Test 2: Utilitarianism, Deontology, & Feminist Ethics Flashcards by Philosophy Northeastern Junior College

Which of the following was not one of the founders of utilitarianism?

a. James Mill
b. Jeremy Bentham
c. John Stuart Mill
d. Rene Descartes

d. Rene Descartes

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The trolley problem is used to illustrate which of the following?

a. The complexity of calculating morality using a cost-benefit analysis.
b. The difficulty involved in making utilitarian decisions.
c. The morality of public vs. private transportation.
d. The basis of rule utilitarianism.

a. The complexity of calculating morality using a cost-benefit analysis.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

According to utilitarianism which of the following is an intrinsic good?

a. Love
b. Justice
c. Pleasure
d. Power

c. Pleasure

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Which of the following is not included in calculating the amount of happiness?

a. Cost
b. Intensity
c. Likelihood
d. Duration

a. Cost

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

According to utilitarianism which of the following is useful for evaluating the
morality of an action?
a. People’s intentions
b. The nature of the act
c. The process of accomplishing the result
d. The result

d. The result

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Which of the following is not necessary to act morally according to
utilitarianism?
a. To consider all the variables involved in an action.
b. To act as the majority wishes.
c. To consider all people to be of equal value.
d. To produce a result that produces the greatest good for the greatest number.

b. To act as the majority wishes.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Rule Utilitarianism asks that we consider the consequences of each act

a. Separately.
b. According to a clear set of rules.
c. As a general practice.
d. On the greatest number.

c. As a general practice.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Jeremy Bentham’s concept of utilitarianism is simply to maximize pleasure
and:
A. avoid evil B. please the majority
C. minimize suffering D. please the minority

C. minimize suffering

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

An ethical system that judges an action based its CONSEQUENCES:
A. virture-based B. Deontological
C. action-based D. Teleological

D. Teleological

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Jeremy Bentham invented this scheme to measure pleasure and pain to assist in
making proper decisions. He called it:
A. pleasure tester B. hedonic calculus
C. consequence calculus D. pleasure measure

B. hedonic calculus

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Utilitarians and Consequentialists seem to provide a very strong philosophical
justification for the notion that we have obligations to which of the following?
A. future generations B. termites
C. ourselves D. those in our family

A. future generations

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

A form of utilitarianism that focuses on a set of rules that bring about the best
end:
A. rule B. critical
C. no rest D. social

A. rule

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Of which kind of reasoning, Act (A) or Rule (R) Utilitarianism, are the following examples? Please fill in “A” in your answer sheet for Act Utilitarianism and “B” for Rule Utilitarianism.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

If everyone cut in that line, then there would be chaos and that would be bad, so
I ought not cut in the line but go to the end.

R (B)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

I ought to get more sleep because if I don’t I will be no good to myself or others

(A)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

We ought to observe copyright rules because if we did not then no one’s
intellectual property would be safe and this would be a very bad outcome

R (B)

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the name of the basic principle of utilitarianism? How is it supposed to
be useful in determining what I ought to do?

It is called either “The Greatest Happiness Principle” or “The Principle of Utility.” We are supposed to consider the likely results of our actions (or practices, if rule utilitarianism), and then choose that with the greatest net overall good.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

When is something considered instrumentally good? Provide an example.

Something is instrumentally good when its goodness is determined by its usefulness in producing or bringing about something else. An example of an instrumentally good item is money. It is not good in and of itself, but it’s good because of what it can bring about.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Label as the better choice on utilitarian calculations, A or B, using a scale of -10 (very painful) to +10 (very pleasurable) for degrees of pleasure or happiness.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

A makes 10 people very happy and 2 people very unhappy,

B makes 8 people moderately happy and 1 person mildly unhappy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

A will bring 5 people each 8 days of pleasure and 3 people each 2 days of pain
B will bring 8 people each 3 days of pleasure and 1 person 3 days of pain.

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The reason that Mill believes pleasure is the only intrinsic good is because he
believes it is the only thing that everyone desires for its own sake

True

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Utilitarianism is an egoistic moral theory

False

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

The following is an example of the reasoning of a rule utilitarian: “If the practice
of lying is bad, then one ought not to lie now, even if in this case to lie would
actually bring about better consequences.”

True

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Both Bentham and Mill hold that some pleasures are better in kind than others.

