not really be in control of your own choices, and you will run a risk of being lost if your moral beliefs do not answer certain questions.

(CH 1) Assume that human life is intrinsically valuable. Which of these conclusions is BEST supported by that assumption? a) Whatever helps humans gain knowledge is instrumentally valuable. b) Whatever raises the quality of human life is intrinsically valuable. c) Whatever humans value is intrinsically valuable. d) Whatever helps humans stay alive is instrumentally valuable.

d) Whatever helps humans stay alive is instrumentally valuable.