Phil 1020 Mid Term #2 Test with
Complete Solutions
1. A categorical imperative tells us: - ANSWER-That we should do something in all
situations regardless of our wants and needs.
Duties that absolutely must be followed without fail are known as: - ANSWER-Perfect
Duties
The idea that we must always treat people (Including ourselves) as ends in themselves,
never merely as things of instrumental value, is known as the: - ANSWER-Means-end
principle
According to Kant, sometimes we use people to achieve some end, yet our actions are
not wrong because: - ANSWER-There is a moral difference between treating persons
as a means and treating them merely, or only as a means.
Applying the first formulation of the categorical imperative to the act of lying to a friend
would show that the action is impermissible because: - ANSWER-The action's maxim
cannot be universalized.
Consider this comment from the philosopher C. D. Broad regarding Kant's Mean-end
principle: "if we isolate a man who is a carrier of typhoid, we are treating him merely as
a cause of infection to others. But, if we refuse to isolate him, we are treating other
people merely as a means to his comfort and culture." This example suggests that our
duties not to use people merely as a means: - ANSWER-Can conflict, and Kant
provides no counsel on how to resolve such dilemmas.
1. The traditional natural law theorist maintains that: - ANSWER-how nature is, reveals
how it should be.
Aquinas says that judging the rightness of actions is a matter of: - ANSWER-Consulting
reason and considering rational grounds for moral beliefs.
Consider this scenario: A pregnant woman has cancer and will die unless she receives
chemotherapy to destroy the tumors. If she takes the chemotherapy to destroy the
tumors, the fetus will die. According to the doctrine of double effect, is it morally
permissible for her to do so? - ANSWER-Yes
, According to the Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative, the act of lying to a
friend on important matters is impermissible because: - ANSWER-Performing the action
would treat the friend merely as a means to an end.
Kant says that the only thing with moral value is the "good will". What does he mean by
"the good will"? - ANSWER-Doing your duty because you recognize that it is your duty.
Suppose some is stalking your friend, trying to kill them. Your friend is now hiding in
your home. The stalker comes to your door, and asks if your friend is there. You could
lie, in order to save your friend, or you could tell the truth, with the likely result that your
friend will be killed. In such a situation, Natural Law Theory says you have conflicting
duties (1) never to lie and (2) to preserve your friend's life. How does Natural Law
Theory resolve the conflict? - ANSWER-It tells you not to lie, even if it would save your
friend's life, because lying is impermissible no matter what.
2. The traditional natural law theorist maintains that: - ANSWER-What we are naturally
inclined to do reveals what we ought to do.
Which of the following is a potential problem for the Natural Law Theory? - ANSWER-
Some "natural" inclinations might be bad, and some "unnatural" inclinations and
practices might be good or at least not bad.
What does Natural Law Theory say about abortion? - ANSWER-Abortion is wrong
because it is intentionally ending a human life.
According to Aristotle, all human action aims as "eudaimonia" which means: -
ANSWER-Performing all of our life functions well.
A moral virtue is: - ANSWER-A good character trait, which involves having the right
feeling in the right circumstances.
According to Aristotle, the virtue of courage is: - ANSWER-Having a moderate amount
of fear and thereby acting appropriately.
Three of these are ways to apply Virtue Ethics. Which one is not a way to apply Virtue
Ethics? - ANSWER-Decide ethical issues without emotion, by considering only the
objective facts of the case.
Which of these is a potential problem for Virtue Ethics? - ANSWER-Virtue Ethics is hard
to apply in certain cases, because it's hard to figure out what our moral exemplars
would do in some cases.
Consider two shopkeepers. Shopkeeper 1 charges people a fair price out of love for her
customers. Shopkeeper 2 doesn't like her job or her customers, but she charges a fair
price because she knows it's the right thing to do. Which of the following statements
would Aristotle agree with? - ANSWER-Shopkeeper 1 is better person, because her
Complete Solutions
1. A categorical imperative tells us: - ANSWER-That we should do something in all
situations regardless of our wants and needs.