False

According to utilitarianism, an act that makes some people happy and others unhappy can never be morally right

False

Utilitarianism is a relativistic moral theory, for it recognizes that what is good in Some circumstances is not always good in others

False

In his Utilitarianism Mill answers those who say that his theory is a crass pleasure theory fit only for beasts by noting that though it is a pleasure theory, it acknowledges a wide variety of pleasures including those that only humans can experience.

False

According to Bentham, some pleasures may be more valuable than others but only in so far as they are of greater intensity or duration

True

According to act utilitarianism, if it produces more net utility or pleasure to give money that I had promised to return to a friend to famine relief instead, then I ought to give it to the relief fund.

True

According to Mill, the only way to prove that something is desirable in itself (as an end) is to notice that people do desire it

True

In his work, Utilitarianism, Mill's test or basis for distinguishing higher from Lower pleasures is the preference of those who have experience of both

True

. According to utilitarian moral theory, happiness is an instrumental good

False

Critics of Mill’s view of Utilitarianism claim that his system is both too simple and too complex.

False this is true for Bentham’s version Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 104

Mill defines happiness based on pain and pleasure.

False, Bentham does this Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 103

One of the strengths of Utilitarianism is its simplicity.

True Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 107

One of the weaknesses of Utilitarianism is simply putting together a theory of Utilitarianism.

True, difficult to “formulate” Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 109.

One of the weaknesses of Utilitarianism is that if one actually carried out its logical implications, one would never sleep!

True Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 112

Utilitarianism leads to moral absolutism.

False, Moral relativism – different values in different societies. Pojman & Fieser, 2012, pp. 113-114

Utilitarianism implies that truth-telling and personal integrity are NOT absolute values.

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, pp. 114-116

"Act only on that maxim you can will to become universal law" is known as which form of Kant's categorical imperative? a. First b. Second c. Only d. Third

a. First

Hypothetical imperatives are a. Complicated philosophical constructs seeking to arrive at moral goal. b. Like suggesting we should use what works to arrive at a goal. c. Actions that, in theory, should always be taken given certain circumstances d. Actions all people should take to arrive at the same goal.

b. Like suggesting we should use what works to arrive at a goal.

A good paraphrase of Kant's second form of the categorical imperative is a. Think before you act. b. Treat others as well as you can without denying yourself what you need. c. Treat yourself well but watch out for others also. d. Don't use people unless it is in their best interest.

d. Don't use people unless it is in their best interest.

``` According to MacKinnon, which of the following was one of main two questions Kant asked? a. What ought I do? b. How do I choose right action? c. Why should I act? d. How important are people? ```

a. What ought I do?

Moral "oughts" are all of the following EXCEPT a. Unconditional. b. Anchored in the fact that all people are alike as persons. c. Necessary. d. Supported by laws.

d. Supported by laws.

The illustration in the beginning of chapter five suggests using humans as "guinea pigs" was immoral because a. The experiment was performed on African-American men. b. The experiment was unsuccessful and a lot of people were hurt. c. The persons in the experiment had not consented to the study. d. People should never be used for scientific research.

c. The persons in the experiment had not consented to the study.

According to Kant, we are morally responsible for which of the following? a. For people's understandings of our actions. b. For anticipating the effect of our action. c. For the actual result of our action. d. For our motive to do good or bad.

d. For our motive to do good or bad.

According to Kant, the HIGHEST moral activity happens as a result of a. Acting out of a will to do the right thing. b. Putting the rights of others before our own rights. c. Acting in ways that benefit everyone. d. Acting to prevent harm.

a. Acting out of a will to do the right thing.

According to Kant, what has the highest intrinsic value? a. Beauty b. Justice c. People d. Happiness

c. People

For David Hume and John Locke, the human mind is an empty slate upon which experience imposes lessons to us. The mind in this case is termed which of the following? A. tabula rasa B. empty container C. blank view D. mens rea

A. tabula rasa

Thomas Aquinas, a medieval law philosopher, argued that humans have a special mental process which is able to give us a general knowledge of good morals. This process is known as: A. deryisys B. moral virtues C. tabula rasa D. synderesis

D. synderesis

For Immanuel Kant the only acts that can truly be considered morally valuable acts are those actions that are accompanied by: A. our faith in God B. our intense inner reflection C. a good will D. a determined will to power

C. a good will

Kant's formulation for the Categorical Imperative that believes each person is a rational being and has dignity and profound worth, that he or she must never be exploited or manipulated or merely used as a means to our idea of what is for the general good, is termed: A. Our faith in God B. Principle of Heteronomy C. Principle of Ends D. Principle of Nature

C. Principle of Ends

The theory of Prima Facie was advocated by philosopher William D. Ross. It includes seven moral duties that are tentatively binding on us until one duty conflicts with another and becomes what kind of duty?: A. real duty B. actual C. harmful D. useful

B. actual

For Immanuel Kant, a universally applicable principle of conduct that is correct for each and every situation to be done by each and every individual is termed which of the following? A. The hypothetical imperative, B. the categorical imperative, C. the maximum imperative, D. the universal imperative

B. the categorical imperative,

