Philosophy Final - review

What was Bentham's ultimate intention in developing his ideas of utilitarianism?

To effect social change by replacing the existing legal system with more socially progressive laws

Which theorist has explored the ethical dimensions of caregiving?

Virginia Held

What is one of the most compelling reasons why the philosopher W.T. Stace considers ethical absolutism to be an effective theory and why he rejects relativism?

We live believing that we are justified in making moral judgments.

A law that is _____ is one that we can be certain is true independently of its application to actual empirical experience.

a priori

Singer wrote that rejecting speciesism does not imply that _____.

all lives are of equal worth

According to Lynn White and others, one reason for our worsening ecologic crisis is _____.

anthropocentric thinking

According to W.T. Stace's analysis in The Concept of Morals, the core belief that defines ethical absolutism is that ____

at least some moral values are objective and independent of all human opinion.

A maxim that commands moral obligations independent of experience or consequences is known as _____.

categorical imperative

Maleika is a critical thinker who has come across conflicting theories in her course of study. To evaluate these theories and determine what is true, she plans to use the criteria established by philosophers William James and W.T. Stace. The theory Maleika identifies as offering her the most subjective satisfaction is the one that _____

confirms the reality of lived experience.

The ultimate goal of moral philosophy is to _____

create a clear theoretical framework to help make sense out of confusing and complex moral experiences.

You hold the ethical view that moral value is determined by fulfilling your duty. This philosophy is known as _____.

deontology

Care ethicists believe that cultivation of _____ is morality than rational control over the emotions.

desirable forms of emotion

For Kant, fulfilling your potential as a moral person involves both developing a clear understanding of the necessary and universal moral laws that apply to all people in all circumstances and _____

developing the good will to actually follow these laws.

The biblical story in the Old Testament of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac serves as a chilling example of _____ theory.

divine command

What is the moral view that human desire and action ought to be directed to achieving pleasure and avoiding pain for one's self?

ethical hedonism

Demetrius believes that judgments about right and wrong depend on the individual. Fiona believes those judgments depend on culture. Demetrius and Fiona's beliefs are both encompassed by _____`

ethical relativism

For Aristotle, _____ is expressed in the Greek word eudaemonia, which means "actively exercising your soul's power."

happiness

People consider an ethical person to be _____

moral

Martha Nussbaum and Zachary Newton work in the field of _____.

narrative ethics

From the ethical absolutist perspective, moral principles are like _____.

objective facts

Care ethics emphasizes the role of _____ in our moral relationships.

others

Kant makes the claim that we cannot love others more than we love _____

ourselves.

First presented in Plato's Republic by Glaucon in conversation with Socrates, the social contract theory assumes that the natural tendency toward _____ drives humans to create and maintain governments that enforce justice.

self- preservation

Camus believed that the fate of the mythical _____ is emblematic of the human condition; we live our lives in an "unintelligible and limited universe" devoid of intrinsic meaning.

sisyphus

Existentialist thinkers share a common commitment to placing _____ at the center of all philosophical analysis.

the individual

Through nonviolent protest, the Indian spiritual and political leader Mohandas Gandhi helped his nation achieve independence from Britain by promoting _____.

universal tolerance

Similar to Aristotle, you believe that ethics are based on the moral quality of individuals, rather than their actions. This philosophy is called _____.

virtue ethics

Reflecting the public nature of morality, the Latin word moralis means _____

custom

Which of the following terms means "a moral law"?

maxims

Zachary Newton speaks of _____ claims established in the process of telling a story.

reciprocal

In his article "Egoism and Moral Skepticism", moral philosopher James Rachel refutes psychological egoism as he clarifies that actually constitutes selfish and unselfish behavior. Based on his philosophical reasoning, what behavior does Rachels finally accept as being truly selfish?

"Ignoring another's needs when it is possible to do otherwise" is the correct answer.

What do divine command theory and natural law ethics have in common?

A metaphysical grounding

What is entelechy?

