PHIL 447N WEEK 4 MIDTERM QUIZ 250
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
PHIL 447N Week 4 Midterm Quiz (Version 1)
1.
Which ethical theory judges the morality of an action based on its
consequences?
A. Deontology
B. Virtue Ethics
C. Rule-ethics
D. Consequentialism
Utilitarianism and other consequentialist theories assess morality by
outcomes.
2.
According to classical utilitarianism, the goal of morality is to:
A. Follow religious rules
B. Maximize individual autonomy
C. Honor tradition
D. Maximize overall happiness
Utilitarianism holds that moral actions promote the greatest good for
the greatest number.
3.
Kant’s moral philosophy is best described as:
A. Consequence-based
B. Duty-based (deontological)
C. Empirically grounded
D. Culturally relative
Kant stresses duty and universal principles, not consequences.
,4.
The “categorical imperative” requires that one act only according to
maxims that can be:
A. Emotionally justified
B. Personally beneficial
C. Universalized
D. Economically efficient
Kant’s universalizability principle is central to his deontology.
5.
In utilitarian calculus, which factor is least relevant?
A. Intensity of pleasure
B. Duration of pleasure
C. Intrinsic moral worth of actions
D. Number of people affected
Utilitarians don’t assign intrinsic moral worth; they evaluate
pleasure/pain outcomes.
6.
Which ethical theory emphasizes character traits rather than individual
acts?
A. Contractarianism
B. Deontology
C. Utilitarianism
D. Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics focuses on virtues and what kind of person one should be.
7.
Aristotle defines happiness (eudaimonia) as:
A. Raw pleasure
B. Flourishing as a human being
C. Financial success
D. Religious salvation
Eudaimonia is about fulfilling one’s human potentials.
,8.
For Kant, moral laws are grounded in:
A. Cultural norms
B. Social utility
C. Divine command
D. Reason alone
Kant believes moral law comes from rationality.
9.
A common criticism of utilitarianism is that it:
A. Emphasizes duties too much
B. Relies on intuition
C. May justify unjust acts
D. Rejects happiness
Utilitarianism can, in theory, justify morally questionable acts if they
maximize utility.
10.
Moral relativism claims that moral truths are:
A. Universal laws
B. Dependent on cultural or personal norms
C. Scientifically measurable
D. Absolute commandments
Relativists deny universal moral truths.
11.
Which thinker is most closely associated with utilitarianism?
A. Nietzsche
B. Plato
C. John Stuart Mill
D. Sartre
Mill develops and popularizes utilitarianism.
, 12.
Kant’s ethics holds that lying is always wrong because it:
A. Harms happiness
B. Is illegal
C. Contradicts universal law
D. Weakens social bonds
For Kant, lying cannot be universalized without contradiction.
13.
Which of the following is a teleological ethical theory?
A. Deontology
B. Utilitarianism
C. Divine command
D. Contractualism
Teleological theories assess morality by ends or goals.
14.
Aristotle believes virtues are acquired by:
A. Genetic inheritance
B. Habit and practice
C. Religious ritual
D. Fear avoidance
Virtue comes from habituation, not innate disposition.
15.
In utilitarianism, “higher pleasures” are associated with:
A. Instincts
B. Bodily satisfaction
C. Intellectual and aesthetic experiences
D. Sensory pleasures only
Mill distinguishes higher (intellectual) from lower (sensory) pleasures.
16.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
PHIL 447N Week 4 Midterm Quiz (Version 1)
1.
Which ethical theory judges the morality of an action based on its
consequences?
A. Deontology
B. Virtue Ethics
C. Rule-ethics
D. Consequentialism
Utilitarianism and other consequentialist theories assess morality by
outcomes.
2.
According to classical utilitarianism, the goal of morality is to:
A. Follow religious rules
B. Maximize individual autonomy
C. Honor tradition
D. Maximize overall happiness
Utilitarianism holds that moral actions promote the greatest good for
the greatest number.
3.
Kant’s moral philosophy is best described as:
A. Consequence-based
B. Duty-based (deontological)
C. Empirically grounded
D. Culturally relative
Kant stresses duty and universal principles, not consequences.
,4.
The “categorical imperative” requires that one act only according to
maxims that can be:
A. Emotionally justified
B. Personally beneficial
C. Universalized
D. Economically efficient
Kant’s universalizability principle is central to his deontology.
5.
In utilitarian calculus, which factor is least relevant?
A. Intensity of pleasure
B. Duration of pleasure
C. Intrinsic moral worth of actions
D. Number of people affected
Utilitarians don’t assign intrinsic moral worth; they evaluate
pleasure/pain outcomes.
6.
Which ethical theory emphasizes character traits rather than individual
acts?
A. Contractarianism
B. Deontology
C. Utilitarianism
D. Virtue Ethics
Virtue ethics focuses on virtues and what kind of person one should be.
7.
Aristotle defines happiness (eudaimonia) as:
A. Raw pleasure
B. Flourishing as a human being
C. Financial success
D. Religious salvation
Eudaimonia is about fulfilling one’s human potentials.
,8.
For Kant, moral laws are grounded in:
A. Cultural norms
B. Social utility
C. Divine command
D. Reason alone
Kant believes moral law comes from rationality.
9.
A common criticism of utilitarianism is that it:
A. Emphasizes duties too much
B. Relies on intuition
C. May justify unjust acts
D. Rejects happiness
Utilitarianism can, in theory, justify morally questionable acts if they
maximize utility.
10.
Moral relativism claims that moral truths are:
A. Universal laws
B. Dependent on cultural or personal norms
C. Scientifically measurable
D. Absolute commandments
Relativists deny universal moral truths.
11.
Which thinker is most closely associated with utilitarianism?
A. Nietzsche
B. Plato
C. John Stuart Mill
D. Sartre
Mill develops and popularizes utilitarianism.
, 12.
Kant’s ethics holds that lying is always wrong because it:
A. Harms happiness
B. Is illegal
C. Contradicts universal law
D. Weakens social bonds
For Kant, lying cannot be universalized without contradiction.
13.
Which of the following is a teleological ethical theory?
A. Deontology
B. Utilitarianism
C. Divine command
D. Contractualism
Teleological theories assess morality by ends or goals.
14.
Aristotle believes virtues are acquired by:
A. Genetic inheritance
B. Habit and practice
C. Religious ritual
D. Fear avoidance
Virtue comes from habituation, not innate disposition.
15.
In utilitarianism, “higher pleasures” are associated with:
A. Instincts
B. Bodily satisfaction
C. Intellectual and aesthetic experiences
D. Sensory pleasures only
Mill distinguishes higher (intellectual) from lower (sensory) pleasures.
16.