``` . Kant believed that we do not have any obligations to animals because they: A. are annoying and not worth attention B. are able to be replaced by machine C. are only emotionally sensible D. are not rational beings ```

D. are not rational beings

Immanuel Kant believed that humans do not need an external authority such as God to determine the nature of moral law. He termed this what? A. principle of heteronomy B. principle of imperatives C. principle of autonomy D. principle of judgment

C. principle of autonomy

Label as Hypothetical (H) or Categorical (C) imperatives. Please fill in the “A” bubble for the Hypothetical Imperative and the “B” bubble for the Categorical Imperative

If I want to achieve fame and fortune I should work for it.

H (A)

I should vote for this proposal so that the others will later vote for mine.

H (A)

I ought to tell the truth because the only way I could lie and get away with it is if people generally are honest. I would be expecting others then to behave in ways that I myself would not.

C (B)

Whether or not you want to tell her the truth, you ought to do so

C (B)

State two practical differences between a perfect and an imperfect duty.

One difference is that perfect duties take precedence over imperfect duties. Another is that the perfect duty admits to no exceptions, while in practice, we can choose how to carry out our imperfect duties.

Compare the principle of utility as a consequentialist moral principle with the categorical imperative as a non-consequentialist moral principle.

The principle of utility is a consequentialist moral principle because it tells us to choose those acts or practices that have the best results or consequences. The categorical imperative is a nonconsequentialist moral principle because it does not judge actions on the basis of their consequences but on the basis of whether they are able to be rationally willed as universal practices or whether they use persons. If any acts are not universalizable or they do use persons, they are wrong even if they bring about good results or consequences.

The reason why it is wrong to make a lying promise, according to Kant, is because this act cannot be willed as a general practice without contradiction

True

According to Kant, to act with a "good will" means to do what will benefit others.

False

According to Kant, moral obligations are hypothetical in nature.

False

According to Kant, an obligation or "ought" is categorical when it is something we ought to do in order to achieve some ends or goals that we have.

False

According to Kant, one can do what is right and that action still may not have "moral worth."

True

According to Kant, because persons are ends they ought not to be used as means to ends.

False

According to Kant the moral worth of an act is determined by its consequences

False

According to Kant, the shopkeeper who charges an equal price of all her customers because she likes them is acting "out of duty."

False

Kant's first form of the categorical imperative is derived from the nature of moral obligation as universally binding.

True

Deontology is the view that certain features in the act itself have value

False, | “certain features in the act itself have value” Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 102

Considering Pufendorf’s three moral duties, Kant makes them all moral in nature.

False, our duties to God are religious, not moral Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 126

According to Kant, the good will is absolutely good without qualification

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 127.

One of the criticism(s) of Kant’s view of the good will is sometimes the good will can be put to bad use.

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 127

Ross’s “Prima Facie Solution” transforms Kant’s modest objectivism into absolutism.

False, it’s the other way around Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 141.

In response to empiricists, Kant wanted to show that morality was necessary.

False Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 123; Pojman & Fieser, 2012, pp. 103-104

Joseph Butler’s view of Act-Intutionism can be compared to the advice, “Let your conscience be your guide.”

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 124

One of the problems of Act-intutionism is that different people could have different intuitions.

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 124

One of the criticism(s) of Kant’s view of the good will is sometimes the good will can be put to bad use.

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 127

One of Kant’s examples of “practical contradictions” is committing suicide. We cannot universally will, for if we did, all people would commit suicide

True, | Pojman & Fieser, 2012, p. 131

Your teacher believes that you should not cheat even though you could rationalize it using Kant’s Categorical Imperative.

