SW 625 Midterm Exam with Accurate
Solutions
Teleological Philosophies - ANS--Actions are right or wrong based on their
consequences
Act Utilitarianism - ANS--An act is right if, and only if, no other act could have been
performed that would produce higher utility
-Explore the potential results of each possibility
-We are obliged to keep a promise one if keeping it will produce more utility than some
other action
-Can break rules to maximize utility
Rules Utilitarianism - ANS--Maintains that an action is right if it conforms to a rule that
has been validated by the principle of utility as one that will produce at least as much
utility as any other rule
-Not concerned with individual actions, but of particular rules
-Once rules are established, they can be relied on to determine whether a particular
action is right
-Rules with escape clauses (keep promise unless breaking them is required to save a
life)
-abundance of rules --> becomes impossible
Preference Utilitarianism - ANS--values actions that fulfill the greatest amount of
personal interests
Difficulties with Utilitarianism - ANS--Most serious objection is that the principle of utility
appears to justify the imposition of great suffering on a few for the benefit of many
people
-destroying one brain to gain knowledge to help others
Kantian Ethics - ANS--The consequences of an action are morally irrelevant
-an action is right when it is in accordance with a rule that satisfies a principle he calls
the categorical imperative
-always act so as to treat humanity, either yourself or others, always as an end and
never as a means
-every rational creature has a worth in itself
Categorical Imperative - ANS--Commands you must follow, regardless of your desires
-prescribes what we ought to do without reference to any consequences
-starts off as a personal maxim --> generalized for all to follow in the same situation
, Types of Duties - ANS-Perfect Duty: one we must always observe (not to injure another
person
Imperfect Duty: One that we must observe only on some occasions (show love and
compassion)
Kantian ethics Limitations - ANS--Keeping promises is a perfect duty --> keep promise
to coworker or treat a patient in need
-We have duties to rational beings --> fetus or infant with birth defects rational?
Rawls Veil of Ignorance - ANS--What would decision be if decision makers knew
nothing about their identities or status?
-Forces participants to think about society we want to live in
-Think more objectively about what a fair society looks like
Rawls Theory of Justice Limitations - ANS--Does not maximize utility
-redistribute wealth --> immoral taking
-people not rational enough to place themselves under the veil of ignorance
Principlism - ANS--uses a framework of four universal and basic ethical principles
-autonomy
-non-maleficence: obligation not to inflict harm on others
-beneficence: charity, mercy, kindness
-justice
Virtue Ethics - ANS--Ethical theory that emphasizes an individual's character rather than
following a set of rules
-focus on being good people --> good actions will follow
-Finding a midpoint--> golden mean
-learn by watching, then doing
-courage --> take stock of situation and act appropriately
Virtue Ethics Limitations - ANS--No single and definitive answer to what is to be done in
moral decisions
-Different people, cultures, societies have different opinions on what counts as a virtue
Prima Facie Ethics - ANS--Incorporates aspects of both utilitarianism and Kantianism
-Our experience puts us in a position to come to know rightness and goodness
-Our moral intuitions can supply us with moral rules of a general kind
-Nothing is absolute
-Every rule has exceptions and must in some situations be overridden
Actual Duty - ANS--What my real duty is in a situation
-It is the action that, out of various possibilities, I ought to perform
-May not know what actual duty is
Solutions
Teleological Philosophies - ANS--Actions are right or wrong based on their
consequences
Act Utilitarianism - ANS--An act is right if, and only if, no other act could have been
performed that would produce higher utility
-Explore the potential results of each possibility
-We are obliged to keep a promise one if keeping it will produce more utility than some
other action
-Can break rules to maximize utility
Rules Utilitarianism - ANS--Maintains that an action is right if it conforms to a rule that
has been validated by the principle of utility as one that will produce at least as much
utility as any other rule
-Not concerned with individual actions, but of particular rules
-Once rules are established, they can be relied on to determine whether a particular
action is right
-Rules with escape clauses (keep promise unless breaking them is required to save a
life)
-abundance of rules --> becomes impossible
Preference Utilitarianism - ANS--values actions that fulfill the greatest amount of
personal interests
Difficulties with Utilitarianism - ANS--Most serious objection is that the principle of utility
appears to justify the imposition of great suffering on a few for the benefit of many
people
-destroying one brain to gain knowledge to help others
Kantian Ethics - ANS--The consequences of an action are morally irrelevant
-an action is right when it is in accordance with a rule that satisfies a principle he calls
the categorical imperative
-always act so as to treat humanity, either yourself or others, always as an end and
never as a means
-every rational creature has a worth in itself
Categorical Imperative - ANS--Commands you must follow, regardless of your desires
-prescribes what we ought to do without reference to any consequences
-starts off as a personal maxim --> generalized for all to follow in the same situation
, Types of Duties - ANS-Perfect Duty: one we must always observe (not to injure another
person
Imperfect Duty: One that we must observe only on some occasions (show love and
compassion)
Kantian ethics Limitations - ANS--Keeping promises is a perfect duty --> keep promise
to coworker or treat a patient in need
-We have duties to rational beings --> fetus or infant with birth defects rational?
Rawls Veil of Ignorance - ANS--What would decision be if decision makers knew
nothing about their identities or status?
-Forces participants to think about society we want to live in
-Think more objectively about what a fair society looks like
Rawls Theory of Justice Limitations - ANS--Does not maximize utility
-redistribute wealth --> immoral taking
-people not rational enough to place themselves under the veil of ignorance
Principlism - ANS--uses a framework of four universal and basic ethical principles
-autonomy
-non-maleficence: obligation not to inflict harm on others
-beneficence: charity, mercy, kindness
-justice
Virtue Ethics - ANS--Ethical theory that emphasizes an individual's character rather than
following a set of rules
-focus on being good people --> good actions will follow
-Finding a midpoint--> golden mean
-learn by watching, then doing
-courage --> take stock of situation and act appropriately
Virtue Ethics Limitations - ANS--No single and definitive answer to what is to be done in
moral decisions
-Different people, cultures, societies have different opinions on what counts as a virtue
Prima Facie Ethics - ANS--Incorporates aspects of both utilitarianism and Kantianism
-Our experience puts us in a position to come to know rightness and goodness
-Our moral intuitions can supply us with moral rules of a general kind
-Nothing is absolute
-Every rule has exceptions and must in some situations be overridden
Actual Duty - ANS--What my real duty is in a situation
-It is the action that, out of various possibilities, I ought to perform
-May not know what actual duty is
