PHIL 482 Exam 1 Questions and Answers Latest Version 2025 Graded A+
factual issue - Answers question about missing or disputed facts
- objectively true or not true
conceptual issue - Answers a question about the definition or use of words
- what is the most acceptable definition of a word
application issue - Answers a question about whether a concept applies in a certain situation
- both parties agree on facts and definition but disagree on whether the issue is ethical or not
moral issue - Answers Determining the application issues will not always determine right from wrong
Give an example of an apparent moral issue that is really a disagreement over one of the other issues? -
Answers - excessive force used by an officer
* conceptual --> what is excessive?
Hume's principle - Answers - it is wrong to draw moral inferences from purely a statement of facts
A word is meaningless unless its reference can be traced back to impressions
- need a bridge premise, something to connect the moral inferences and facts
Discussion question:
- "A given bridge does not meet construction standards."
- "The engineer who designed the bridge acted immorally."
,What is an acceptable "Bridge Premise" to connect the previous two statements? - Answers -
construction standards are supposed to protect the public. if they don't --> IMMORAL
- IF the bridge is not designed up to standards, people's lives are at risk. If people's lives are at risk -->
IMMORAL
deciding whether something is right or wrong is... - Answers - moral issue
Edward Snowden is a whistleblower.
What kind of issue is this? - Answers application
An engineer should not break a confidentiality agreement.
What kind of issue is this? - Answers moral
presumptive judgment - Answers preliminary judgment about right and wrong when not all factors have
been considered
all-things considered judgment - Answers final judgment when all factors are considered
If the question at hand is whether using cadavers in crash testing in this case violates human dignity,
what kind of issue is it? - Answers - application
**IN THIS CASE**
Utilitarianism - Answers being morally right or wrong depends solely on the consequences
- an act is only morally right if and only if the pleasure and satisfaction is the same or greater than pain
or dissatisfaction.
* the end justifies the means*
* MORALITY DEPENDS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACTION*
Utilitarianism: morally right - Answers an act that brings about at least as much pleasure or well-being as
every alternative act
Utilitarianism: morally wrong - Answers - an act that does not maximize pleasure or well-being
, TRUE or FALSE
Utilitarian ethics often conflict with conventional morality and are deeply rooted in culture. - Answers
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
Utilitarians believe a lie is not wrong if the total consequences for those affected were better? - Answers
TRUE
Name 3 utilitarian thinkers. - Answers - Jeremy Bentham
- John Stuart Mill
- Henry Sidgwick
Utilitarianism Calculus: - Answers NET TOTAL MORALITY = Good outcomes - bad outcomes
Who said, "By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disproves of every action
whatsoever, according to the tendency it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the
party whose interest is in question."?
and what issue was present with this belief? - Answers - Jeremy Bentham
- conceptual issue with the word tendency
Particular Acts: (3)
Give an example. - Answers - one specific act that occurred is looked at individually
- has no optimal consequences
- should be valued morally
factual issue - Answers question about missing or disputed facts
- objectively true or not true
conceptual issue - Answers a question about the definition or use of words
- what is the most acceptable definition of a word
application issue - Answers a question about whether a concept applies in a certain situation
- both parties agree on facts and definition but disagree on whether the issue is ethical or not
moral issue - Answers Determining the application issues will not always determine right from wrong
Give an example of an apparent moral issue that is really a disagreement over one of the other issues? -
Answers - excessive force used by an officer
* conceptual --> what is excessive?
Hume's principle - Answers - it is wrong to draw moral inferences from purely a statement of facts
A word is meaningless unless its reference can be traced back to impressions
- need a bridge premise, something to connect the moral inferences and facts
Discussion question:
- "A given bridge does not meet construction standards."
- "The engineer who designed the bridge acted immorally."
,What is an acceptable "Bridge Premise" to connect the previous two statements? - Answers -
construction standards are supposed to protect the public. if they don't --> IMMORAL
- IF the bridge is not designed up to standards, people's lives are at risk. If people's lives are at risk -->
IMMORAL
deciding whether something is right or wrong is... - Answers - moral issue
Edward Snowden is a whistleblower.
What kind of issue is this? - Answers application
An engineer should not break a confidentiality agreement.
What kind of issue is this? - Answers moral
presumptive judgment - Answers preliminary judgment about right and wrong when not all factors have
been considered
all-things considered judgment - Answers final judgment when all factors are considered
If the question at hand is whether using cadavers in crash testing in this case violates human dignity,
what kind of issue is it? - Answers - application
**IN THIS CASE**
Utilitarianism - Answers being morally right or wrong depends solely on the consequences
- an act is only morally right if and only if the pleasure and satisfaction is the same or greater than pain
or dissatisfaction.
* the end justifies the means*
* MORALITY DEPENDS ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF AN ACTION*
Utilitarianism: morally right - Answers an act that brings about at least as much pleasure or well-being as
every alternative act
Utilitarianism: morally wrong - Answers - an act that does not maximize pleasure or well-being
, TRUE or FALSE
Utilitarian ethics often conflict with conventional morality and are deeply rooted in culture. - Answers
TRUE
TRUE or FALSE
Utilitarians believe a lie is not wrong if the total consequences for those affected were better? - Answers
TRUE
Name 3 utilitarian thinkers. - Answers - Jeremy Bentham
- John Stuart Mill
- Henry Sidgwick
Utilitarianism Calculus: - Answers NET TOTAL MORALITY = Good outcomes - bad outcomes
Who said, "By the principle of utility is meant that principle which approves or disproves of every action
whatsoever, according to the tendency it appears to have to augment or diminish the happiness of the
party whose interest is in question."?
and what issue was present with this belief? - Answers - Jeremy Bentham
- conceptual issue with the word tendency
Particular Acts: (3)
Give an example. - Answers - one specific act that occurred is looked at individually
- has no optimal consequences
- should be valued morally
