Review 5
Exactly one answer to each question is best and thus correct. You can find definite answers in the lecture notes posted on the web, in our book, and/or in your notes from Dr. Sencerz's lectures:
1) The following are forms of non‑consequentialism
A) utilitarianism;
B) ethical egoism and ethical altruism;
C) the best interest principle;
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above (they are all forms of consequentialism).
2) The following principle seems to have the most narrow scope; that is, it is applicable (it regulates) only to some cases and relations between people but is not meant to be used in all contexts:
A) utilitarian principle;
B) principles of ethical egoism and contractarianism;
C) the best interest principle;
D) they have exactly the same scope (that is, they apply to the same situations).
According to John Stuart Mill:
“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure. To give a clear view of the moral standard set up by the theory, much more requires to be said; in particular, what things it includes in the ideas of pain and pleasure; and to what extent this is left an open question. But these supplementary explanations do not affect the theory of life on which this theory of morality is grounded‑namely, that pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends; and that all desirable things (which are as numerous in the utilitarian as in any other scheme) are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain." (J.S. Mill,Utilitarianism")
3) In this quote, Mill maintains that
A) utility is the foundation of morality
B) duties are foundations of morality
C) moral rights are foundations of morality;
D) B) and C) only;
E) all of the above.
4) Mill's "Greatest Happiness Principle" maintains that
A) actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, but reverse of happiness has nothing to do with the evaluation of acts;
B) actions are wrong in proportion as they tend to promote unhappiness, but happiness has nothing to do with the evaluation of acts;
C) actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
D) none of the above
5) Mill maintains that happiness is the function of
A) pleasure only;
B) the absence of pain only;
C) pleasure and the absence of pain;
D) none of the above
Critics of utilitarianism maintained what follows:
“To suppose that life has ... no higher end than pleasure ‑no better and nobler object of desire and pursuit‑ [is] a doctrine worthy only of swine, to whom the followers of Epicurus were, at a very early period, contemptuously likened; and modern holders of the doctrine are occasionally made the subject of equally polite comparisons by its German, French, and English assailants.”
Mill responded to this criticism as follows:
“The comparison of the Epicurean life to that of beasts is felt as degrading, precisely because a beast's pleasures do not satisfy a human being's conceptions of happiness. Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites, and when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification. I do not, indeed, consider the Epicureans to have been by any means faultless in drawing out their scheme of consequences from the utilitarian principle. To do this in any sufficient manner, many Stoic, as well as Christian elements require to be included. But there is no known Epicurean theory of life which does not assign to the pleasures of the intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of the moral sentiments, a much higher value as pleasures than to those of mere sensation. .. It is quite compatible with the principle of utility to recognize the fact, that some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more valuable than others. It would be absurd that while, in estimating all other things, quality is considered as well as quantity, the estimation of pleasures should be supposed to depend on quantity alone."
6) In this quote,
A) Mill agrees that utilitarianism is a doctrine worthy only of a swine;
B) distinguishes higher pleasures (related to intellect, imagination, and moral sentiments) from lower pleasures that humans share with animals;
C) maintains that higher pleasures are more valuable than lower pleasures;
D) B) and C);
E) all of the above
7) When challenged how we know that higher pleasures are more valuable than lower pleasures, Mill replied what follows:
A) we do not know it, it's just an assumption;
B) we know it because that's what the holy scriptures say;
C) we know it because competent people (i.e., those who experienced both kinds of pleasures) almost universally maintain that higher pleasures are more valuable,;
D) none of the above
According to Aristitle and Aquinas the happiness (eudaimonia, flourishing) is a function of several different factors including friendship, meaningful relations with others, intellectual activity, and other virtues. That is, they maintain not only that, say, friendship leads to happiness but rather than friendship is part or cpmponent of happiness.
8) The view about happiness assumed by Bentham and Mill is identical to the view about happiness (eudaimonia, flourishing) assumed by Aristotle and Aquinas
A) true;
B) false
9) Eudaimonism is
A) a version of consequentialism;
B) a version of deontology;
C) a view that only pleasure is intrinsically good and only pain is intrinsically bad;
D) the view that happiness (flourishing) is intrinsically good;
E) none of the above
10) According to utilitarians the consequences of a right action
A) can include some negative utility.
