Chapter 1

Question 1

According to Rachels moral philosophy is

Answer 1

the effort to understand the nature of morality and what it requires of us.

Question 2

According to Socrates morality is concerned with?

Answer 2

how we ought to live and why

Question 3

The purpose of examining some morally controversial cases involving physically and mentally challenged children is

Answer 3

to establish a minimum conception of morality

Question 4

Baby Theresa suffered from a condition called anencephaly, this condition means that

Answer 4

important parts at the top of the brain are missing

Question 5

The benefits argument maintains that

Answer 5

if we can benefit someone without hurting anyone else we ought to do so

Question 6

The argument that we should not use people as means maintains that

Answer 6

it is wrong to use people as means to others ends

Question 7

Ethicists who opposed the Baby Theresa transplants argued

Answer 7

it would be using her to benefit other children, therefore it should not be done

Question 8

Using people as means typically violates

Answer 8

autonomy

Question 9

When people can’t make decisions for themselves what guideline should be adopted?

Answer 9

1. What is in their best interests.

2. if they could tell us what they want, what would they say?

Question 10

The argument from the wrongness of killing states

Answer 10

it is wrong to kill someone to save another.

Question 11

The argument from the wrongness of killing and the prohibition against killing

Answer 11

is one of the most important of moral rules.

Question 12

Jodie and Mary

Answer 12

1. were conjoined twins joined at the lower abdomen.

2. sharing one heart and one set of lungs.

Question 13

In cases like that of Jody and Mary (decision making)

Answer 13

who should make the decision should be distinguished from what the decision should be.

Question 14

The argument that we should save as many as we can states

Answer 14

if the lives of 2 people are at issue, if we can shouldn’t we save one?

Question 15

The argument for the sanctity of human life states that,

Answer 15

the prohibition against killing innocent humans is absolute.

Question 16

What are the natural objections to the argument for the sanctity of life? (3)

Answer 16

1. the innocent has no future because she is going to die no matter what.
2. the innocent human has no wish to go on living, perhaps because she has no wishes at all.
3. this killing will save others, who can go on to live full lives.

Question 17

Tracy Latimer

Answer 17

was a 12 year old victim of cerebral palsy.

Question 18

The argument for the wrongness of discriminating against the handicapped

Answer 18

1. no one has the right to decide that my life is more important than yours.
2. handicapped people should be given the same respect and the same rights as everyone else.

Question 19

The slippery slope argument opens the door to

Answer 19

letting other people decide who should live and who should die.

Question 20

According to Rachels what can we learn from studying the morally controversial cases?

Answer 20

1) moral judgments must be backed by good reasons.

2) morality requires the impartial consideration of each persons interests.

Question 21

Morally controversial cases (feelings)

Answer 21

can arouse strong feelings.

Question 22

With regard to moral reasoning about morally controversial cases (our feelings)

Answer 22

1) our feelings may be irrational.

2) we cannot rely on feelings.

Question 23

With regard to moral reasoning about morally controversial cases (people’s feelings)

Answer 23

people’s feelings can be very different.

Question 24

When examining morally issues and cases

Answer 24

1) moral principles need to be brought into play.

2) we must first get the facts straight.

Question 25

When examining morally issues and cases, what do they consist of?

Answer 25

moral arguments consist of moral principles applied to particular issues or cases.

Question 26

Rachel’s defines the minimal conception of moral as

Answer 26

1) the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason.

2) giving equal weight to the interests of each individual affected by one’s decision.

Question 27

According to Rachel’s the conscientious moral agent is someone who (5)

Answer 27

a. is concerned impartially with the interests of everything she does.
b. carefully sifts facts and examines their implications.
c. accepts principles of conduct only after scrutinizing them to make sure they are justified.
d. is willing to “listen to reason” even when it means revising prior convictions.
e. is willing to act on the results of this deliberation.