Abortion + Consequentialism

Question 1

What is Thomson’s main conclusion in “A Defense of Abortion”?

Answer 1

Abortion is in many cases morally permissible and would be so even if a fetus had a right to life.

Question 2

According to Thomson, most opposition to abortion relies on:

Answer 2

The premise that the fetus is a person from the moment of conception

Question 3

According to Thomson, the right to self-defense:
A. Allows us to do anything necessary to save our lives
B. Applies only in cases where the threatening person is guilty
C. Does not exist
D. None of the above

Answer 3

D. None of the above

Question 4

Consequentialism implies that:
A. The same kind of action can be right in some circumstances but be wrong in others.
B. The same kind of action can never be right in some circumstances but wrong in others
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B

Answer 4

A. The same kind of action can be right in some circumstances but be wrong in others.

Question 5

Utilitarianism combines a consequentialist theory of right action with a theory of value according to which:
A. There is a plurality of intrinsic goods
B. Love is the only thing that is intrinsically good
C. Knowledge is the only thing that is intrinsically good
D. Well-being is the only thing that is intrinsically good

Answer 5

D. Well-being is the only thing that is intrinsically good

Question 6

What is Intrinsic value?

Answer 6

Value something has in itself, for its own sake, and not becasue of its relation to anything else.

Question 7

What is extrinsic value?

Answer 7

Value something has because of its relation to something else.

Question 8

What is Consequentialism?

Answer 8

Consequentialism is whether an action is right or wrong depending only on its consequences.

Question 9

What is Utilitarianism?

Answer 9

For an action to be right in circumstances is to produce the greatest net well-being, compared to all the relevant alternative actions the agent could perform.

Question 10

In Utilitarianism, whose well-being is relevant?

Answer 10

The well-being of everyone affected by the action, including the agent who performs the action. Everyone’s well being carries equal weight and importance.

Question 11

What are some difficulties/counters to Utilitarianism?

Answer 11

Demandingness, deliberation, motivation, and action

Question 12

According to Mill’s “proof” that happiness is desirable, or good, what is the only evidence that something is desirable?
a. That it ought to be desired
b. That it’s actually desired
c. That it merits being desired
d. That it’s worthy of being desire

Answer 12

b. That it’s actually desired

Question 13

According to Bentham, pleasure and pains differ along which of the dimensions?
a. Quality
b. Quality and quantity
c. Quantity
d. None of the above

Answer 13

c. Quantity

Question 14

Mill distinguishes between which of the kinds of pleasure?
a. Good pleasures and bad pleasures
b. Higher pleasures and lower pleasures
c. Both a and b
d. Neither a nor b

Answer 14

b. Higher pleasures and lower pleasures

Question 15

Our intuitions about Robert Nozick’s experience machine example are supposed to constitute an objection to what?
a. Pluralism
b. Anarchism
c. Hedonism
d. All of the above

Answer 15

c. Hedonism

Question 16

According to some, hedonism is properly characterized as?
a. A doctrine of slime
b. A doctrine of swine
c. A doctrine of rhymes
d. None of the above

Answer 16

b. A doctrine of swine