INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS MIDTERM EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅type of moral theory according to which the rightness
and wrongness of actions is to be explained entirely in terms of the intrinsic value of the consequences
associated with either individual concrete actions or rules associated with actions
utilitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a consequentialist moral theory according to which
happiness has positive intrinsic value in terms of which actions are right or wrong
hedonistic utilitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅an act that maximizes happiness and minimizes
suffering to the greatest number of humans is a right act
perfect consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅version of consequentialism that accepts a
perfectionist theory of value
act consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅any version of consequentialism according to which
it is the net intrinsic value of the consequences of particular alternative actions open to an agent in
some situation that determines the rightness or wrongness of those alternative actions
rule consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅any version of consequentialism according to which
the rightness or wrongness of some particular action that is (or might be) performed in some situation
depends on the acceptance value of the rule corresponding to the action in question. A right action is
one falling under a rule with at least as high an acceptance value as any other rule governing the
situation in question
natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The theory that morality is a function of human nature
and reason can discover valid moral principles by looking at the nature of humanity and society
four basic intrinsic goods of natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅human knowledge, human
procreation, human life, human sociability
doctrine of double effect - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅composed of a set of provisions under which it is
morally permissible to knowingly bring about evil in the pursuit of the good
, kantian moral theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅moral theory that features the notions of respect for
persons and universality
golden rule - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅do unto others as you would have them do unto you
categorical imperatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅fundamental moral principle in kantian moral
theory that is employed in reasoning about moral issues, taking the forms Universal Law and the
Humanity formulations; you have to do this in order to do your duty
hypothetical imperatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a means to another end
Universal law formulation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a formulation of Kant's categorical imperative
which states that an action is morally permissible if and only if the maxim associated with the action is
universalizable
realm of ends - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅hypothetical state of existence that is derived from Kant's
categorical imperative composed entirely of rational beings capable of moral deliberation
right - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅an entitlement to be free to engage in some activity, to exercise a
certain power, or to be provided with some benefit
rights-based moral theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a moral theory according to which moral rights
(claims) are the basis for explaining the rightness and wrongness of actions
virtue ethics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅type of moral theory that makes considerations of virtue and
vice the basis for explaining the rightness and wrongness of actions
virtues and vices - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅honesty/dishonesty, courage/cowardice,
justice/injustice, temperance/intemperance, beneficence/selfishness, humility/arrogance,
loyalty/disloyalty, gratitude/ingratitude
ANSWERS
consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅type of moral theory according to which the rightness
and wrongness of actions is to be explained entirely in terms of the intrinsic value of the consequences
associated with either individual concrete actions or rules associated with actions
utilitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a consequentialist moral theory according to which
happiness has positive intrinsic value in terms of which actions are right or wrong
hedonistic utilitarianism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅an act that maximizes happiness and minimizes
suffering to the greatest number of humans is a right act
perfect consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅version of consequentialism that accepts a
perfectionist theory of value
act consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅any version of consequentialism according to which
it is the net intrinsic value of the consequences of particular alternative actions open to an agent in
some situation that determines the rightness or wrongness of those alternative actions
rule consequentialism - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅any version of consequentialism according to which
the rightness or wrongness of some particular action that is (or might be) performed in some situation
depends on the acceptance value of the rule corresponding to the action in question. A right action is
one falling under a rule with at least as high an acceptance value as any other rule governing the
situation in question
natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅The theory that morality is a function of human nature
and reason can discover valid moral principles by looking at the nature of humanity and society
four basic intrinsic goods of natural law theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅human knowledge, human
procreation, human life, human sociability
doctrine of double effect - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅composed of a set of provisions under which it is
morally permissible to knowingly bring about evil in the pursuit of the good
, kantian moral theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅moral theory that features the notions of respect for
persons and universality
golden rule - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅do unto others as you would have them do unto you
categorical imperatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅fundamental moral principle in kantian moral
theory that is employed in reasoning about moral issues, taking the forms Universal Law and the
Humanity formulations; you have to do this in order to do your duty
hypothetical imperatives - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a means to another end
Universal law formulation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a formulation of Kant's categorical imperative
which states that an action is morally permissible if and only if the maxim associated with the action is
universalizable
realm of ends - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅hypothetical state of existence that is derived from Kant's
categorical imperative composed entirely of rational beings capable of moral deliberation
right - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅an entitlement to be free to engage in some activity, to exercise a
certain power, or to be provided with some benefit
rights-based moral theory - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅a moral theory according to which moral rights
(claims) are the basis for explaining the rightness and wrongness of actions
virtue ethics - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅type of moral theory that makes considerations of virtue and
vice the basis for explaining the rightness and wrongness of actions
virtues and vices - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅honesty/dishonesty, courage/cowardice,
justice/injustice, temperance/intemperance, beneficence/selfishness, humility/arrogance,
loyalty/disloyalty, gratitude/ingratitude
