Final Exam

Question 1

A well-developed conscience provides us

with?

Answer 1

• knowledge about what is right and wrong
• has a cognitive (reasoning) and an
affective (emotional) component
• affective element of conscience motivates
us to act on this knowledge of right and
wrong

Question 2

Moral Sentiments

Answer 2

• alert us to moral situations and motivate
us to do what is right
• help to put ourselves in other people’s
shoes (empathy, sympathy, compassion,
guilt, moral outrage)

Question 3

Moral Values

Answer 3

are those that benefit yourself and others and are worthwhile for their own sake

Question 4

Non-Moral Values

Answer 4

are goal-oriented.They are a means to an end we wish to achieve

Question 5

Moral Outrage

Answer 5

calls our attention to an injustice but without effective moral reasoning and critical thinking we may fail to act or may respond ineffectively

Question 6

Moral Reasoning

Answer 6

involves making a decision about what we ought or ought not to do

Question 7

Effective Moral Decision Making

Answer 7

depends on good critical- thinking skills and familiarity with basic moral values

Question 8

Critical thinking makes us more aware…

Answer 8

of our own values and allows us to be more open-minded and willing to respect the concerns of others.

Question 9

Moral Tragedy

Answer 9

When we fail to take appropriate action or make a moral decision we later regret,

Question 10

Kohlberg argued…

Answer 10

that human beings advance through distinct stages in their moral reasoning development.
These stages are found in every culture
Movement from one stage to the next represents increased proficiency in critical thinking skills

Question 11

Level 1: Pre-conventional Moral Development
(Punishment Obedience; Instrumental- Relativist
Orientation)

Answer 11

People at this level expect others to treat them morally,
but generally do not reciprocate unless they derive benefit.
• Most people outgrow these two stages of moral
reasoning by high school.
• Only 9% of people at stage 2 would offer help to someone who appeared to be suffering from drug
side effects

Question 12

Level 2: Conventional Moral Development
(Interpersonal Concordance Orientation; Humanity and
Social Open Mindedness Orientation)

Answer 12

People look to other for moral guidance and affirmation.
(“good boy; good girl” stage)
• Conform to peer group norms, and believe there are right
and wrong answers
• Many college freshmen are at this stage
• Only 38% at level 4 would offer help to someone who
appeared to be suffering from drug side effects

Question 13

Level 3: Post-conventional Moral Development
(Social Contact Legalistic Orientation; Universal Ethical
Principle Orientation)

Answer 13

• People recognize that social conventions need to be
justified.
• Moral decisions should be based on universal moral
principles and on concerns
• All individuals at this stage would offer their
assistance to the individual who appeared to
be suffering from side effects.

Question 14

Carol Gilligan: Moral Reasoning and Women

Answer 14

Argued that women’s moral development
followed a different path in the three stages of
moral development
Men – tendency to be duty and principled oriented
(justice perspective)
Women – tendency to view the world in terms of
relationships (care perspective

Question 15

Moral Theories

Answer 15

• Provide guidelines/framework for understanding
and explaining what makes a certain action right
or wrong
• Help us clarify, critically analyze, and rank the
moral concerns raised by moral issues in our
lives

Question 16

Moral Relativists

Answer 16

Claim that people create their reality

Question 17

Universalists

Answer 17

Claim there are universal moral principles

that hold to all people

Question 18

Ethical Subjectivism (individual)

Answer 18

• Morality is a personal opinion.
• “What feels right makes it right”
• It isolates the individual,
permits people to exploit and hurt others
without having to justify
their actions or stand in judgment

Question 19

Cultural Relativism (group)

Answer 19

• Looks to public opinion and customs rather
than to private opinion for moral standards.
(Conventional Stage of Moral
Reasoning)
• Morality is nothing more than socially
approved customs

Question 20

Moral Universalist

Answer 20

• Universal principles that apply to all
• Moral principles are binding on all people
regardless of personal desires, culture or
religion

Question 21

Four different universal moral theories

Answer 21

• Utilitarianism (Consequence-based
ethics)
• Deontology (Duty-based ethics)
Immanuel Kant
• Natural-Rights Ethics (Rights-based
ethics)
• Virtue Ethics (Character-based ethics)

Question 22

Utilitarianism: (Actions and Consequences)

Answer 22

• Actions are evaluated based on their
consequences
• The greatest good for the greatest number
• Does not give sufficient attention to
individual integrity and personal rights

Question 23

Deontology (duty-based ethics)

Answer 23

Claims that duty is the foundation of morality:
– Do our duty purely out of a sense of good will,
not because of award or punishment or other
consequences
• Categorical Imperative: Do unto others as you
have done to you (Immanuel Kant)
• Moral principles or duties apply to everyone
regardless of a person’s feelings or culture

Question 24

Prima facie duties

Answer 24

• While many agree that moral duties are
universal, many disagree with Kant noting
that there are situations where moral
duties may conflict
• duties morally binding unless overridden
by a more compelling moral duty (Prima
facie duty)

Question 25

Virtue Ethics

Answer 25

• Emphasizes character over right actions
• A virtue is an admirable character trait or
disposition to habitually act in a manner
that benefits ourselves and others.
• Is interested in the whole person, not just
their actions.
• The theory suggests that we are judged by our character not action

Question 26

Moral Dilemmas

Answer 26

• A situation in which we have a conflict between
moral values is known as a moral
dilemma” (Boss, 2014, p. 292).
• No matter what solution you choose, it will
involve doing something wrong in order to do
what is right.
• It is not a moral dilemma when the conflict is
between moral values and non moral values

Question 27

Steps for Resolving Moral Dilemmas

Answer 27

1. Describe the facts.
2. List the relevant moral principles and concerns.
3. List and evaluate possible courses of
   action.
4. Devise a plan of action.
5. Carry out a plan of action.