PHIL 103 Unit 1 Quiz Questions

(T/F) An inductive argument that manages to give probable support to the conclusion is said to be valid.

False

(T/F) Cultural relativism applies only when considering cultures from countries other than one's own.

False

(T/F) To a nonconsequentialist, telling a lie is wrong primarily because it results in bad consequences.

False

(T/F) A moral theory that is internally inconsistent is not eligible for further evaluation.

True

Believing that you can establish all your moral beliefs by consulting your feelings is an example of a) objectivism. b) subjectivism. c) critical scrutiny. d) relativism.

b) subjectivism.

(T/F) A moral theory is equivalent to a moral code.

False

(T/F) According to the author, if one's religious moral code gives conflicting advice on whether it is permissible to drink alcohol, then moral philosophy cannot provide any guidance because the conflict can only be resolved by interpreting religious texts.

False

(T/F) All norms are moral norms.

False

(T/F) An example of moral reasoning is avoiding actions whenever you feel disgusted by them.

False

(T/F) A typical moral argument consists of premises and a conclusion, with the conclusion being a nonmoral statement, or judgment.

False

(T/F) According to the author, in building a moral theory, the most important concern is to include multiple absolute rules.

False

(T/F) All major religious thinkers have accepted the divine command theory.

False

(T/F) Cultural relativists can consistently claim that tolerance of other cultures is morally right everywhere.

False

(T/F) Feelings do not play an important role in our moral experience.

False

(T/F) Religious moral codes typically provide clear and direct answers to all moral questions.

False

(T/F) Social reformers are always right in the view of a cultural relativist.

False

(T/F) The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same term in an argument is known as faulty analogy.

False

(T/F) There are never any good reasons for treating someone differently from the way we treat others.

False

(T/F) When you strictly follow the moral rules passed down to you from others, you are doing ethics.

False

(T/F) One's considered moral judgments can be mistaken.

True

Which of the following is MOST likely an implied premise in the following argument? "It is wrong to lie, because lying is unnatural." a) It is wrong to lie. b) All unnatural actions are wrong. c) Lying has bad consequences. d) Unnatural actions are forbidden by God.

b) All unnatural actions are wrong.

To a cultural relativist, when someone says, "Capital punishment is wrong," what is that person really saying? a) "I personally disapprove of capital punishment." b) "My culture says that capital punishment is wrong." c) "I am expressing a purely emotional response." d) "Everyone should think capital punishment is wrong."

b) "My culture says that capital punishment is wrong."

The first step in assessing a theory is to ensure that the theory meets the minimum requirement of a) equilibrium. b) simplicity. c) fruitfulness. d) coherence.

d) coherence.

An argument that is supposed to give logically conclusive support to its conclusion is said to be a) hypothetical. b) inductive. c) invalid. d) deductive.

d) deductive.

Which view says that an action may be morally right for a person even if no one, even the person himself, approves of it? a) cultural relativism b) subjective relativism c) emotivism d) objectivism

d) objectivism

(T/F) Modus ponens is symbolized by the following: if p, then q; p; therefore, q.

True

(T/F) Moral agents can be mistaken about their moral experience.

True

(T/F) Nothing is truly good or bad, according to emotivists.

True

(T/F) Many great religious thinkers have relied on reason to understand the truths of morality.

True

(T/F) A cultural relativist will agree with this statement: "It is morally permissible to smoke marijuana in Amsterdam if the culture of Amsterdam approves of it.

True

(T/F) All divisions of ethics concern both values and obligations. These two topics are similar in that they both concern things that we care about—things that we can favor or oppose.

True

(T/F) An inductive argument is not intended to provide decisive support to its conclusion.

True

(T/F) Emotivists believe that moral judgments are about feelings rather than the truth or falsity of moral statements.

True

(T/F) Ethical egoism says that the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil for oneself.

True

(T/F) Hasty generalization is a fallacy of inductive reasoning.

True

(T/F) If a moral belief such as "Equals should be treated equally" is self-evident, then we can be confident that it is true, unless we find good evidence against it.

True

(T/F) If money is instrumentally valuable, then having a paying job is also instrumentally valuable.

