PHIL 202 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Define Rachels' minimum conception of morality - Answers - the effort to guide one's
conduct by reason, and having the best reasons for doing so.
How are moral judgments different from feelings? - Answers - Moral judgments must be
backed by good reasons, and it must consider each individual's interest. You have to
act impartially.
How are moral judgments different from matters of personal taste? - Answers - Personal
tastes in everyone are different, but just because someone doesn't have the same
tastes as you don't mean they are in the wrong.
Define Ethical Egoism - Answers - Everyone should always act in his or her own self-
interests exclusively.
Define Cultural Relativism - Answers - Moral standards are relative to the culture or
society where you live.
Three consequences of taking Cultural Relativism seriously (cons) - Answers - Can't
judge other cultures as being better or worse than yours. We don't have any standard
on how to judge our own culture. No room for social or moral progress.
What can be learned from Cultural Relativism? (Pros) - Answers - Our way is not the
only way to live, keeps you from being dogmatic (really sticking to a point and refusing
to budge even with evidence that you should)
According to Lorde, why is it worse to deny differences between people than to name
difference and face it? - Answers - It feeds oppression, if we refuse to acknowledge
differences; we mask oppression and support it by our silence. Talking about
differences gives a chance to rectify it.
West's two issues that threaten democracy - Answers - Racial hierarchy has been here
since beginning of country, and mal-distribution (unjust) of wealth and well-being. These
two things affect democracy because they're unequally represented which is a major
threat to democracy.
Mill's only purpose for which government power can be used to compel people to do
things against their will - Answers - Gvt should only make laws to prevent harm to
others, not the self, just others.
VERIFIED ANSWERS
Define Rachels' minimum conception of morality - Answers - the effort to guide one's
conduct by reason, and having the best reasons for doing so.
How are moral judgments different from feelings? - Answers - Moral judgments must be
backed by good reasons, and it must consider each individual's interest. You have to
act impartially.
How are moral judgments different from matters of personal taste? - Answers - Personal
tastes in everyone are different, but just because someone doesn't have the same
tastes as you don't mean they are in the wrong.
Define Ethical Egoism - Answers - Everyone should always act in his or her own self-
interests exclusively.
Define Cultural Relativism - Answers - Moral standards are relative to the culture or
society where you live.
Three consequences of taking Cultural Relativism seriously (cons) - Answers - Can't
judge other cultures as being better or worse than yours. We don't have any standard
on how to judge our own culture. No room for social or moral progress.
What can be learned from Cultural Relativism? (Pros) - Answers - Our way is not the
only way to live, keeps you from being dogmatic (really sticking to a point and refusing
to budge even with evidence that you should)
According to Lorde, why is it worse to deny differences between people than to name
difference and face it? - Answers - It feeds oppression, if we refuse to acknowledge
differences; we mask oppression and support it by our silence. Talking about
differences gives a chance to rectify it.
West's two issues that threaten democracy - Answers - Racial hierarchy has been here
since beginning of country, and mal-distribution (unjust) of wealth and well-being. These
two things affect democracy because they're unequally represented which is a major
threat to democracy.
Mill's only purpose for which government power can be used to compel people to do
things against their will - Answers - Gvt should only make laws to prevent harm to
others, not the self, just others.
