Ethics Exam 2

Front 1

moral theory

Back 1

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

Front 2

moral code

Back 2

a specific set of rules to follow

Front 3

A moral code is applied to actions in a simple straightforward manner, and tells us what is right or wrong. True or false?

Back 3

true

Front 4

A moral code is flexible and may provide guidance or insight when it comes to moral problems it was not designed to address. True or false?

Back 4

false

Front 5

moral norm

Back 5

a standard that can help us make sense of our moral experiences, judgments, and principles

Front 6

What provides us with general norms?

Back 6

moral theories

Front 7

A moral theory, by itself, gives us precisely tailored answers to questions about the rightness or wrongness of specific actions or the goodness or badness of a specific person or thing. True or false?

Back 7

false

Front 8

A moral theory can be applied to actions like a mathematical formula to reach a simple answer about the rightness or wrongness of an action. True or false?

Back 8

false

Front 9

A moral theory is rigid. True or false?

Back 9

false

Front 10

reflective equilibrium

Back 10

the goal of the thought process of using a moral theory to resolve moral dilemmas

Front 11

Fill in the blanks: Considered _________ can shape a theory, and a theory can shed light on _________.

Back 11

judgments; judgments and principles

Front 12

What are the two major categories of moral theories?

Back 12

consequentialist and nonconsequentialist

Front 13

consequentialist theory

Back 13

what makes an action right is its consequences

Front 14

What are the primary examples of consequentialist theories?

Back 14

- act-utilitarianism

- rule-utilitarianism

- ethical egoism

Front 15

Consequentialist theories say that the rightness of an action depends on the amount of good it produces. True or false?

Back 15

true

Front 16

What are some ways consequentialist theories define good?

Back 16

- pleasure

- happiness

- well-being

- knowledge

- self-actualization

- power

Front 17

utilitarianism

Back 17

the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil, everyone considered

Front 18

act-utilitarianism

Back 18

the morally right action is the one that directly produces the greatest overall good, everyone considered

Front 19

rule-utilitarianism

Back 19

the morally right action is the one that, if followed as a general rule, will produce the greatest overall good, all instances and everyone considered

Front 20

ethical egoism

Back 20

the morally right action is the one that produces the most favorable balance of good over evil for oneself

Front 21

nonconsequentialist theory

Back 21

the rightness of an action does not depend entirely on its consequences

Front 22

What are the primary examples of nonconsequentialist theories?

Back 22

- Kant’s theory

- natural law theory

- divine command theory

Front 23

Kant’s theory

Back 23

An action is right if it is done in accordance with the categorical imperative: “Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."

Front 24

the categorical imperative

Back 24

An action is morally right if, and only if, you could rationally will the rule implied by the action to be universal—that is, if you could rationally argue that everyone in similar circumstances should act according to that rule.

Front 25

natural law theory

Back 25

An action is morally right if it follows the dictates of nature.

Front 26

According to natural law theory, the natural world, including humankind, exhibits a rational order in which everything has its proper place and purpose, with each thing given a specific role to play by God and/or nature. True or false?

Back 26

true

Front 27

minimal requirement of coherence

Back 27

If two claims within a theory are contradictory, one is false and the theory is refuted.

Front 28

A moral theory that is internally inconsistent is eligible for further evaluation. True or false?

Back 28

false

Front 29

What are the three moral criteria of adequacy?

Back 29

- consistency with considered judgments
- consistency with our moral experiences
- usefulness in moral problem solving

Front 30

considered moral judgment

Back 30

a reliable and carefully made opinion about an issue – requires careful deliberation and is free of bias

Front 31

A considered moral judgment is simply a proposition that you have always believed. True or false?

Back 31

false

Front 32

A considered moral judgment is a product of when we are upset, frightened, in a hurry, or considering personal gain. True or false?

Back 32

false

Front 33

A considered moral judgment is generally reliable but not infallible. True or false?

Back 33

true

Front 34

A moral theory that is consistent with trustworthy considered judgments is dubious and probably in need of drastic overhaul or rejection. True or false?

Back 34

false

Front 35

What are the fundamental facts of our moral experience?

Back 35

- We sometimes make moral judgments.
- We often give reasons for particular moral beliefs.
- We are sometimes mistaken in our moral beliefs.
- We occasionally have moral disagreements.

Front 36

A moral theory that acknowledges, or that is consistent with, the fundamental facts of our moral experience is likely to be true. True or false?

Back 36

true

Front 37

If a moral theory implies that we do not have one of the basic moral experiences, then we have to overhaul or abandon it. True or false?

Back 37

true

Front 38

Ethical egoism promotes self-interested behavior and necessarily selfish acts. True or false?

Back 38

false

Front 39

The most important argument for ethical egoism relies on what?

Back 39

psychological egoism

Front 40

psychological egoism

Back 40

the view that the motive for all our actions is self-interest

Front 41

Psychological egoism seems to ignore the fact that people sometimes do things that are not in their best interests. True or false?

Back 41

true

Front 42

Psychological egoism seems to misconstrue the relationship between our actions and the satisfaction that often follows from them. True or false?

Back 42

true

Front 43

We seem to desire something other than satisfaction and then experience satisfaction as a result of getting what we desire. True or false?

Back 43

true

Front 44

Critics argue that act-utilitarianism is not consistent with our considered judgments about justice. True or false?

Back 44

true

Front 45

An act-utilitarian might respond to criticism by saying that in real life, actions thought to be immoral almost never maximize happiness. True or false?

Back 45

true

Front 46

Rule-utilitarianism seems to be consistent with our notions of rights and obligations. True or false?

Back 46

false

Front 47

What is the major criticism of rule-utilitarianism?

Back 47

Being internally inconsistent--of easily collapsing into act-utilitarianism. The charge is that the rules that maximize happiness best are specific to particular cases, but such rules would sanction the same actions that act-utilitarianism does.

Front 48

The consequences of our actions surely do not matter in our moral deliberations and in our lives. True or false?

Back 48

false

Front 49

The principle of impartiality is not an essential part of moral decision making. True or false?

Back 49

false

Front 50

Any plausible moral theory must somehow take into account the principle of beneficence. True or false?

Back 50

true

Front 51

beneficence

Back 51

the doing of good