PHI- 103: Exam Topic 6-7 Questions
and All Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
What is moral philosophy/ethics? - Answer the branch of philosophy that explores questions
of moral values, and the theories and justifications that we use to make moral decisions
Distinction between meta ethics, normative, and applied - Answer meta ethics- identify the
meaning
normative ethics- analyzing the principles
applied ethics- examining the problem to asses application
Meta ethics - Answer fundamental nature of moral reasoning, meaning of ethical terms,
status of moral claims and theories, whether we can have moral knowledge
Normative ethics - Answer the search for a theory that helps distinguish between moral
options and a wide variety of cases
Applied ethics - Answer applying the theory to those cases
Intrinsic good - Answer valuable because of the good they bring about
instrumental good - Answer good in and of themselves
Moral skepticsim - Answer a class of meta ethical theories all members of which entail that
no one has any moral knowledge.
nihilism - Answer nothing is morally wrong or right; the reason we don't have moral
knowledge is that the moral values do not exist
relativism (in general)- - Answer moral right and wrong is always relative to some person or
group and the standards of conduct adopted by that person or group
, ethical subjectivism - Answer the view that moral claims are right or wrong depending on
the preference of the individual
problem with ethical subjectivism - Answer doesn't actually achieve good goals
cultural relativism - Answer the view that moral right and wrong depends on the standards
and customs of a culture
argument for cultural relativism - Answer 1. moral code determines right or wrong within a
culture
2. therefore, it is wrong for another culture to judge the moral codes of another
problems with cultural relativism - Answer 1. It rests on a faulty argument
2. it forbids criticisms of other cultures
3. no moral progress
4. it is self-defeating
Moral differences argument - Answer 1. different cultures have different moral codes
2. therefore, there are no objective moral truths by which the different perspectives can be
judged
flat earth argument in response to cultural relativism - Answer 1. there are differences of
opinion about whether the earth is flat or spherical
2. therefore, there is no objective truth about the shape of the earth
problems with relativism - Answer if morality is a matter of opinion then there is nothing
telling me that i should be tolerant or respect the autonomy of others
the only way to be morally autonomous - Answer 1. it is objectively wrong for others to
interfere with decision making
2. it is universally wrong for others to interfere with decision making
hedonism - Answer happiness is the only intrinsic good
and All Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
What is moral philosophy/ethics? - Answer the branch of philosophy that explores questions
of moral values, and the theories and justifications that we use to make moral decisions
Distinction between meta ethics, normative, and applied - Answer meta ethics- identify the
meaning
normative ethics- analyzing the principles
applied ethics- examining the problem to asses application
Meta ethics - Answer fundamental nature of moral reasoning, meaning of ethical terms,
status of moral claims and theories, whether we can have moral knowledge
Normative ethics - Answer the search for a theory that helps distinguish between moral
options and a wide variety of cases
Applied ethics - Answer applying the theory to those cases
Intrinsic good - Answer valuable because of the good they bring about
instrumental good - Answer good in and of themselves
Moral skepticsim - Answer a class of meta ethical theories all members of which entail that
no one has any moral knowledge.
nihilism - Answer nothing is morally wrong or right; the reason we don't have moral
knowledge is that the moral values do not exist
relativism (in general)- - Answer moral right and wrong is always relative to some person or
group and the standards of conduct adopted by that person or group
, ethical subjectivism - Answer the view that moral claims are right or wrong depending on
the preference of the individual
problem with ethical subjectivism - Answer doesn't actually achieve good goals
cultural relativism - Answer the view that moral right and wrong depends on the standards
and customs of a culture
argument for cultural relativism - Answer 1. moral code determines right or wrong within a
culture
2. therefore, it is wrong for another culture to judge the moral codes of another
problems with cultural relativism - Answer 1. It rests on a faulty argument
2. it forbids criticisms of other cultures
3. no moral progress
4. it is self-defeating
Moral differences argument - Answer 1. different cultures have different moral codes
2. therefore, there are no objective moral truths by which the different perspectives can be
judged
flat earth argument in response to cultural relativism - Answer 1. there are differences of
opinion about whether the earth is flat or spherical
2. therefore, there is no objective truth about the shape of the earth
problems with relativism - Answer if morality is a matter of opinion then there is nothing
telling me that i should be tolerant or respect the autonomy of others
the only way to be morally autonomous - Answer 1. it is objectively wrong for others to
interfere with decision making
2. it is universally wrong for others to interfere with decision making
hedonism - Answer happiness is the only intrinsic good
