ETHICS AND PUBLIC POLICY
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● deontological: Answer: -identify what is good by looking at whether
the actions themselves are good.
-often measured by rules we are bound to follow (ex. 10
commandments, BOR, natural law)
-don't care about the outcome, only the intrinsic goodness of the action
-ends do not justify the means
-lying, cheating, deceiving are not good
●● Consequentialism: Answer: -identify what is good by looking at an
action's effects (ex. cost and benefits, national interests, public welfare,
saving lives)
-did you achieve something good or did it result in something good
-ends justify the means
-idea that an action maximalizes utility--helps the most amount of
people, causes more pleasure than pain
●● what is the paradox? Answer: -in a perfect world you can follow both
ethics (good actions (deontological)=good outcomes (consequentialism)
& bad actions=bad outcomes)
, -the real world is ethically irrational (good behavior=bad outcome & bad
action=good outcome)
●● Kant's famous example Answer: -an assassin wants to kill your
uncle; they knock on your door and ask if he's home
-should you tell them he is home (deontological, wrong to lie) or lie and
say he is not there (consequentialism, good outcome uncle doesn't die)
●● violence in relation to consequentialism Answer: -pure: good
outcomes mean actions are morally permissible, even if they are violent
-mediated: if we pass laws that say "don't use violence", believe the
outcomes will generally be good
●● violence in relation to deontology Answer: -pure: violence is never
justified because it is intrinsically bad
-mediated: violence can be justified in response to violence possibly, like
in war you cannot win without violence
●● rules of war: justice of war and justice in war Answer: -Justice of
war: wars are only just if they are in response to violence or aggression
from other countries or if allies need help
-justice in war (how you fight the war): certain weapons are not morally
permissible, like poison gas; also noncombatants are not to be killed
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK 2026
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
●● deontological: Answer: -identify what is good by looking at whether
the actions themselves are good.
-often measured by rules we are bound to follow (ex. 10
commandments, BOR, natural law)
-don't care about the outcome, only the intrinsic goodness of the action
-ends do not justify the means
-lying, cheating, deceiving are not good
●● Consequentialism: Answer: -identify what is good by looking at an
action's effects (ex. cost and benefits, national interests, public welfare,
saving lives)
-did you achieve something good or did it result in something good
-ends justify the means
-idea that an action maximalizes utility--helps the most amount of
people, causes more pleasure than pain
●● what is the paradox? Answer: -in a perfect world you can follow both
ethics (good actions (deontological)=good outcomes (consequentialism)
& bad actions=bad outcomes)
, -the real world is ethically irrational (good behavior=bad outcome & bad
action=good outcome)
●● Kant's famous example Answer: -an assassin wants to kill your
uncle; they knock on your door and ask if he's home
-should you tell them he is home (deontological, wrong to lie) or lie and
say he is not there (consequentialism, good outcome uncle doesn't die)
●● violence in relation to consequentialism Answer: -pure: good
outcomes mean actions are morally permissible, even if they are violent
-mediated: if we pass laws that say "don't use violence", believe the
outcomes will generally be good
●● violence in relation to deontology Answer: -pure: violence is never
justified because it is intrinsically bad
-mediated: violence can be justified in response to violence possibly, like
in war you cannot win without violence
●● rules of war: justice of war and justice in war Answer: -Justice of
war: wars are only just if they are in response to violence or aggression
from other countries or if allies need help
-justice in war (how you fight the war): certain weapons are not morally
permissible, like poison gas; also noncombatants are not to be killed
