The Status of Morality

Question 1

According to J.L. Mackie:
A. There are some objective values
B. There are no objective values
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B

Answer 1

B. There are no objective values

Question 2

According to Mackie, in making moral judgments, most people claim to be pointing to something ___________.
A. Subjective
B. Objective
C. Purple
D. Both A and B

Answer 2

B. Objective

Question 3

Mackie’s ‘arguments for relativity’ asks which of the following?
A. What’s the best explanation of widespread moral disagreement?
B. How could we come to know the moral facts?
C. What times does this class ends?
D. Why do people believe in moral facts?

Answer 3

A. What’s the best explanation of widespread moral disagreement?

Question 4

To test the objectivity of moral disclosure, Enoch appeals to which of the following?
A. The broccoli test
B. The tomato test
C. The spinach test
D. The cheeto test

Answer 4

C. The spinach test (A statement fails the spinach test if it would sound absurd when applied to moral claims, highlighting their objective nature.) Example: “I’m glad I don’t think murder is wrong because if I did, I’d have to think murder is bad.” (Sounds nonsensical because morality is about objective right and wrong, not individual tastes.)

Question 5

According to Enoch, a subject matter is objective if the truths or facts in it are:
A. Response-dependent
B. Response-independent
C. Response-interdependent
D. All of the above

Answer 5

B. Response-independent

Question 6

What is the Phenomenology-of-Disagreement?

Answer 6

If moral disagreements feel like disputes over facts rather than preferences, it suggests an assumption of objectivity in moral discourse. Example: Disagreeing about ice cream flavors: “Vanilla is better than chocolate.” (Feels subjective; both sides can accept it’s a matter of taste.)
Disagreeing about moral issues: “Slavery is wrong.” (Feels factual; the disagreement feels deeper, as though one side must be right and the other wrong.)

Question 7

What is the Counterfactual Test?

Answer 7

If a moral truth remains unchanged even when the circumstances or attitudes differ, it supports moral objectivity. Example: “Slavery is wrong.” Even if everyone in the past believed slavery was acceptable, we still judge it as wrong today. The moral truth doesn’t depend on social acceptance or historical norms.
By contrast, a subjective claim like “Red is the best color” would change depending on personal or societal preferences.

Question 8

What is objectivity?

Answer 8

A subject matter is objective if the truths or facts in it exist independently of what we think or feel about them, that is, if the relevant truths or facts are response-independent.