ETHC TEST GUIDE WITH 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
What are ethical frameworks - ANS they answer the question: how should human
beings live their lives?
What is utilitarianism - ANS It is making decisions based of off consequences. It is
the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Things that promote happiness are
considered ethically good.
net utility - ANS positive consequences - negative consequences
What are the two forms of utilitarianism - ANS Act and rule
Act Utilitarianism - ANS an act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any
available alternative
Rule Utilitarianism - ANS a utilitarian theory asserting that the morally right action is
the one covered by a rule that if generally followed would produce the most favorable
balance of good over evil, everyone considered
Deontology - ANS the study of the nature of duty and obligation. There are some
principles or rules that we ought to follow even if doing so prevents good consequences
or results in bad consequences.
What are the two parts to the rights approach ? - ANS negative and positive rights
Negative rights - ANS E.g. Privacy, life, speech, assembly, religion
A duty or obligation to not interfere in certain activities of the person who holds the right
positive rights - ANS E.g. Education, medical care, life
A duty or obligation to provide the holder of the right with whatever he or she needs to
freely pursue his or her interests.
What are the four ethical rules of a contract - ANS Both parties to a contract must
have full knowledge of the nature of the agreement.
Neither party must intentionally misrepresent the facts.
, Neither party must be forced to enter the contract.
The contract must not bind the parties to an immoral act.
Kantianism - ANS rational beings capable of making decisions regarding right and
wrong. Respect the dignity of each individual human being
What is Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative? - ANS Universalizability
- act in a way that you would be prepared to have anyone else in a similar situation act
Some actions are self-defeating - universal participation undermines the action
What if everybody did this? Can this be universal? Will the concept yet exist?
Reversibility - act in a way that you would be prepared to have others act towards you in
a similar situation
How would you like it if she did that to you? . . . If you were in his place?
Kant's Second Formulation - ANS "An action is morally right for a person if, and only
if, in performing the action, the person does not use others merely as a means for
advancing his or her own interests, but also both respects and develops their capacity
to choose freely for themselves."
What are virtue ethics? - ANS Virtue ethics focuses on character traits, or virtues,
that would help one be a good person and lead a good and full human life.
what are the two categories of justice - ANS procedural and distributive
procedural justice - ANS Fair and transparent way in which to administer justice
E.g. in a just legal system, laws are impartially applied and all are treated equally before
the law
Distributive Justice - ANS fair distribution of society's benefits and burdens.
Egalitarianism - ANS "Every person should be given exactly equal shares of a
society's or a group's benefits and burdens"
how do you apply utilitarianism ? - ANS Who are the stakeholders?
What are the alternatives?
What is the impact of each alternative on each stakeholder party?
Which option minimizes the harms and maximizes the good for society (i.e. which leads
to the greatest overall happiness for society)?
This is the best alternative
ANSWERS
What are ethical frameworks - ANS they answer the question: how should human
beings live their lives?
What is utilitarianism - ANS It is making decisions based of off consequences. It is
the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Things that promote happiness are
considered ethically good.
net utility - ANS positive consequences - negative consequences
What are the two forms of utilitarianism - ANS Act and rule
Act Utilitarianism - ANS an act is right if and only if it results in as much good as any
available alternative
Rule Utilitarianism - ANS a utilitarian theory asserting that the morally right action is
the one covered by a rule that if generally followed would produce the most favorable
balance of good over evil, everyone considered
Deontology - ANS the study of the nature of duty and obligation. There are some
principles or rules that we ought to follow even if doing so prevents good consequences
or results in bad consequences.
What are the two parts to the rights approach ? - ANS negative and positive rights
Negative rights - ANS E.g. Privacy, life, speech, assembly, religion
A duty or obligation to not interfere in certain activities of the person who holds the right
positive rights - ANS E.g. Education, medical care, life
A duty or obligation to provide the holder of the right with whatever he or she needs to
freely pursue his or her interests.
What are the four ethical rules of a contract - ANS Both parties to a contract must
have full knowledge of the nature of the agreement.
Neither party must intentionally misrepresent the facts.
, Neither party must be forced to enter the contract.
The contract must not bind the parties to an immoral act.
Kantianism - ANS rational beings capable of making decisions regarding right and
wrong. Respect the dignity of each individual human being
What is Kant's first formulation of the categorical imperative? - ANS Universalizability
- act in a way that you would be prepared to have anyone else in a similar situation act
Some actions are self-defeating - universal participation undermines the action
What if everybody did this? Can this be universal? Will the concept yet exist?
Reversibility - act in a way that you would be prepared to have others act towards you in
a similar situation
How would you like it if she did that to you? . . . If you were in his place?
Kant's Second Formulation - ANS "An action is morally right for a person if, and only
if, in performing the action, the person does not use others merely as a means for
advancing his or her own interests, but also both respects and develops their capacity
to choose freely for themselves."
What are virtue ethics? - ANS Virtue ethics focuses on character traits, or virtues,
that would help one be a good person and lead a good and full human life.
what are the two categories of justice - ANS procedural and distributive
procedural justice - ANS Fair and transparent way in which to administer justice
E.g. in a just legal system, laws are impartially applied and all are treated equally before
the law
Distributive Justice - ANS fair distribution of society's benefits and burdens.
Egalitarianism - ANS "Every person should be given exactly equal shares of a
society's or a group's benefits and burdens"
how do you apply utilitarianism ? - ANS Who are the stakeholders?
What are the alternatives?
What is the impact of each alternative on each stakeholder party?
Which option minimizes the harms and maximizes the good for society (i.e. which leads
to the greatest overall happiness for society)?
This is the best alternative
