PHI 208 week 2 quiz GRADED A VERIFIED

PHI 208 week 2 quiz 1 Question 1 1 / 1 pts Kathleen is a girls’ soccer coach who lies now and then to her young team in order to keep up their spirits and guarantee they have fun, even if they are not the best players in the league. Kathleen’s lying could be an example of utilitarian __________. impartiality immorality Correct! adaptability universality Question 2 1 / 1 pts LeBron is writing a paper on how utilitarianism applies to animals. Which statement would be an example of the objectivity (scientific rationality) of utilitarianism? Only the pleasure and pain of humans matter because only humans have an immaterial soul. All animals have the same inherent dignity and the right not to be treated as a mere means to another’s ends. Correct! Science shows that animals experience pleasure and pain, and so those experiences should be considered when reasoning about moral actions. Humans have always treated animals as lesser beings, and so that means that we are right to continue doing so. Question 3 1 / 1 pts Among the following scenarios, which is MOST likely to be morally right according to utilitarianism Correct! lay off 15% of 2,000 workers so that the remaining 85% do not lose their jobs. decrease the salaries of 2,000 workers so that the factory owners can increase their profit. shut down a hanger factory that employs 2,000 workers to move it to a different country where taxes are lower. lay off 15% of 2,000 workers to instill fear in the other 85% making them more obedient. Question 4 1 / 1 pts Which of the following is the BEST example of an action that was morally wrong because the advantages to the majority were outweighed by the suffering of the minority? the conning of people out of their life savings by Bernie Madoff the sexual harassment of women by movie producer Harvey Weinstein Correct! the use of child labor in factories in the 1800s the assassination of John F. Kennedy Question 5 1 / 1 pts Who is considered the father of utilitarianism? Correct! Jeremy Bentham John Stuart Mill Glaukon Mary Midgley Question 6 1 / 1 pts If someone were to question the value of scientific research on utilitarian grounds, which of the following would be the likeliest reason? They believe the research process is too slow. Correct! The potential for the results to improve the world is not evident. They believe the research isn’t politically advantageous. The results conflict with religious teachings. Question 7 1 / 1 pts Which of the following would be an expression of rule utilitarianism rather than act utilitarianism? “It is immoral to torture this person because the pain it would cause him outweighs any potential benefits we might receive.” “We shouldn't torture this person because we wouldn’t want him to torture us.” “It is okay to torture this person because it may save thousands of lives.” Correct! “Even if torturing this person right now might be beneficial, the overall consequences of permitting torture are harmful, and so we should not allow it in any circumstance.” Question 8 1 / 1 pts “Respect for persons” is the basis of a common objection to utilitarianism. The argument states that a utilitarian does not adequately respect the dignity and rights of the individual. Which of the following stories from this text BEST reflects that objection? The voluntary sacrifices of Martin Luther King, Jr. or Mahatma Ghandi. Correct! The surgeon who considers killing a healthy Sally to harvest organs for five dying patients. The soldier throwing himself on a grenade to save the lives of his comrades. The self-centered shepherd who keeps a magic ring to make himself invisible. Question 9 1 / 1 pts What would not be a utilitarian argument on same-sex couples being allowed to marry? They should be allowed to marry because it makes them happy, helps reduce the burdens and prejudices same-sex couples face, and doesn’t hurt anyone else. They should not be allowed to marry because children benefit more from having opposite-sex parents. Correct! They should be allowed to marry because the freedom to marry the person you choose is a fundamental human right. They should not be allowed to marry because it offends more people than it pleases. Question 10 1 / 1 pts Why does Mill call utilitarianism a “more profoundly religious [doctrine] than any other”? Because more religious leaders subscribe to utilitarianism than any other doctrine. Because all other doctrines are godless. Correct! Because God desires, above all things, the happiness of his creatures. Because no other doctrine considers happiness. Question 11 1 / 1 pts According to Mill, how can we determine the difference between higher and lower pleasures? We can’t, since Mill says there is no discernable difference. By their relative duration and intensity. By their conformity to religious teachings. Correct! By the preference of those who are acquainted with both. Question 12 1 / 1 pts Suppose a society believes that throwing an innocent boy into a volcano will keep the volcano from erupting—and therefore save hundreds of lives. What variety of utilitarian thought does this action represent? conventional utilitarianism egoist utilitarianism rule utilitarianism Correct! act utilitarianism Question 13 1 / 1 pts Utilitarianism and consequentialism more broadly are ethical theories that __________. have few concrete applications Correct! have many variations use outdated forms of reasoning have almost no critics or challengers Question 14 1 / 1 pts According to John Stuart Mill, utilitarianism takes into account the happiness of everyone, but gives greater weight to those who are more intelligent. the agent (actor) and those the agent cares about. only the agent (actor). Correct! everyone, and weights everyone’s happiness equally. Question 15 1 / 1 pts Which of the following statements is a common misconception about utilitarian philosophy? Everyone deserves equal consideration. There may be good reasons for the majority to make sacrifices for the sake of the minority. Correct! The majority always rules. The needs of the minorities always matter the most. Question 16 0 / 1 pts What does the utilitarian mean by the term “wrong actions”? You Answered actions that add to the unhappiness or pain of even one person Correct Answer actions that are performed when another action would result in a greater overall balance of happiness and unhappiness actions that are performed with the intent of hurting oneself for pleasure (masochism) actions that are against society’s laws or regulations, even if those laws or regulations are immoral The answer can be found in Chapter 3, Section 3.1: Introduction to Utilitarianism Question 17 0 / 1 pts Utilitarianism claims that morally right actions, policies, or laws are those whose consequences have the greatest positive value and least negative value __________. Correct Answer compared to available alternatives You Answered conceived in financial terms only for the individual(s) making them unless they violate an absolute duty The answer can be found in Chapter 3, Section 3.1: Introduction to Utilitarianism Question 18 1 / 1 pts All of the following can make it difficult to calculate an action’s utility EXCEPT disagreement about the meaning of happiness. the scope and time frame of the consequences to be considered. determining what constitutes the greatest good. Correct! the commitment of the person taking the action. Question 19 1 / 1 pts Utilitarianism is a form of what broader ethical theory? Stoicism egoism deontology Correct! consequentialism Question 20 1 / 1 pts What did John Stuart Mill believe about those who sacrifice their own happiness for that of others? Correct! They demonstrate the utilitarian principle that the greatest happiness for the greatest number should serve as the standard of our actions. They are mistaken since their own happiness should be their only aim. They do the right thing but for the wrong reason since the happiness of others isn’t important. They represent an aspect of morality that utilitarianism cannot explain.