ETHICS EXAM 2 REVIEW 2026 QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS STUDY GUIDE
AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Nonconsequentialist Theories: Natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER-
As expressed by Thomas Aquinas, at the heart of natural law theory is the
notion that right actions are those that accord with the moral principles
that we can "read" clearly in the very structure of nature itself.
Traditional natural law theorists draw the conclusion that.. - CORRECT
ANSWER-how nature is reveals how it should be
According to Aquinas, human nature aims at a number of good things: -
CORRECT ANSWER---preservation of human life
--avoidance of harm
--reproduction and care of kind
--the search for truth
--the nurturing of social ties
Natural Law and Human Nature - CORRECT ANSWER--Our duty,
therefore, is to achieve the good, to fully realize the goals toward which our
nature is already inclined.
,-Reason, which allows us to discern the natural laws that can be derived
from our natures, is the foundation of morality.
-Judging the rightness or wrongness of an action is a matter of consulting
reason.
-Like Kant's perfect duties, the laws of natural law theory are both objective
and universal.
-Also like Kant's categorical imperative, traditional natural law theory is
strongly absolutist.
Evaluating Natural Law Theory: Criterion 1: Consistency with considered
moral judgments - CORRECT ANSWER-Natural law theory, like Kant's
moral theory, contains absolute moral laws that admit no exceptions (e.g.,
the taking of an innocent life, impeding procreation). But these absolutes
can result in specific moral judgments that diverge from common moral
sense.
Evaluating Natural Law Theory: Criterion 3: Usefulness in moral problem
solving - CORRECT ANSWER-Natural law theory's usefulness is
undermined by the conflict between its assumptions about the teleological
character of nature and the scientific sense of nature as non-teleological.
It is problematic, to say the least, to try to find your way from what is in
nature to what should be.
The doctrine of double effect pertains to situations in which... - CORRECT
ANSWER-An action has both good and bad effects. It says that performing
a good action may be permissible even if it has bad effects, but performing a
bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible.
, The doctrine of double effect: An action is permissible if four requirements
are met: - CORRECT ANSWER-1. The action is inherently (without
reference to consequences) either morally good or morally neutral.
2. The bad effect is not used to produce the good effect (although the bad
may be a side effect of the good).
3. The intention must always be to bring about the good effect.
4. The good effect must be at least as important as the bad effect.
The Moral Criteria of Adequacy - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Consistency with
Considered Judgments
2. Consistency with Our Moral Experiences
3. Usefulness in Moral Problem Solving
What are considered moral judgments? - CORRECT ANSWER-Considered
moral judgments are views that we form about the rightness and wrongness
of specific actions.
They are formed only after careful deliberation.
A moral theory that is inconsistent with our considered moral judgments is
likely to be false, in need of drastic overhaul or rejection.
A plausible moral theory should be consistent with the fundamental facts of
our moral experience, namely: - CORRECT ANSWER---We sometimes
make moral judgments.
--We often give reasons for particular moral beliefs.
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
COMPREHENSIVE ETHICS STUDY GUIDE
AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Nonconsequentialist Theories: Natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER-
As expressed by Thomas Aquinas, at the heart of natural law theory is the
notion that right actions are those that accord with the moral principles
that we can "read" clearly in the very structure of nature itself.
Traditional natural law theorists draw the conclusion that.. - CORRECT
ANSWER-how nature is reveals how it should be
According to Aquinas, human nature aims at a number of good things: -
CORRECT ANSWER---preservation of human life
--avoidance of harm
--reproduction and care of kind
--the search for truth
--the nurturing of social ties
Natural Law and Human Nature - CORRECT ANSWER--Our duty,
therefore, is to achieve the good, to fully realize the goals toward which our
nature is already inclined.
,-Reason, which allows us to discern the natural laws that can be derived
from our natures, is the foundation of morality.
-Judging the rightness or wrongness of an action is a matter of consulting
reason.
-Like Kant's perfect duties, the laws of natural law theory are both objective
and universal.
-Also like Kant's categorical imperative, traditional natural law theory is
strongly absolutist.
Evaluating Natural Law Theory: Criterion 1: Consistency with considered
moral judgments - CORRECT ANSWER-Natural law theory, like Kant's
moral theory, contains absolute moral laws that admit no exceptions (e.g.,
the taking of an innocent life, impeding procreation). But these absolutes
can result in specific moral judgments that diverge from common moral
sense.
Evaluating Natural Law Theory: Criterion 3: Usefulness in moral problem
solving - CORRECT ANSWER-Natural law theory's usefulness is
undermined by the conflict between its assumptions about the teleological
character of nature and the scientific sense of nature as non-teleological.
It is problematic, to say the least, to try to find your way from what is in
nature to what should be.
The doctrine of double effect pertains to situations in which... - CORRECT
ANSWER-An action has both good and bad effects. It says that performing
a good action may be permissible even if it has bad effects, but performing a
bad action for the purpose of achieving good effects is never permissible.
, The doctrine of double effect: An action is permissible if four requirements
are met: - CORRECT ANSWER-1. The action is inherently (without
reference to consequences) either morally good or morally neutral.
2. The bad effect is not used to produce the good effect (although the bad
may be a side effect of the good).
3. The intention must always be to bring about the good effect.
4. The good effect must be at least as important as the bad effect.
The Moral Criteria of Adequacy - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Consistency with
Considered Judgments
2. Consistency with Our Moral Experiences
3. Usefulness in Moral Problem Solving
What are considered moral judgments? - CORRECT ANSWER-Considered
moral judgments are views that we form about the rightness and wrongness
of specific actions.
They are formed only after careful deliberation.
A moral theory that is inconsistent with our considered moral judgments is
likely to be false, in need of drastic overhaul or rejection.
A plausible moral theory should be consistent with the fundamental facts of
our moral experience, namely: - CORRECT ANSWER---We sometimes
make moral judgments.
--We often give reasons for particular moral beliefs.