True, Pojman & Fieser, 2012, | pp. 132-133

``` According to Noddings the language of ethics has primarily been the language of the a. Mother. b. Father. c. Caregiver. d. Children. ```

b. Father.

Who thought that women were inferior to men morally? a. Gilligan b. Noddings c. Greeno and Maccoby d. Freud

d. Freud

Who argues that it is because women spend too much of their lives mothering that women develop a morality consistent with this experience? a. Noddings b. Ruddick c. Whitbeck d. Gilligan

b. Ruddick

Wollstonecraft argues that women and men are ___________________. A. fundamentally the same morally but not psychologically B. fundamentally the same morally and psychologically C. fundamentally the same psychologically but not morally D. fundamentally different morally and psychologically

B. fundamentally the same morally and psychologically

Which of the following is not one of the several common themes surrounding an ethics of care? A. Women see their personal identities as deeply interconnected with other people. B. Women see morality as a function of vulnerability and dependency. C. Women focus on abstract principles surrounding moral situations. D. Women see morality within the context of close personal relationship

C. Women focus on abstract principles surrounding moral situations.

According to Pojman & Feiser, if the separate-but-equal option were instituted it could lead to: A. improved treatment and empowerment of women. B. removal of moral stigma for women doing more male-oriented roles. C. challenging traditional gender roles. D. disastrous consequences for women.

D. disastrous consequences for women.

``` Who emphasized the need of women to be sexually appealing to men? A. Aristotle B. Rousseau C. Wollstonecraft D. Kant ```

B. Rousseau

Carol Gilligan argues that ________ the central component of female ethics. A. justice is B. care is C. rights are D. rule-following is

B. care is

Pojman & Feiser discuss four options regarding gender and ethics which include all of the following except the ________ A. gender-neutral option B. male-only option C. morally inclusive option D. separate-but-equal option

A. gender-neutral option

Moral differences between men and women for Wollstonecraft ________. A. are a result of social construction B. are a product of biological instinct C. do not exist D. are from psychological differences

C. do not exist

Noddings argued that the care value is best expressed as ________. A. a virtue B. a duty C. an intertwining of moral virtues and duties D. a feeling

A. a virtue

A recent study of rhesus monkeys suggests that there is a ________ basis for the toys that boys and girls prefer. A. hormonal B. psychological C. moral D. social

A. hormonal

Pojman & Feiser suggests the female "golden rule" could be: A. "Treat others as strangers in need, without violating principles of justice." B. "Treat others as strangers in need, without violating principles of care." C. "Treat others as friends in need, without violating principles of justice." D. "Treat others as friends in need, without violating principles of care."

C. "Treat others as friends in need, without violating principles of justice."

Carol Gilligan argues that in moral views, men usually emphasize rights and principles, whereas women place more importance on: A. the individual actors and actions. B. the relationships among the actors only. C. the relationships among the actors only. D. the particular details of the situation.

C. the relationships among the actors only.

The theory of which care-ethics is a part of which states that morality always involves certain relations with certain people, rather than lifeless abstractions, is known as: A. moral certainty. B. immoral certainty. C. moral particularism. D. immoral particularism.

C. moral particularism.

Who gives five criticisms of traditional male-oriented ethics, including the criticism that traditional ethics denies the moral agency of women? A Wollstonecraf B. Noddings C. Jaggar D. Gilligan

C. Jaggar

Carol Gilligan’s research supports the research and findings of Lawrence Kohlberg.

False

Today feminist ethics is distinguished from an ethics of care that is sometimes called feminine ethics.

True

. The two parties to the relation of caring for Noddings are the “one-caring” and the “cared-for.”

True

For Baier the tradition of rights has only worked against women and not for women.

False

Some questions have been raised about the ethics of care including the idea that not all mothers are caring and nurturing.

True

Ethics of care argues that there is a female moral perspective that contrasts sharply with the male moral perspective.

True

Traditional moral philosophy has been favorable to women as evidenced by the views of Rousseau and Aristotle.

False

. One reason why male and female morality may differ from each other is biological differences between males and females.

True

Psychologist Carol Gilligan interviewed both male and female subjects and found there was no difference in their moral reasoning.

False

The fourth feature of the Gilligan challenge to liberal orthodoxy according to Baier is a challenge to its typical rationalism

True

According to ethics of care, the female moral perspective takes a more universal and impartial standpoint in reasoning about what is morally good and bad.

False

. For Baier the best moral theory must not be a cooperative product of women and men but must primarily focus on an ethics of care.

False

The “third wave” of feminism addresses the problem of diversity in dealing with women’s issues.

True

Ethics of care does not tell us how we are to determine what will help or harm particular individuals.

True