Ethics - Chpt 6
Jeff is thinking about stealing a really nice TV from his neighbor, Amir. The maxim of his action would be "Steal any time you want something." However, because he wouldn't want to live in a world where everyone acted on that maxim, his action would be judged wrong by the ________ formulation of the categorical imperative. eff really wants to steal Amir's TV, though, so he decides to base his action on a maxim that would make it morally acceptable ________
1st - First 2nd- Steal TVs from Amir in apartment C17 any time you want
Kant illustrates his system of ethics by using the example of making a lying promise in order to get a loan. The maxim that would underlie this action is ______. If everyone acted on that maxim, then ________. Therefore, making a lying promise is _______
1st - if you need money, lie to get it 2nd - no one would give out loans 3rd - morally wrong
According to Kant, a "good will" is unconditionally good because ____, not because _______. his is one reason why Kant's ethics is an example of ______
1st - it is good in itself 2nd - it motivates people to take actions that have good effects 3rd- deontology
Click or tap on the passage from Kant that expresses the categorical imperative.
action that could be a universal law.
Natural law theory involves a strong respect for human life. Kant's ethics includes the means-ends principle. What is the difference between these ideas?
The means-end principle applies to persons, not human beings.
According to Kant, how are the first version of the categorical imperative and the means-ends principle related to one another?
The means-end principle is one version of the categorical imperative.
Why does Kant think that courage, perseverance, and intelligence are not unconditionally good?
They can each be used for bad purposes.
One argument in favor of capital punishment for murderers is that it deters future criminals from committing crimes. Why would Kant reject this argument?
This uses criminals as mere means to society's ends, not as ends in themselves.
According to Kant, which of the following gives someone intrinsic value and dignity?
being a person
Suppose that Sam makes a promise to pay back a loan to Mary, while having no intention of paying it back. Kant believes that such an action is wrong. One reason is that the maxim for such an action cannot be universalized. What is another reason Kant thinks that Sam's action is wrong?
it treats Mary as mere means.
Which of the following is an accurate representation of the means-ends principle? Which of the following is not an accurate representation?
- Always treat persons as ends in themselves, and never as mere means to an end. -
According to Aquinas, human nature is the result of ______. Aquinas also believes that understanding the natural law that determines morality ________
- God's creation - can be done by reason alone
Katherine is a doctor with a patient that needs brain surgery, or they will have a severely shortened life. However, Katherine is worried, because a side effect of the surgery will be that the patient will lose their sense of smell. If Katherine decided to go ahead with the surgery, which of the following judgments would natural law theory make about that choice?
- Katherine's action is good. - Katherine foresees some bad effects as a result of her action.
Natural law theory can conflict with our considered moral judgments because it is absolutist. For instance, natural law theory would say that it is wrong to lie to a terrorist in order to give them a false target and save hundreds of lives. What claims lead natural law theory to make such a judgment? Click or tap on the claims below.
- Lying is always bad. - it is wrong to perform a bad action in order to achieve a good result.
Why, according to Kant's ethics, would it be morally impermissible to refuse to pay one's taxes while still benefiting from the government?
- One would not be willing to live in a world where no one paid their taxes. - Such an action involves a contradiction.
Sort the following objections to natural law theory according to whether or not they involve the moral criteria of adequacy.
- The doctrine of double effect says that bad actions are wrong even when they are necessary to prevent catastrophes. - Natural law theory's absolutism conflicts with considered moral judgments. - People have widely different conceptions of human nature.
In what way does Kantian ethics suggest the impartiality of morality?
- The first version of the categorical imperative requires the moral law to apply to everyone in the same way. -
Select from the following conditions what the categorical imperative requires in order for an action to be morally permissible.
- The maxim underlying the action can be universalized. - You would be willing to let the maxim underlying the action be universalized.
According to natural law theory, in what way or ways does how nature is relate to how nature should be?
- The natural world contains certain purposes, and achieving these purposes is good. - We use reason, which is a natural faculty, to discern how the world should be.
In what ways does Kantian ethics reflect the idea of respect for persons?
