PHIL 101 Exam Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Version 2025-2026
For Aristotle what is the difference between intellectual and moral virtues? - AnswersIntellectual
virtues: excellences of mind; acquired by inheritance and education.
Moral Virtues: acquired by repetition or practice
What sorts of intellectual virtues are there and how do people come to acquire them? -
AnswersPhilosophical wisdom; practical wisdom: knowing how to live life and achieve goals.
How do people cultivate moral virtues?
Examples of moral virtues - Answersvirtue is a habit, done naturally and easily; ex. courage,
modesty, justice, truthfulness, friendliness.
What does Aristotle mean by "happiness" (eudaimonia)? - AnswersHappiness or "eudaimonia"
meaning long term well being or human flourishing.
What is the function of a human being? - AnswersThe function of a human is to use reason in
pursuit of a good life.
What material goods or circumstances are also necessary for someone's happiness? -
AnswersExternal goods: wisdom, health, luck, wealth, etc.
What is the ultimate end toward which all our actions are aimed, "telos"? - AnswersTo live a
happy life. virtuous life> good life> happy life
What characteristics did Aristotle recognize as virtues? - AnswersAristotle's virtues: courage,
justice, friendliness, modesty, liberality, aspiration, pride, temperance, wittiness.
How are these sets of virtues generally characteristic of and valued by certain groups of people?
- AnswersThese virtues are mostly recognized by aristocratic, wealthy males during war times
Why is a person who is painfully following his or her conscience not thereby virtuous, according
to Aristotle? - AnswersBecause they are having to work for it. Work hard enough it becomes
second nature. Saints are inherently good, no second guessing = virtuous.
According to Aristotle, would a moral ideal have to fight off temptation and struggle to be good?
- AnswersIf you were really good, you would not even be tempted. Does right thing without much
struggle; easy, natural, spontaneous.
"Men come to be builders, for instance, by building; harp-players, by playing on the harp." What
does Aristotle mean by this quote and what is its significance to moral virtue (Nicomachean
Ethics)? - AnswersAristotle means by acting in relations that we are thrown, some come to be
just and some come to be unjust. Moral virtue can be learned through practice until it becomes
habit. Follow good role models and follow the golden mean.
, How is choosing the mean relative to the individual and not to be calculated by some
arithmetical proportion (Nicomachean Ethics)? - AnswersThe mean for everyone is going to be
different because everyone is different
For example, how is picking the right amount of food relative to each person and not absolute? -
AnswersPicking the right food is relative not absolute because not everyone is the same.
For example, big guy needs to eat lots to be content while small guy eats less to be content
In the Nicomachean Ethics, how does Aristotle describe the virtue of courage, liberality and
friendliness? What vice of deficiency and excess correspond to each virtue? - AnswersCourage=
excess: absence of fear or in positive confidence (rash). Mean state: courageous. Defect: too
much fear and too little confidence (coward).
Liberality= excess: prodigality- gives too much. Mean state: liberality. Defect: stinginess- gives
too little.
Friendliness= excess: flatterer. Mean state: friendliness. Defect: quarrelsome.
What is the Heinz Dilemma? - AnswersHeinz dilemma: Heinz can't afford to pay for the medicine
his wife needs. Should Heinz steal medicine from a pharmacist to save the life of his sick wife?
According to psychological studies, how do boys tend to respond to this dilemma as opposed
to girls? - AnswersBoys: definite answer, rational calculation, neutral standpoint, moral
principles.
Girls: no definite answer, empathy and compassion, need to talk, seeks information to
understand situation
What is Carol Gilligan's interpretation of the differences between a male's and female's
response to moral dilemmas? - AnswersMale approach- stresses that individuals have certain
basic rights that should be respected. Morality imposes restrictions on what you can do to
others. Morality involves the application of universally valid moral rules. Male morality has a
"justice orientation."
Female approach- people have responsibility towards others. So, morality is an imperative to
care for others. Female morality has a "responsibility orientation."
What problems do feminist ethicists see in moral dilemmas such as the Heinz question? -
AnswersProblems:
- moral judgements emerge from actual situations and are not derived by playing logical
formulas to generate principles
- feminist thinks that what you should focus on is people with faces and lives
In contrast to autonomy, individualism, universal principles and justice, what does feminist
For Aristotle what is the difference between intellectual and moral virtues? - AnswersIntellectual
virtues: excellences of mind; acquired by inheritance and education.