True

(T/F) The statement "Shoplifting is wrong" attempts to influence others' attitudes about shoplifting, according to emotivists.

True

(T/F) This statement is morally sound for subjective relativists: "If I think that inflicting pain on an innocent child for no reason is right (that is, I approve of such an action), then the action is right."

True

Which of the following BEST describes the relationship between a moral theory and considered moral judgment? a) A moral theory is shaped by considered moral judgments and can help adjudicate conflicts among those judgments and other moral statements. b) A moral theory allows us to overturn and reject the considered moral judgments that have always seemed doubtful. c) A moral theory informs our considered moral judgments and is the ultimate test of whether those judgments are true. d) A moral theory summarizes our considered moral judgments and cannot give us information beyond what those judgments tell us.

a) A moral theory is shaped by considered moral judgments and can help adjudicate conflicts among those judgments and other moral statements.

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.

Which of the following is true according to subjective relativism? a) I cannot be mistaken about what is morally right for me. b) I cannot be mistaken about what is morally right for other people. c) I sometimes make mistakes about what is morally right. d) If most people believe an action is wrong, then it really is wrong.

a) I cannot be mistaken about what is morally right for me.

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.

a) Its value comes from its use as a tool.

What is an implied premise? a) a premise that is not explicitly stated b) a premise that is implied as a conclusion of another premise c) a premise that refers to the main topic of the argument d) a premise that does not refer to the main topic of the argument

a) a premise that is not explicitly stated

What is a negative right? a) an obligation for others to not prevent us from obtaining something b) an obligation for others to give up something for our benefit c) a right to harm oneself, as long as one does not harm others d) a right to avoid participating in certain obligations

a) an obligation for others to not prevent us from obtaining something

Cognitivism is the view that moral statements a) can be true or false. b) are neither true nor false. c) cannot be understood. d) express cognitive emotions.

a) can be true or false.

A strong inductive argument with true premises is said to be a) cogent. b) invalid. c) valid. d) sound.

a) cogent

Which of the following must an adequate moral theory be consistent with? a) considered moral judgments b) social norms c) legal norms d) other moral theories

a) considered moral judgments

Nonconsequentialist moral theories say that the rightness of an action a) does not depend entirely on its consequences. b) depends on a moral code. c) depends on the amount of good it produces. d) does not depend on its form.

a) does not depend entirely on its consequences.

The fallacy of assigning two different meanings to the same term in an argument is known as a) equivocation. b) appeal to ignorance. c) straw man. d) begging the question.

a) equivocation.

According to emotivism, if someone says, "No one should eat meat," that person is a) expressing his/her emotions. b) making a sound moral argument. c) suppressing his/her emotional response in order to make an argument. d) an example of a cultural relativist.

a) expressing his/her emotions.

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

Noncognitivism is the view that a) moral judgments are not statements that can be true or false. b) moral judgments are statements. c) moral theories can be true or false. d) moral judgments are almost never true.

a) moral judgments are not statements that can be true or false.

What does normative ethics study? a) principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and judgments b) normative standards in different disciplines c) theories that explain why people behave as they do d) the meaning and logical structure of moral beliefs

a) principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and judgments

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

Ethics, or moral philosophy, is a) the philosoterm-0phical 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.

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

Which of the following is the overall point of the author's discussion of "doing ethics"? a) Most people should rely on wiser authorities to do ethics for them. b) Doing ethics is difficult, but not doing it is foolish. c) Doing ethics is unavoidable for everyone. d) Doing ethics requires many years of careful study.

b) Doing ethics is difficult, but not doing it is foolish.

Which of the following correctly applies the principle of impartiality? a) All moral judgments must be made on a case-by-case basis, setting aside all personal biases. b) Everyone deserves the same treatment, unless there is a morally relevant reason to favor someone. c) A mass murderer deserves the same treatment as a heart surgeon. d) You cannot fairly punish one member of a group unless you punish all of them.

b) Everyone deserves the same treatment, unless there is a morally relevant reason to favor someone.

