PHIL 482 Exam 2 Questions and Answers 100% Pass
The following is a definition of 'groupthink' - Answers a situation in which groups come to apparent
agreement at the expense of genuine and independent critical thinking
Which of the following are symptoms of 'groupthink'? Select all that apply.
- self-censoring contrary opinons
- welcoming the perspectives of outsiders
- maintaining a sense of vulnerability
- construing silence as consent
- holding an illusion of morality regarding group actions. - Answers - self-censoring contrary opinons
- construing silence as consent
- holding an illusion of morality regarding group actions.
In what way was Robert Lund's behavior leading up to the loss of Challenger similar to that of the
"teachers" in Milgrim's experiment? - Answers they were overly deferential to authority
A potential solution to impediments to moral responsibility such as uncritical acceptance of authority is
to foster a culture of responsible assent. (T/F) - Answers False - (orgs. should aspire to foster a culture of
responsible dissent)
Concern about impediments to moral responsibility is best considered which kind of applied ethics? -
Answers preventive ethics
Which of the following is true of many who choose self-interest over professional responsibility?
- they have a good reason for their failure to act ethically
- they often hold a weak conception of professionalism
- they are never aware of professional codes of conduct
- they always have a long record of moral irresponsibility - Answers - they often hold a weak conception
of professionalism
'Normalizing deviance' is a good example of the moral impediment of ________. - Answers self-
deception
The fact that 'groupthink' can influence self-deception is an example of the inter-relatedness of
impediments to moral responsibility. (T/F) - Answers True
, Avoiding the moral impediments of self-interest, groupthink, and microscopic vision is best
accomplished by... - Answers encouraging personal traits to overcome their influence
Dr. Harris's father's failure to consider the environmental impact of his engineering work is an example
of... - Answers microscopic vision
'Microscopic vision' allows for small details to generate greater awareness of the larger issues involved.
(T/F) - Answers False - Microscopic vision prevents a greater awareness of larger issues by restricting the
focus to small details.
Which of the following is a possible antidote to 'microscopic vision'? - Answers A robust moral
imagination - This helps one to break out of the confines of microscopic vision and focus on larger issues
previously missed.
Although the overall majority of "teachers" involved in Milgrim's experiment were willing to administer
painful shocks to the "learners," gender, social class, and nationality appeared to play a significant role
in what types of people demonstrated this willingness. (T/F) - Answers False
Which of the following impediments to moral responsibility played a role in the Challenger and
Columbia disasters?
a. self-interest
b. uncritical acceptance of authority
c. ignorance
d. microscopic vision
e. groupthink - Answers b. uncritical acceptance of authority
c. ignorance
e. groupthink
Failures in moral decision-making are often attributable to narrow or distorting regulations that preclude
consideration of the moral dimension of our action. (T/F) - Answers False
After he was told to "take off his engineering hat and put on his management hat," Robert Lund
reversed his recommendation not to launch Challenger. - Answers Uncritical acceptance of authority
When NASA-management was considering whether to solicit in-flight images of the damage to
Columbia, one employee remarked, "I'm not going to be chicken little about this." - Answers Groupthink
Although foam-shedding is outside design specifications for the space shuttle, engineers began to treat
this deviant behavior as normal. - Answers Self-deception
The following is a definition of 'groupthink' - Answers a situation in which groups come to apparent
agreement at the expense of genuine and independent critical thinking
Which of the following are symptoms of 'groupthink'? Select all that apply.
- self-censoring contrary opinons
- welcoming the perspectives of outsiders
- maintaining a sense of vulnerability
- construing silence as consent
- holding an illusion of morality regarding group actions. - Answers - self-censoring contrary opinons
- construing silence as consent
- holding an illusion of morality regarding group actions.
In what way was Robert Lund's behavior leading up to the loss of Challenger similar to that of the
"teachers" in Milgrim's experiment? - Answers they were overly deferential to authority
A potential solution to impediments to moral responsibility such as uncritical acceptance of authority is
to foster a culture of responsible assent. (T/F) - Answers False - (orgs. should aspire to foster a culture of
responsible dissent)
Concern about impediments to moral responsibility is best considered which kind of applied ethics? -
Answers preventive ethics
Which of the following is true of many who choose self-interest over professional responsibility?
- they have a good reason for their failure to act ethically
- they often hold a weak conception of professionalism
- they are never aware of professional codes of conduct
- they always have a long record of moral irresponsibility - Answers - they often hold a weak conception
of professionalism
'Normalizing deviance' is a good example of the moral impediment of ________. - Answers self-
deception
The fact that 'groupthink' can influence self-deception is an example of the inter-relatedness of
impediments to moral responsibility. (T/F) - Answers True
, Avoiding the moral impediments of self-interest, groupthink, and microscopic vision is best
accomplished by... - Answers encouraging personal traits to overcome their influence
Dr. Harris's father's failure to consider the environmental impact of his engineering work is an example
of... - Answers microscopic vision
'Microscopic vision' allows for small details to generate greater awareness of the larger issues involved.
(T/F) - Answers False - Microscopic vision prevents a greater awareness of larger issues by restricting the
focus to small details.
Which of the following is a possible antidote to 'microscopic vision'? - Answers A robust moral
imagination - This helps one to break out of the confines of microscopic vision and focus on larger issues
previously missed.
Although the overall majority of "teachers" involved in Milgrim's experiment were willing to administer
painful shocks to the "learners," gender, social class, and nationality appeared to play a significant role
in what types of people demonstrated this willingness. (T/F) - Answers False
Which of the following impediments to moral responsibility played a role in the Challenger and
Columbia disasters?
a. self-interest
b. uncritical acceptance of authority
c. ignorance
d. microscopic vision
e. groupthink - Answers b. uncritical acceptance of authority
c. ignorance
e. groupthink
Failures in moral decision-making are often attributable to narrow or distorting regulations that preclude
consideration of the moral dimension of our action. (T/F) - Answers False
After he was told to "take off his engineering hat and put on his management hat," Robert Lund
reversed his recommendation not to launch Challenger. - Answers Uncritical acceptance of authority
When NASA-management was considering whether to solicit in-flight images of the damage to
Columbia, one employee remarked, "I'm not going to be chicken little about this." - Answers Groupthink
Although foam-shedding is outside design specifications for the space shuttle, engineers began to treat
this deviant behavior as normal. - Answers Self-deception
