Question

Which one of the following was NOT a problem regarding utilitarian ethics?
A) utilitarianism allows for slavery in rare cases where benefits outweigh costs
B) if only consequences matter, it is permissible in some cases to punish the innocent
C) if only consequences matter, it is permissible in some cases to break promises
D) utilitarianism is a cold and calculating doctrine by trying to quantify social benefits

According to the rule utilitarian, an act is morally right provided that:
A) the rule that governs the action achieves the greatest good for the greatest number
B) the rule that governs the action can be willed to be a universal moral law
C) the rule that governs the action is beneficial for the person performing the action
D) the rule that governs the action makes each person happy vs. other rules of action

A key difference between ethical egoism (EE) and psychological egoism (PE) is:
A) EE is consequentialist whereas PE is deontological
B) EE is normative whereas PE is descriptive
C) EE assumes a theory of human nature whereas PE does not
D) EE cannot resolve moral conflicts whereas PE can

Answer 1

Question # 1

Which one of the following was NOT a problem regarding utilitarian ethics?
A) utilitarianism allows for slavery in rare cases where benefits outweigh costs
B) if only consequences matter, it is permissible in some cases to punish the innocent
C) if only consequences matter, it is permissible in some cases to break promises
D) utilitarianism is a cold and calculating doctrine by trying to quantify social benefits

Answer: A) utilitarianism allows for slavery in rare cases where benefits outweigh costs.

Explanation: Utilitarian as a whole says, the weakness outweighs the strengths because it. Utilitarianism usually does not take into account the feelings or happiness of the minority and also how can we measure pleasure, one cannot add a value towards it. Act utilitarianism does not rule out any type of action as immoral. Therefore, if an action produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number it is right, even if it appear heinous.

Question # 2

According to the rule utilitarian, an act is morally right provided that:
A) the rule that governs the action achieves the greatest good for the greatest number
B) the rule that governs the action can be willed to be a universal moral law
C) the rule that governs the action is beneficial for the person performing the action
D) the rule that governs the action makes each person happy vs. other rules of action

Answer: the rule that governs the action achieves the greatest good for the greatest number

Explanation: utilitarian makes life better by increasing the amount of good things for instance such as pleasure and happiness, whereas, in the world and decreasing the amount of bad things example such as pain and unhappiness.

Question # 3

A key difference between ethical egoism (EE) and psychological egoism (PE) is:
A) EE is consequentialist whereas PE is deontological
B) EE is normative whereas PE is descriptive
C) EE assumes a theory of human nature whereas PE does not
D) EE cannot resolve moral conflicts whereas PE can

Answer: EE is consequentialist whereas PE is deontological

Explanation: Ethical Egoism claims that each person ought to pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively. Psychological Egoism, by contrast, asserts that each person does in fact pursue his or her own self-interest exclusively.