What is a major difference between descriptive ethics and normative ethics? a) Descriptive ethics cannot be done properly before doing normative ethics. b) Normative ethics implies that some people's moral beliefs are incorrect, whereas descriptive ethics does not. c) Normative ethics concerns moral beliefs, whereas descriptive ethics concerns moral behaviors. d) Descriptive ethics is not a scientific topic of study, whereas normative ethics is.

b) Normative ethics implies that some people's moral beliefs are incorrect, whereas descriptive ethics does not.

How should we evaluate nonmoral premises? a) See whether they are supported by moral premises. b) See whether they are supported by good reasons. c) See whether they are cogent. d) See whether they are logically valid.

b) See whether they are supported by good reasons.

An emotivist would call a moral disagreement about abortion a) a dispute over moral values. b) a disagreement in attitude. c) an example of cognitivism. d) a disagreement in cultures.

b) a disagreement in attitude.

Which actions does divine command theory say are morally right? a) actions that honor the divine b) actions that God commands c) actions agreed upon by religious believers d) actions that maximize the good

b) actions that God commands

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.

The fallacy of arguing that the absence of evidence entitles us to believe a claim is called a) equivocation. b) appeal to ignorance. c) straw man. d) hasty generalization.

b) appeal to ignorance.

Cultural relativism implies that the abolition of slavery in the United States a) may or may not represent moral progress. b) cannot be regarded as moral progress. d) cannot be explained. c) represents moral progress.

b) cannot be regarded as moral progress.

An argument in the logical sense is a a) group of unconnected statements. b) group of statements, one of which is supposed to be supported by the rest. c) group of statements that leads to a question. d) heated exchange of views.

b) group of statements, one of which is supposed to be supported by the rest.

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

If you believe that some moral principles are valid for everyone, regardless of culture or moral outlook, you subscribe to a) metaethics. b) objectivism. c) emotivism. d) moral ethics.

b) objectivism.

The phrases "because," "given that," "due to the fact that," and "for the reason that" are a) conclusion indicators. b) premise indicators. c) statements. d) statement indicators.

b) premise indicators.

A theory in conflict with one's basic moral experiences is a) subjective. b) probably false. c) neither true nor false. d) most certainly false.

b) probably false.

Morality refers to beliefs about a) legal and moral standards. b) right and wrong, good and bad. c) praise and punishment. d) typical behavior in one's society.

b) right and wrong, good and bad.

Objectivism is the view that a) moral utterances are neither true nor false. b) some moral principles are valid for everyone. c) moral principles are rigid rules that have no exceptions. d) there are no objective moral principles.

b) some moral principles are valid for everyone.

The dominance of moral norms suggests that if a speed limit on a highway conflicts with a person's moral duty to rush a dying man to the hospital, then a) the moral duty would sanction any method whatsoever of getting the dying man to the hospital. b) the moral duty would take precedence over the legal duty. c) neither the legal duty nor the moral duty would apply. d) the moral duty would be as weighty as the legal duty.

b) the moral duty would take precedence over the legal duty.

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

In the conditional statement "If an action has good consequences, then it is a good action," which of these is the consequent? a) "an action has good consequences" b) "consequences" c) "it is a good action" d) the whole statement

c) "it is a good action"

Premise indicator words include a) "it follows that" and "thus." b) "therefore" and "consequently." c) "since" and "given that." d) "hence" and "so."

c) "since" and "given that."

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.

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.

If you and I belong to the same culture, and I say capital punishment is always wrong, whereas you say capital punishment is sometimes right, which statement is true according to cultural relativism? a) We are not having a moral disagreement. b) We are having a moral disagreement that cannot be resolved. c) We can resolve our disagreement through an opinion poll. d) Our disagreement is a disagreement in attitudes, not a disagreement in beliefs.

c) We can resolve our disagreement through an opinion poll.

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.