B) can include some positive utility
C) both A) and B)
11) According to utilitarians, the consequences of a right action
A) can include short term utility.
B) can include long term utility
C) both A) and B)
12) Something has intrinsic value if it has
A) value in itself;
B) value as a result of being caused by something good or noble;
C) has extrinsic (instrumental) value; has value as a means to something
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above
13) The isolation test allows us to determine that
A) one cannot be used merely as a means
B) one can travel alone in a space‑ship
C) something has intrinsic value
D) all of the above
E) none of the above.
14) John Stuart Mill is
A) quantitative hedonist, i.e. he believes that only the amount of pleasure and pain are morally relevant
B) qualitative hedonist; i.e., the believer that both the quantity of pleasure and pain and their quality are morally relevant.
C) neither of the above
15) According to pluralism, as this view was explained in outlines
A) many different ethical norms are all equally valid and so, ethical relativism is true;
B) both consequentialist and deontological ethical theories are morally correct;
C) many different things have intrinsic value;
D) correct moral decisions fulfill plural standards.
16) Suppose that John lives on a desert island. One day he discovers a treasure hidden there by pirates. Though he is now wealthy, he cannot use any part of this treasure. Suppose that John concludes that this discovery has no value to him. In particular, it did not improve his life and did not increase the total value of good things in the universe. It follows that he thinks that
A) pleasure only is intrinsically good;
B) pleasure and happiness are both intrinsically good;
C) pleasure, happiness, and having treasure are all intrinsically good;
D) the treasure is not intrinsically good (even though, in some situations, it can have instrumental value)
E) none of the above.
17) Suppose that George lives on another desert island. One day he experienced a particularly beautiful sunset full and, at the same time, he experiences a particularly gorgeous rising of the full moon. While he observes both heavenly bodies hovering above a quiet bay he concludes that his life has been enriched, he experienced something beautiful, something valuable. It follows that George thinks that
A) pleasure only is intrinsically good;
B) pleasure and happiness are both intrinsically good;
C) arguably, the experience of beauty is intrinsically good;
D) none of the above.
18) Utilitarian theory is universally‑inclusive or all‑encompassing. That is, by utilitarian standards, if someone (or something) is able to feel pleasure and pain, then this being is within a sphere of morality. In other words, we need to take interests of such a being into consideration when we make moral decisions.
A) true;
B) false
19) To say that utilitarian theory is egalitarian means that
A) interests of some beings count for more than interests of some other beings;
B) similar interests count similarly (no matter who has those interests);
C) neither A) nor B).
20) The following is the best statement of the principle assumed by act‑utilitarians:
A) An action is morally right if and only if it brings about more pleasure than pain;
B) An action is morally right if and only if it brings about the greatest happiness for the greatest number;
C) An action is morally right if it maximizes social (total) utility
D) they are all equally good because they all really mean the same.
21) Suppose that some action causes significant suffering to one person and enormous pleasure to many other people; according to utilitarian ethics this action
A) must be morally right as it produces some positive utility;
B) may be wrong as there may be some other act that produces at least as much pleasure but less pain;
C) may be wrong as there may be some other act that produces at most as much pain but even more pleasure;
D) B) or C);
E) none of the above.
22) According to consequentialists in order to know that an action is right (or wrong)
A) we must know the value of consequences of doing this action;
B) we must know the value of consequences of the alternative actions;
C) we must know that justice was not violated;
D) A) and B);
E) all of the above.
23) The "injustice objection" (discussed in class) is a common objection to
A) Utilitarian ethical theory.
B) Kant's ethical theory
C) A) and B)
D) none of the above
24) Supererogatory acts
A) go beyond and above the call of duty (so, it's right to do them but not wrong to fail to do them);
B) are merely morally permissible;
C) are morally required;
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above.
25) Critics of utilitarianism maintain that, according to act utilitarian standards
A) too many actions (including some trivial ones) wold count as supererogatory;
B) no action would count as supererogatory because we do not really know what the consequences of any act are;
C) no action would count as supererogatory because act utilitarianism always requires of us to do very best action (i.e., one that maximizes utility);
D) none of the above.