Duties that absolutely must be followed without fail are known as: - ANSWER-Perfect
Duties
The idea that we must always treat people (Including ourselves) as ends in themselves,
never merely as things of instrumental value, is known as the: - ANSWER-Means-end
principle
According to Kant, sometimes we use people to achieve some end, yet our actions are
not wrong because: - ANSWER-There is a moral difference between treating persons
as a means and treating them merely, or only as a means.
Applying the first formulation of the categorical imperative to the act of lying to a friend
would show that the action is impermissible because: - ANSWER-The action's maxim
cannot be universalized.
Consider this comment from the philosopher C. D. Broad regarding Kant's Mean-end
principle: "if we isolate a man who is a carrier of typhoid, we are treating him merely as
a cause of infection to others. But, if we refuse to isolate him, we are treating other
people merely as a means to his comfort and culture." This example suggests that our
duties not to use people merely as a means: - ANSWER-Can conflict, and Kant
provides no counsel on how to resolve such dilemmas.
1. The traditional natural law theorist maintains that: - ANSWER-how nature is, reveals
how it should be.
Aquinas says that judging the rightness of actions is a matter of: - ANSWER-Consulting
reason and considering rational grounds for moral beliefs.
Consider this scenario: A pregnant woman has cancer and will die unless she receives
chemotherapy to destroy the tumors. If she takes the chemotherapy to destroy the
tumors, the fetus will die. According to the doctrine of double effect, is it morally
permissible for her to do so? - ANSWER-Yes
, According to the Second Formulation of the Categorical Imperative, the act of lying to a
friend on important matters is impermissible because: - ANSWER-Performing the action
would treat the friend merely as a means to an end.
Kant says that the only thing with moral value is the "good will". What does he mean by
"the good will"? - ANSWER-Doing your duty because you recognize that it is your duty.
Suppose some is stalking your friend, trying to kill them. Your friend is now hiding in
your home. The stalker comes to your door, and asks if your friend is there. You could
lie, in order to save your friend, or you could tell the truth, with the likely result that your
friend will be killed. In such a situation, Natural Law Theory says you have conflicting
duties (1) never to lie and (2) to preserve your friend's life. How does Natural Law
Theory resolve the conflict? - ANSWER-It tells you not to lie, even if it would save your
friend's life, because lying is impermissible no matter what.
2. The traditional natural law theorist maintains that: - ANSWER-What we are naturally
inclined to do reveals what we ought to do.
Which of the following is a potential problem for the Natural Law Theory? - ANSWER-
Some "natural" inclinations might be bad, and some "unnatural" inclinations and
practices might be good or at least not bad.
What does Natural Law Theory say about abortion? - ANSWER-Abortion is wrong
because it is intentionally ending a human life.
According to Aristotle, all human action aims as "eudaimonia" which means: -
ANSWER-Performing all of our life functions well.
A moral virtue is: - ANSWER-A good character trait, which involves having the right
feeling in the right circumstances.
According to Aristotle, the virtue of courage is: - ANSWER-Having a moderate amount
of fear and thereby acting appropriately.
Three of these are ways to apply Virtue Ethics. Which one is not a way to apply Virtue
Ethics? - ANSWER-Decide ethical issues without emotion, by considering only the
objective facts of the case.
Which of these is a potential problem for Virtue Ethics? - ANSWER-Virtue Ethics is hard
to apply in certain cases, because it's hard to figure out what our moral exemplars
would do in some cases.
Consider two shopkeepers. Shopkeeper 1 charges people a fair price out of love for her
customers. Shopkeeper 2 doesn't like her job or her customers, but she charges a fair
price because she knows it's the right thing to do. Which of the following statements
would Aristotle agree with? - ANSWER-Shopkeeper 1 is better person, because her