What is the fallacy used in the following passage? "John argues that active euthanasia is sometimes morally acceptable. But we can reject out of hand anything he has to say because he's an ultraconservative." a) appeal to authority b) begging the question c) appeal to the person d) equivocation

c) appeal to the person

Which field concerns questions such as "Was this abortion permissible?" or "Was this instance of mercy killing immoral?" a) descriptive ethics b) metaethics c) applied ethics d) normative ethics

c) applied ethics

Which form does the following argument have? "Nonhuman animals do not have rights. And if nonhuman animals did have rights, it would be wrong to eat meat. Therefore, it is not wrong to eat meat." a) affirming the consequent b) modus ponens c) denying the antecedent d) modus tollens

c) denying the antecedent

According to the author, which of the following is crucial to good writing and speaking about moral issues? a) defending a position that is widely accepted or traditional b) making clear that there is no wrong answer to the questions c) honestly and thoroughly considering alternative views d) including implicit premises in your argument

c) honestly and thoroughly considering alternative views

In arguing against the divine command theory, many critics insist that a) if an action is right only because God wills it, then many evil actions would be right for believers but wrong for nonbelievers. b) if an action is right only because God wills it, then all actions are right. c) if an action is right only because God wills it, then many evil actions would be right if God willed them. d) God has the power to will actions to be morally permissible.

c) if an action is right only because God wills it, then many evil actions would be right if God willed them.

Subjective relativism implies that when a person states their moral beliefs, that person is a) incapable of making moral judgments. b) morally fallible. c) incapable of being in error. d) infallible on some moral judgments, but not others.

c) incapable of being in error.

Cultural relativists would say that if an action is morally right in one culture a) it must be morally right in all cultures. b) it must be because of that culture's religious beliefs. c) it can be morally wrong in another culture. d) a geographically close culture will also deem the action morally right.

c) it can be morally wrong in another culture.

Even if the basic argument for cultural relativism fails, it is an appealing doctrine to many people because a) it encourages curiosity about other cultures. b) it endorses objectivism. c) it seems to promote tolerance toward other cultures. d) it does not allow for emotional responses.

c) it seems to promote tolerance toward other cultures.

A statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person is good or bad is called a(n) a) implied premise. b) inductive premise. c) moral statement. d) nonmoral statement.

c) moral statement.

The preeminence of reason refers to the a) times when our emotions overwhelm our reason. b) gap between our feelings and our reason. c) overriding importance of critical reasoning in ethics. d) guidance that conscience gives to our reason.

c) overriding importance of critical reasoning in ethics.

Consequentialist moral theories say that what makes an action right is its a) sequential order. b) relationship to virtue. c) results. d) conformity with cultural norms

c) results.

A valid deductive argument with true premises is said to be a) strong. b) cogent. c) sound. d) fit.

c) sound.

Deductive arguments are a) supposed to offer probable support for their conclusions. b) usually valid. c) supposed to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions. d) usually invalid.

c) supposed to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions.

Not thinking too deeply or too systematically about ethical concerns a) ensures that no moral dilemmas arise. b) helps guide you to moral truth. c) undermines your personal freedom. d) isolates you from other people.

c) undermines your personal freedom.

Which of these is a method to test the truth of a moral premise? a) appealing to basic assumptions b) checking for cogency c) using counterexamples d) checking for validity

c) using counterexamples

Which statement would the author most likely agree with, based on what he states in this chapter? a) Religious believers tend to have more detailed moral beliefs than nonbelievers do. b) Religious believers tend not to think about morality as much as nonbelievers do. c) If your moral beliefs depend on your religious views, it is important to be able to convince others of your religious views before presenting your moral beliefs. d) Because we live with people who have different religious views, we need standards for moral reasoning that do not depend on any particular religious views.

d) Because we live with people who have different religious views, we need standards for moral reasoning that do not depend on any particular religious views.

Which of the following is a consequence of the principle of universalizability? a) If harming someone is wrong in a particular situation, then harming someone would be wrong in all situations. b) A person's morality is dictated by his or her culture-wide morality. c) The moral rules implied by your behavior apply to everyone, even in dissimilar situations. d) If harming someone is wrong in a particular situation, then harming someone would be wrong for anyone in a relevantly similar situation.

d) If harming someone is wrong in a particular situation, then harming someone would be wrong for anyone in a relevantly similar situation.