Moral Virtues: acquired by repetition or practice
What sorts of intellectual virtues are there and how do people come to acquire them? -
AnswersPhilosophical wisdom; practical wisdom: knowing how to live life and achieve goals.
How do people cultivate moral virtues?
Examples of moral virtues - Answersvirtue is a habit, done naturally and easily; ex. courage,
modesty, justice, truthfulness, friendliness.
What does Aristotle mean by "happiness" (eudaimonia)? - AnswersHappiness or "eudaimonia"
meaning long term well being or human flourishing.
What is the function of a human being? - AnswersThe function of a human is to use reason in
pursuit of a good life.
What material goods or circumstances are also necessary for someone's happiness? -
AnswersExternal goods: wisdom, health, luck, wealth, etc.
What is the ultimate end toward which all our actions are aimed, "telos"? - AnswersTo live a
happy life. virtuous life> good life> happy life
What characteristics did Aristotle recognize as virtues? - AnswersAristotle's virtues: courage,
justice, friendliness, modesty, liberality, aspiration, pride, temperance, wittiness.
How are these sets of virtues generally characteristic of and valued by certain groups of people?
- AnswersThese virtues are mostly recognized by aristocratic, wealthy males during war times
Why is a person who is painfully following his or her conscience not thereby virtuous, according
to Aristotle? - AnswersBecause they are having to work for it. Work hard enough it becomes
second nature. Saints are inherently good, no second guessing = virtuous.
According to Aristotle, would a moral ideal have to fight off temptation and struggle to be good?
- AnswersIf you were really good, you would not even be tempted. Does right thing without much
struggle; easy, natural, spontaneous.
"Men come to be builders, for instance, by building; harp-players, by playing on the harp." What
does Aristotle mean by this quote and what is its significance to moral virtue (Nicomachean
Ethics)? - AnswersAristotle means by acting in relations that we are thrown, some come to be
just and some come to be unjust. Moral virtue can be learned through practice until it becomes
habit. Follow good role models and follow the golden mean.
, How is choosing the mean relative to the individual and not to be calculated by some
arithmetical proportion (Nicomachean Ethics)? - AnswersThe mean for everyone is going to be
different because everyone is different
For example, how is picking the right amount of food relative to each person and not absolute? -
AnswersPicking the right food is relative not absolute because not everyone is the same.
For example, big guy needs to eat lots to be content while small guy eats less to be content
In the Nicomachean Ethics, how does Aristotle describe the virtue of courage, liberality and
friendliness? What vice of deficiency and excess correspond to each virtue? - AnswersCourage=
excess: absence of fear or in positive confidence (rash). Mean state: courageous. Defect: too
much fear and too little confidence (coward).
Liberality= excess: prodigality- gives too much. Mean state: liberality. Defect: stinginess- gives
too little.
Friendliness= excess: flatterer. Mean state: friendliness. Defect: quarrelsome.
What is the Heinz Dilemma? - AnswersHeinz dilemma: Heinz can't afford to pay for the medicine
his wife needs. Should Heinz steal medicine from a pharmacist to save the life of his sick wife?
According to psychological studies, how do boys tend to respond to this dilemma as opposed
to girls? - AnswersBoys: definite answer, rational calculation, neutral standpoint, moral
principles.
Girls: no definite answer, empathy and compassion, need to talk, seeks information to
understand situation
What is Carol Gilligan's interpretation of the differences between a male's and female's
response to moral dilemmas? - AnswersMale approach- stresses that individuals have certain
basic rights that should be respected. Morality imposes restrictions on what you can do to
others. Morality involves the application of universally valid moral rules. Male morality has a
"justice orientation."
Female approach- people have responsibility towards others. So, morality is an imperative to
care for others. Female morality has a "responsibility orientation."
What problems do feminist ethicists see in moral dilemmas such as the Heinz question? -
AnswersProblems:
- moral judgements emerge from actual situations and are not derived by playing logical
formulas to generate principles
- feminist thinks that what you should focus on is people with faces and lives
In contrast to autonomy, individualism, universal principles and justice, what does feminist
