net happiness

Question 1

1. According to the utilitarian theory, an action is morally right if and only if

it makes the person who does it happy.

everyone prefers that action to any other action.

It maximizes total, net happiness.

it brings only happiness and causes no pain.

Question 2

According to W. D. Ross’s theory

a prima facie obligation is absolute and can never be overridden.

what we should do in any specific set of circumstances will always be self-evident.

it would be wrong to lie to a murderer even to save the life of a friend.

we have various moral duties that can’t be reduced to a single, overarching obligation.

Question 3

Which of the following represents a utilitarian belief?

Rightness is determined by what most people want, i.e., by majority rule.

Rightness is determined by what will bring about the most good.

We should concern ourselves only with the immediate results of our actions.

We must always disregard our own happiness when deciding what to do.

Question 4

For those who are trying to make moral decisions,

it is impossible to make progress on controversial ethical issues unless everyone shares the same moral theory.

endorsing a moral principle doesn’t require you to apply it in all similar situation

moral judgments don’t have to be related to some general moral principles

in a moral discussion, clarifying the facts and spelling out the principles to which people are appealing can help us to reach a solution.

Question 5

If you adopt ethical egoism as your moral code, then

you can never act honestly or be gracious or helpful to others.

you must endorse hedonism.

you must always avoid any unpleasant or painful experiences.

you believe that it is morally right to do whatever promotes your self-interest.

Question 6

“If you want to go to law school, then you must take the LSAT exam.” This statement is an example of

the transcendental imperative.

the moral permissibility of our actions depends entirely upon their consequences.

we should treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

only pleasure has intrinsic value.

Question 7

A key idea of Immanuel Kant’s ethical theory is that

all duties are prima facie duties.

the moral permissibility of our actions depends entirely upon their consequences.

we should treat people as ends in themselves, never merely as means.

only pleasure has intrinsic value.

Question 8

Kant believed that we should always act

in such a way that we can will the maxim of our action to be a local law.

in a way that treats success as an end in itself, never merely as means.

in a way that would be universally unacceptable to all rational beings.

in a way that we can will the maxim of our action to become a universal law.

Question 9

According to Kant

good will is the only thing that is good in itself.

an action has moral worth if it is consistent with the categorical imperative.

only actions based on feeling or sentiment have moral worth.

a self-interested person can never do the right action.

Question 10

Supererogatory actions are

actions that are normally wrong to do, but can sometimes be right.

actions that it would be good to do but not immoral not to do.

actions that we are morally required to do, all things considered

actions that are wrong even though they produce some good.

Question 11

The statement that best defines rights is

all moral rights are legal rights.

a negative right is a right to receive certain benefits.

a right is an entitlement to act or to have others act in a certain way

all moral rights are human rights.

Question 12

Consequentialism

is best represented by Ross’s theory of ethics.

states that sometimes the consequences of our actions can be morally relevant

states that the moral rightness of an action is determined solely by its results

differs from nonconsequentialism because nonconsequentialism denies that consequences have any moral significance.

Question 13

A practical basis for discussing moral issues involves taking account of

effects, ideals, and obligations.

effort, duties, and organization.

compassion, intellect, and patience.

compliance, contribution, and consequences.

Question 14

Egoism as a psychological theory

states that self-interest is the only thing that ever motivates anyone

is the same thing as ethical egoism.

states that people are sometimes selfish.

is based on egoism as an ethical theory.

Question 15

Utilitarianism is appealing as a standard for moral decision making in business. Which of the following provides a reason for this?

Utilitarianism provides an objective way of resolving conflicts of self-interest.

Utilitarianism provides a rigid approach to moral decision making.

Utilitarianism provides a fuzzy standard for formulating and testing policies

Utilitarianism gives us firm rules to follow, rules that don’t permit exceptions.