Miguel believes that it is wrong for a doctor to assist a patient in committing suicide. To convince others of this, he provides the reason that it is up to God when someone dies, not up to humans. According to the author, what would be a major limitation of Miguel's strategy for convincing others to share his belief? a) Miguel is a religious believer, and so anything he says must be doubted. b) If we assume his reason is correct, that would have far-reaching implications. c) His strategy is limited because reasons are less important than feelings. d) People with different religious views may not accept this reason.

d) People with different religious views may not accept this reason.

Consider the argument "If a fetus is a person, then it is wrong to kill a fetus. But it is wrong to kill a fetus. Therefore, a fetus is a person." How do we apply the counterexample method to test the validity of this argument? a) Provide an example of a fetus that is not a person. b) Provide a reason to believe that it is wrong to kill a fetus. c) Provide an example where it is not wrong to kill a fetus. d) Provide a twin argument with the same form that is obviously invalid.

d) Provide a twin argument with the same form that is obviously invalid.

Central to emotivism is the view that moral judgments are not statements that can be true or false. What does emotivism add to this view? a) That moral emotions are objectively right or wrong. b) That correct moral judgments are guided by emotions. c) That moral statements, unlike moral judgments, can be true or false. d) That moral judgments express attitudes and influence others to share those attitudes.

d) That moral judgments express attitudes and influence others to share those attitudes.

If I say that violence is never morally permissible, and you say that violence is sometimes morally permissible, then which statement is true according to subjective relativism? a) We are having a moral disagreement, and I am right. b) We are having a moral disagreement, and we are both right. c) We are having a moral disagreement, and neither of us is right. d) We are not having a moral disagreement.

d) We are not having a moral disagreement.

Which of these questions belongs to metaethics? a) What moral beliefs do cultures embody? b) What is the meaning of life from a moral perspective? c) What theories of ethics do individuals endorse? d) What does it mean for an action to be right?

d) What does it mean for an action to be right?

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.

A valid deductive argument is defined as an argument with a) true premises. b) premises that suggest that the conclusion is probably true. c) true premises and a true conclusion. d) a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.

d) a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.

A valid deductive argument is defined as an argument with a) true premises. b) premises that suggest that the conclusion is probably true. c) true premises and a true conclusion. d) a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.

d) a conclusion that must be true if the premises are true.

What is a moral theory? a) an explanation of what causes people to act morally or immorally b) an explanation of how moral norms affect people's behavior c) an explanation of how people apply moral norms in their lives d) an explanation of what makes an action right or what makes a person or thing good

d) an explanation of what makes an action right or what makes a person or thing good

What is the fallacy used in the following passage? "No one can prove that a fetus is not a person from the moment of conception. So, a fetus must be accorded full moral rights as soon as it is conceived." a) faulty analogy b) slippery slope c) appeal to the person d) appeal to ignorance

d) appeal to ignorance

Applied ethics is the a) application of normative ethics to metaethics. b) study of the principles and rules that everyone accepts. c) application of society's rules to one's own life. d) application of moral norms to specific moral issues or cases.

d) application of moral norms to specific moral issues or cases.

A group of statements, one of which is supported by the rest, is called a(n) a) conclusion. b) premise. c) indicator. d) argument.

d) argument

Which view says that moral judgments ascribe moral properties to actions or people and are statements that can be true or false? a) universalizability b) emotivism c) noncognitivism d) cognitivism

d) cognitivism

A moral statement is a a) statement asserting that a state of affairs is actual (true or false) without assigning a moral value to it. b) statement asserting a valid moral argument. c) statement affirming that an action is bad or that a person is bad. d) statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person (or one's motive or character) is good or bad.

d) statement affirming that an action is right or wrong or that a person (or one's motive or character) is good or bad.

Which view holds that there is no objective morality and that cultural norms do not make something right or wrong but rather that individuals do? a) emotivism b) descriptive ethics c) cultural relativism d) subjective relativism

d) subjective relativism

Inductive arguments are a) intended to supplement deductive arguments. b) supposed to give logically conclusive support to their conclusions. c) intended to be abductive. d) supposed to offer only probable support for their conclusions.

d) supposed to offer only probable support for their conclusions.