PHIL 333 PRACTICE EXAMINATION 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● Descriptive Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the moral values that
individuals and groups actually possess and live by
● Applied Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the moral aspects of specific
situations
● Meta-Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the fundamental nature of ethics as
a discipline
● Descriptive Claims. Answer: empirical claims that pertain to what is or could be, what was
or could have been, or what will be or could come about (is, was, and could)
● Prescriptive Claims. Answer: pertains to a moral ideal (should, may, and must)
● List two positive rights and two negative rights:. Answer: Positive rights refer to
situations where the actions of others assist with the implementation of a right, whereas
negative rights refer to the inaction of others to allow something to occur. Examples of positive
rights - In our town, we have the right to safe and accessible roads, and as such, the
municipality is obligated to keep them in a state of good repair. Young people often move to
the back of the bus, so the front seats are available for the elderly or parents with strollers.
Examples of negative rights - The students that study at the library go there for a quiet
environment, so it is expected that others will avoid being disruptive. A truck driver cannot
drive for more than thirteen hours a day under the law, and dispatchers must avoid assigning
work that would cause the driver to exceed the mandated time limits.
● Explain what Aaron Quinn means by "ethical pluralism" and "pluralistic ethics.".
Answer: Ethical pluralism is the idea that there can be multiple, equally valid ethical
frameworks or approaches to understanding and resolving moral issues. Pluralistic ethics is a
related concept that refers to the idea that there can be multiple, equally valid moral principles
or frameworks that can coexist and be applied in different situations.
● Explain the difference between a descriptive account (e.g., Greenwood) and an
evaluative account (e.g., Downie) of the nature of professions.. Answer: A descriptive
account of the nature of professions aims to provide a factual and objective portrayal of the
characteristics, features, and behaviors that define a profession. In contrast, an evaluative
ANSWERS GRADED A+
● Descriptive Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the moral values that
individuals and groups actually possess and live by
● Applied Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the moral aspects of specific
situations
● Meta-Ethics. Answer: aims to answer questions about the fundamental nature of ethics as
a discipline
● Descriptive Claims. Answer: empirical claims that pertain to what is or could be, what was
or could have been, or what will be or could come about (is, was, and could)
● Prescriptive Claims. Answer: pertains to a moral ideal (should, may, and must)
● List two positive rights and two negative rights:. Answer: Positive rights refer to
situations where the actions of others assist with the implementation of a right, whereas
negative rights refer to the inaction of others to allow something to occur. Examples of positive
rights - In our town, we have the right to safe and accessible roads, and as such, the
municipality is obligated to keep them in a state of good repair. Young people often move to
the back of the bus, so the front seats are available for the elderly or parents with strollers.
Examples of negative rights - The students that study at the library go there for a quiet
environment, so it is expected that others will avoid being disruptive. A truck driver cannot
drive for more than thirteen hours a day under the law, and dispatchers must avoid assigning
work that would cause the driver to exceed the mandated time limits.
● Explain what Aaron Quinn means by "ethical pluralism" and "pluralistic ethics.".
Answer: Ethical pluralism is the idea that there can be multiple, equally valid ethical
frameworks or approaches to understanding and resolving moral issues. Pluralistic ethics is a
related concept that refers to the idea that there can be multiple, equally valid moral principles
or frameworks that can coexist and be applied in different situations.
● Explain the difference between a descriptive account (e.g., Greenwood) and an
evaluative account (e.g., Downie) of the nature of professions.. Answer: A descriptive
account of the nature of professions aims to provide a factual and objective portrayal of the
characteristics, features, and behaviors that define a profession. In contrast, an evaluative