A principle that reveals that all events occur according to a natural design

Moral philosophy helps critical thinkers refine their moral beliefs. What serves as the strongest evidence of an e enlightened moral conscience that has been produced through such study?

Ability to provide a clear rationale for moral decisions.

According to Kierkegaard, what is the order of stages every person must pass through in order to become an authentic individual?

Aesthetic, ethical, religious

Peter Singer's influential book, _____, argues that the principle of utility should be equally applied to all animals capable of experiencing suffering.

Animal Liberation

Who espoused the Golden Mean, the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency?

Aristotle

Which of the following statements was a belief of Immanuel Kant?

As rational creatures, all people share the same intrinsic worth.

Which choice is most informed by a person's internal moral compass?

Assisting a motorist with flat tire.

Like his philosophical mentor Socrates, what did Kierkegaad believe is paramount in human existence?

Cultivating the individual soul

What is the difference between declarative and normative ethics?

Declarative ethics provides an analysis of moral beliefs without offering any evaluation of them.

Which branch of philosophy is concerned with the natural environment and humans' relationship to it?

Environmental philosophy

Which statement can be fully accepted by an ethical absolutist?

Future generations may be morally enlightened than we are today.

Which of the following pairs of philosophies is correctly matched?

Hedonism and utilitarianism

Which of the following is a question asked by a existentialists?

How do I live my life authentically?

According to James Rachel's analysis of egotism in "Egoism and Moral Skepticism", genuine ethical egotists are rare. How does Rachels account for this supposed rarity?

Human nature is generally not so cold- hearted; most humans act with compassion toward others.

Which personal statement expresses the ethical egotist view of morality that the American writer Ayn Rand defines in her book The Virtue of Selfishness?

I would not be wrong for me to refuse the job simply because my best friend, who also applied, seems to need it more desperately than i need it.

Aristotle established two distinct categories of virtues: intellectual and moral. What is the difference in how these two categories are developed?

Intellectual virtues require a great deal of formal instruction whereas moral virtues are developed mainly through consistent and ongoing practice.

What did Nietzsche believe is the effect of the "marketplace" mentality?

It inhibits individual's pursuit of excellence and leads to the creation of a slave morality.

In the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" Dr. Martin King Jr. claims that an individual who breaks an unjust law is actually expressing the highest respect for law. What moral belief provides King support for this claim?

It is wrong to obey unjust laws, which do not adequately reflect the natural law, which is rooted in eternal law.

Who brought a powerful and creative vision to Jeremy Bentham's utilitarianism as well as many other areas of inquiry?

John Stuart Mill

According to St. Thomas Aquinas's hierarchy of laws, human lawgivers are responsible for creating virtuous laws that reflect _____ Law, which reflects _____ Law.

Natural / Divine

You behave compassionately toward another person, but you do so only because you feels it is expected of you. According to Aristotle, is this an authentically moral action?

No. The compassionate action doesn't really count if you are not willing to do it intentionally and for its own sake.

What role does altruism play in Ayn Rand's version of ethical egotism found in her book The Virtue of Selfishness?

Opposition to true morality

Bentham wrote,"Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters. " What are they?

Pain and pleasure

Philosopher _____ argues that the interests of all sentient beings should be taken into consideration, not just humans.

Peter Singer

What is the difference between ethical egotism and psychological egotism?

Psychological egotism claims that human action is never self- sacrificing.

How does an ethical absolutist interpret the fact that there is a diversity of moral values across cultures?

Some people are not yet as morally enlightened as others.

Aristotle's major work in the area of virtue ethics is called _____.

The Nicomachean Ethics

An early example that stories can teach us something besides the moral of the story is _____.

The Platonic dialogues

Recall the "lifeboat" scenario in which you imagine yourself as the captain of a wrecked ship who must decide on whether to throw some people off the crowded lifeboat to keep it afloat or to allow all the survivors, including yourself, to drown. What is the moral dilemma posed by the scenario?

The moral principles applicable to the situation contradict each other.

What is the difference between divine command theory and natural law ethics?

The theory of natural law ethics hold that moral truths can be discovered through human reason.