- The second version of the categorical imperative requires us to never use someone as a mere means. - Kantian ethics implies that persons have moral rights not to be treated in certain ways.
Consider the following argument, which might be made by an adherent of natural law theory. 1 It is human nature to procreate. 2 Birth control is an obstacle to procreation. 3 Therefore, birth control is morally wrong. In order for this argument to be valid, an implicit premise must be inserted into the argument. Tap or click on the premise which would make the argument valid, and thus which the natural law theorist assumes to be true.
- What human nature is determines how it should be.
According to Kant, which of the following is unconditionally good? Which of the following is not?
- a good will
Kant believes that one's action has moral worth only if it is done with a good will. What specifically is willed by a good will?
- to do one's duty for duty's sake
Natural law theory necessarily assumes that God exists, and is the creator of nature.
False
According to Aquinas, what is the first and fundamental precept of the natural law?
Good is to be done and promoted, and evil is to be avoided.
Jessica thinks that everyone should be treated equally, except for early risers, who should be enslaved for the benefit of everyone else. If we applied the first version of the categorical imperative to Jessica's desire, would enslaving early risers be morally acceptable or not? Sort the answers below according to whether or not they would be implied by the first version of the categorical imperative.
Implied - morally acceptable, since the maxim can be universalized consistently and Jessica would be willing to live in such a world Not Implied - morally unacceptable, since the maxim cannot be universalized consistently, even though Jessica would be willing to live in such a world - morally unacceptable, since the maxim can be universalized consistently, but Jessica would not be willing to live in such a world - morally unacceptable, since the maxim cannot be universalized consistently and Jessica would not be willing to live in such a world
Magda runs a hospital in a major city. She sees that a large number of women who have abortions in the hospital did not have access to contraception, and reasons that if women had more access to contraception, there would be fewer abortions. Accordingly, Magda arranges to distribute contraception freely to all in the city. What would natural law theory say about Magda's action?
It is morally wrong, because using contraception is always wrong.
Aneshka is thinking about lending her car to Jason, since it will allow him to get groceries more easily. Unfortunately, if Jason has access to a car, he will also use it as a getaway car to commit a number of robberies. Aneshka does not want Jason to use the car in this way, though she thinks that he will, if he has access to it. According to natural law theory, should Aneshka lend Jason the car?
No, because the bad effects from lending Jason the car will far outweigh the food effects of leading Jason the car.
What is the difference between perfect and imperfect duties?
Perfect duties must always be followed; imperfect duties can be followed more selectively.
Samantha takes care of an elderly, wealthy gentleman named Harrison, who has more money than he will be able to spend before he dies, and Samantha has access to his checkbook. Moreover, Harrison does not keep track of the money in his bank account. Samantha could take out a significant amount of money, and Harrison would never know. Samantha is thinking about taking out thousands of dollars and giving it to charity. She would also keep some of the money for herself. What would the ethical theories below say about such an action? Match the ethical theory with the judgment it would make about Samantha's choice.
Permissible - act-utilitarianism - ethical egoism Wrong - Kantian ethics - natural law theory
Sort the following claims according to whether they are hypothetical imperatives or categorical imperatives.
hypothetical imperatives - If you feel like giving someone a hand, then help them out. - If you feel like giving someone a hand, then help them out. You must try the banana cream pie, if you don't mind having an allergic reaction. - Those who desire an A on their exam should study hard. categorical imperatives. - Mow the lawn regularly. - One should never harm an innocent person, no matter what the circumstances. - Tell the truth.
Which of the following is an accurate definition of the doctrine of double effect?
performing a good action may be permissible even if it has bad effects, but performing a bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible.
Match each of the following problems of Kantian ethics to the moral criterion of adequacy that the problem suggests Kantian ethics fails to satisfy.
usefulness in moral problem solving - the problem of how to specify the maxim underlying one's action consistency with considered judgments - the problem of wrong actions that are morally acceptable according to the first formulation of the categorical imperative - the problem of counterexamples to the idea of perfect duties