26) Rule‑utilitarians would
A) evaluate each action directly, no matter to what kind this action belongs;
B) set up a system of rules that are based on utilitarian considerations;
C) use that system to evaluate actions as belonging to various kinds (e.g., an act of lying, an act of stealing, an act of killing; and act of violating justice);
D) B) and C);
E) all of the above.
27) In class we discussed examples which involve using (sacrificing) one person to help other people. Such examples were used to show that
A) deontological theories are flawed
B) consequentialist theories may be flawed
C) hospitals must never use triage procedures
D) all of the above
E) none of the above
ANSWERS AND HINTS:
1) The following are forms of non‑consequentialism
A) utilitarianism;
B) ethical egoism and ethical altruism;
C) the best interest principle;
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above (they are all forms of consequentialism).
Check out the outline about consequebtialism/utilitarianism.
2) The following principle seems to have the most narrow scope; that is, it is applicable (it regulates) only to some cases and relations between people but is not meant to be used in all contexts:
A) utilitarian principle;
B) principles of ethical egoism and contractarianism;
--> C) the best interest principle;
D) they have exactly the same scope (that is, they apply to the same situations).
It is only applicabel in some contexts; e.g., doctors and lawyers are supposed to act in our best interest. But car salesmen are not required to do so.
According to John Stuart Mill:
“The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, Utility, or the Greatest Happiness Principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure, and the absence of pain; by unhappiness, pain, and the privation of pleasure. To give a clear view of the moral standard set up by the theory, much more requires to be said; in particular, what things it includes in the ideas of pain and pleasure; and to what extent this is left an open question. But these supplementary explanations do not affect the theory of life on which this theory of morality is grounded‑namely, that pleasure, and freedom from pain, are the only things desirable as ends; and that all desirable things (which are as numerous in the utilitarian as in any other scheme) are desirable either for the pleasure inherent in themselves, or as means to the promotion of pleasure and the prevention of pain." (J.S. Mill,Utilitarianism")
3) In this quote, Mill maintains that
A) utility is the foundation of morality
B) duties are foundations of morality
C) moral rights are foundations of morality;
D) B) and C) only;
E) all of the above.
4) Mill's "Greatest Happiness Principle" maintains that
A) actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, but reverse of happiness has nothing to do with the evaluation of acts;
B) actions are wrong in proportion as they tend to promote unhappiness, but happiness has nothing to do with the evaluation of acts;
C) actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.
D) none of the above.
See the quote above.
5) Mill maintains that happiness is the function of
A) pleasure only;
B) the absence of pain only;
C) pleasure and the absence of pain;
D) none of the above
See the quote above.
Critics of utilitarianism maintained what follows:
“To suppose that life has ... no higher end than pleasure ‑no better and nobler object of desire and pursuit‑ [is] a doctrine worthy only of swine, to whom the followers of Epicurus were, at a very early period, contemptuously likened; and modern holders of the doctrine are occasionally made the subject of equally polite comparisons by its German, French, and English assailants.”
Mill responded to this criticism as follows:
“The comparison of the Epicurean life to that of beasts is felt as degrading, precisely because a beast's pleasures do not satisfy a human being's conceptions of happiness. Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites, and when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification. I do not, indeed, consider the Epicureans to have been by any means faultless in drawing out their scheme of consequences from the utilitarian principle. To do this in any sufficient manner, many Stoic, as well as Christian elements require to be included. But there is no known Epicurean theory of life which does not assign to the pleasures of the intellect, of the feelings and imagination, and of the moral sentiments, a much higher value as pleasures than to those of mere sensation. .. It is quite compatible with the principle of utility to recognize the fact, that some kinds of pleasure are more desirable and more valuable than others. It would be absurd that while, in estimating all other things, quality is considered as well as quantity, the estimation of pleasures should be supposed to depend on quantity alone."
6) In this quote,
A) Mill agrees that utilitarianism is a doctrine worthy only of a swine;
B) distinguishes higher pleasures (related to intellect, imagination, and moral sentiments) from lower pleasures that humans share with animals;
C) maintains that higher pleasures are more valuable than lower pleasures;
--> D) B) and C);
E) all of the above.
It's important to distinguish two different things; namely, what critics claim about utilitarianism and what the utilitarian theory really implies.
7) When challenged how we know that higher pleasures are more valuable than lower pleasures, Mill replied what follows:
A) we do not know it, it's just an assumption;
B) we know it because that's what the holy scriptures say;
C) we know it because competent people (i.e., those who experienced both kinds of pleasures) almost universally maintain that higher pleasures are more valuable;
D) none of the above.
Mill used the test of appealing to people competent in such matters. He though that we gain competence through having a veriaty of experiences and experiencing bot higher and lower pleasures. Finally, he noticed that peopel who have experience various kinds of pleasure (including pleasures related to our bodies and those related to our intellect) almost universally prefer what he called the higer pleasures.
According to Aristitle and Aquinas the happiness (eudaimonia, flourishing) is a function of several different factors including friendhip, meaningful relations with others, intellectual activity, and other virtues. That is, they maintain not only that, say, friendship leads to happiness but rather than friendship is part of happiness.
8) The view about happiness assumed by Bentham and Mill is identical to the view about happiness (eudaimonia, flourishing) assumed by Aristotle and Aquinas
A) true;
B) false
B). Bentham and Mill would argue that frienship and intellectual activities are good means to pelasure (which is good in itself). Mill might even argue that thiese kinds of pleasures have higher quality. Aristotle and Aquinas argued that friendship and intellectual activity are necessary components of human flourishing (edaimonia). That is, on their view, they are not just means to happiness but rather they are necessary elements or components of true happiness.
9) Eudaimonism is
A) a version of consequentialism;
B) a version of deontology;
C) a view that only pleasure is intrinsically good and only pain is intrinsically bad;
D) the view that happiness (flourishing) is intrinsically good;
E) none of the above
I think I have answered it above. But feel free to double check in my outline on the isolation test and the intrinsic value.
10) According to utilitarians the consequences of a right action
A) can include some negative utility.
B) can include some positive utility
C) both A) and B)
Check out outline about utilitarianism and especially application guidelines.
11) According to utilitarians, the consequences of a right action
A) can include short term utility.
B) can include long term utility
C) both A) and B)
See above.
12) Something has intrinsic value if it has
A) value in itself;
B) value as a result of being caused by something good or noble;
C) has extrinsic (instrumental) value; has value as a means to something
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above
See the hint offered above (question 9).
13) The isolation test allows us to determine that
A) one cannot be used merely as a means
B) one can travel alone in a space‑ship
C) something has intrinsic value
D) all of the above
E) none of the above.
See the hint above (question 9).
14) John Stuart Mill is
A) quantitative hedonist, i.e. he believes that only the amount of pleasure and pain are morally relevant
B) qualitative hedonist; i.e., the believer that both the quantity of pleasure and pain and their quality are morally relevant.
C) neither of the above
See the hint above (question 9).
15) According to pluralism, as this view was explained in outlines
A) many different ethical norms are all equally valid and so, ethical relativism is true;
B) both consequentialist and deontological ethical theories are morally correct;
C) many different things have intrinsic value;
D) correct moral decisions fulfill plural standards.
See the hint above (question 9).
16) Suppose that John lives on a desert island. One day he discovers a treasure hidden there by pirates. Though he is now wealthy, he cannot use any part of this treasure. Suppose that John concludes that this discovery has no value to him. In particular, it did not improve his life and did not increase the total value of good things in the universe. It follows that he thinks that
A) pleasure only is intrinsically good;
B) pleasure and happiness are both intrinsically good;
C) pleasure, happiness, and having treasure are all intrinsically good;
--> D) the treasure is not intrinsically good (even though, in some situations, it can have instrumental value)
E) none of the above.
This is an example of the "isolation test." Taken in isolation (i.e., when not used) gold has no value. Therefore, it may have at most instrumental value.
17) Suppose that George lives on another desert island. One day he experienced a particularly beautiful sunset full of crimson hues. At the same time, he experiences a particularly gorgeous rising of the full moon. While he observes both heavenly bodies hovering above a quiet bay he concludes that his life has been enriched, he experienced something beautiful, something valuable. It follows that George thinks that
A) pleasure only is intrinsically good;
B) pleasure and happiness are both intrinsically good;
C) arguably, the experience of beauty is intrinsically good;
D) none of the above.
Well, think about it. By the way, this is an example adopted from G.E. Moore who introduced the isolation test. G.E. Moore thought that the experience of beauty is always valuable, even in itself, even if it does not lead to anything else that is valuable.
18) Utilitarian theory is universally‑inclusive or all‑encompassing. That is, by utilitarian standards, if someone (or something) is able to feel pleasure and pain, then this being is within a sphere of morality. In other words, we need to take interests of such a being into consideration when we make moral decisions.
A) true;
B) false
Please read chapter 7 and notice what Bentham and other utilitarians think about animals.
19) To say that utilitarian theory is egalitarian means that
A) interests of some beings count for more than interests of some other beings;
--> B) similar interests count similarly (no matter who has those interests);
C) neither A) nor B).
20) The following is the best statement of the principle assumed by act‑utilitarians:
A) An action is morally right if and only if it brings about more pleasure than pain;
B) An action is morally right if and only if it brings about the greatest happiness for the greatest number;
C) An action is morally right if it maximizes social (total) utility
D) they are all equally good because they all really mean the same.
I offered clear objections to some of these principles in my lectures and outlines. In particular, I discussed several principles that I labled with question marks (because they are false). Please, never use principles which are mistaken (even though you can find them in some popular treatments of utilitarian theory). In the outline about utilitariansim I have offered examples that show why these principles are wrong.
21) Suppose that some action causes significant suffering to one person and enormous pleasure to many other people; according to utilitarian ethics this action
A) must be morally right as it produces some positive utility;
B) may be wrong as there may be some other act that produces at least as much pleasure but less pain;
C) may be wrong as there may be some other act that produces at most as much pain but even more pleasure;
D) B) or C);
E) none of the above.
See the same outline.
22) According to consequentialists in order to know that an action is right (or wrong)
A) we must know the value of consequences of doing this action;
B) we must know the value of consequences of the alternative actions;
C) we must know that justice was not violated;
D) A) and B);
E) all of the above.
For consequentialists, especially the classic utilitarians, justice has only instrumental value. So, in principle, consequentialists do not care about whether justice itself is violated or not. This is one place where deontologoists would disagree with consequentialists. For many deontologists it is wrong to do something unjusts, even if it has good conseqiences.
23) The "injustice objection" (discussed in class) is a common objection to
A) Utilitarian ethical theory.
B) Kant's ethical theory
C) A) and B)
D) none of the above
See Rachels, chapter 7 (and my outline about utilitarian theory).
24) Supererogatory acts
A) go beyond and above the call of duty (so, it's right to do them but not wrong to fail to do them);
B) are merely morally permissible;
C) are morally required;
D) all of the above;
E) none of the above.
An example of allegedly supererogatory act: After already calling 911, a person (a civilian) risks his life and health by rushing into a building on fire to save somone who may perish in flames. Intuitively, it is our duty to call 911. But rushing into that building seems to go beyond and above the call of duty.
25) Critics of utilitarianism maintain that, according to act utilitarian standards
A) too many actions (including some trivial ones) wold count as supererogatory;
B) no action would count as supererogatory because we do not really know what the consequences of any act are;
C) no action would count as supererogatory because act utilitarianism always requires of us to do very best action (i.e., one that maximizes utility);
D) none of the above.
This question is related to the objection that utilitarianism is too demanding. For example, consider the act above (question 24) and remember that act-utilitarianism requires that we maximize utility. If theact of running into building maximizes utility, then by Act-U standards, this act is obligatory. If this act fails to maximize utility, then it is wrong. In neither case, this act goes beyond what is obligatory (by Act-U standards).
26) Rule‑utilitarians would
A) evaluate each action directly, no matter to what kind this action belongs;
B) set up a system of rules that are based on utilitarian considerations;
C) use that system to evaluate actions as belonging to various kinds (e.g., an act of lying, an act of stealing, an act of killing; and act of violating justice);
D) B) and C);
E) all of the above.
See outline(s) about utilitarianism.
27) In class we discussed examples which involve using (sacrificing) one person to help other people. Such examples were used to show that
A) deontological theories are flawed
--> B) consequentialist theories may be flawed
C) hospitals must never use triage procedures
D) all of the above
E) none of the above