PHI 1102 EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the principle of harm? - Answer- The only purpose for which power can be
rightfully exercised over any number of a civilized community against his will is to
prevent harm to others
What are Mill's two reasons for rejecting paternalism? - Answer- 1. State power is liable
to abuse. Politicians are self- interested and corruptible and will use a paternalistic
license to limit the freedom of citizens in ways that promote their own interests and not
those of the citizens whose liberty they restrict
2. Even well-intentioned rulers will misidentify the good of citizens. Because an agent is
a more reliable judge of his own good, even well-intentioned rulers will promote the
good of the citizens less well than would the citizens themselves
What is paternalism? - Answer- When a health care professional must decide what is
best for the patient and act without consent
Why does Mill reject offences? - Answer- Mill rejects offence as restrictions to individual
liberty, claiming that the harm prevention is the only legitimate reason for restricting
individual liberties. Accordingly, a harm is not a mere offence. A mere offence does not
constitute physical harm, or property damage, or even psychological harm. Not every
unwelcome consequence for others counts as a harm. Offences tend to be
comparatively minor and ephemeral
What are the two principles Mill's uses to further the notion of not harming society?
(Hint: R, U) - Answer- 1. The Principle of Right: The liberty of individual liberty should
not infringe upon the liberty of others, and it should not injure the rights and interests of
others
2. The Principle of Utility: Everyone must bear the share of labours and sacrifices
incurred for defending the society or its members from injury and molestation
What are the two approaches to the right of pornography? (Hint: G-B, R-B) - Answer- 1.
The Goal-based Approach (Utilitarian): Even if the publication and consumption of
pornography is bad for the community as a whole, just considered in itself, the
consequences of trying to censor or otherwise suppress pornography would be, in the
long run, even worse.
, 2. The Right-based Approach (Liberal Approach): Even if pornography makes the
community worse off, even in the very long run, it is nevertheless wrong to censor or
restrict it because this violates the individual moral or political rights of citizens who
resent the censorship
What is a liberal democracy? - Answer- A type of democracy where there is an
emphasis on the protection of individual rights and liberties, where the rule of law is
strictly adhered to and where government is limited by enforceable constitutional laws
What is an aristocracy? - Answer- A government ruled by a small group of noble,
landowning families
What stance did Mill take on individual rights? - Answer- Mill took a categorical
approach to individual rights
What is a categorical approach? (Mill) - Answer- Individuality should assert itself.
Where, not the person's own character, but the traditions or customs of other people are
the rule of conduct, there is wanting one of the principal ingredients of human
happiness, and quite the chief ingredient of individual and social progress
What are the limitations of Mill's doctrine on individual rights? - Answer- Meant to apply
only to human beings in the maturity of their faculties
Not children, or of young persons below the age which the law may fix as that of
manhood or womanhood
What are Mill's three basic liberties? (Hint: TaO, PT, U) - Answer- 1. The freedom of
thought and opinion.
This includes the freedom to act on such thought, (i.e. freedom of speech.)
2. The freedom to pursue tastes (provided they do no harm to others), even if they are
deemed "immoral."
3. The freedom to unite so long as the involved members are of age, the involved
members are not forced, and no harm is doneto others (i.e., freedom of association)
What is the most fundamental freedom according to Mill? - Answer- Freedom of thought
and opinion is the most fundamental liberty
He says since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue
for all people, and to keep others from coming up with their own judgments
What are the two types of tyranny? (Hint: S, SotM) - Answer- 1. The State Tyranny: The
tyranny of the majority was thus first recognized through the acts of public authorities
2. The Social Tyranny of the Majority (e.g., civil society, religious beliefs, customs,
pressure groups, etc.)
CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the principle of harm? - Answer- The only purpose for which power can be
rightfully exercised over any number of a civilized community against his will is to
prevent harm to others
What are Mill's two reasons for rejecting paternalism? - Answer- 1. State power is liable
to abuse. Politicians are self- interested and corruptible and will use a paternalistic
license to limit the freedom of citizens in ways that promote their own interests and not
those of the citizens whose liberty they restrict
2. Even well-intentioned rulers will misidentify the good of citizens. Because an agent is
a more reliable judge of his own good, even well-intentioned rulers will promote the
good of the citizens less well than would the citizens themselves
What is paternalism? - Answer- When a health care professional must decide what is
best for the patient and act without consent
Why does Mill reject offences? - Answer- Mill rejects offence as restrictions to individual
liberty, claiming that the harm prevention is the only legitimate reason for restricting
individual liberties. Accordingly, a harm is not a mere offence. A mere offence does not
constitute physical harm, or property damage, or even psychological harm. Not every
unwelcome consequence for others counts as a harm. Offences tend to be
comparatively minor and ephemeral
What are the two principles Mill's uses to further the notion of not harming society?
(Hint: R, U) - Answer- 1. The Principle of Right: The liberty of individual liberty should
not infringe upon the liberty of others, and it should not injure the rights and interests of
others
2. The Principle of Utility: Everyone must bear the share of labours and sacrifices
incurred for defending the society or its members from injury and molestation
What are the two approaches to the right of pornography? (Hint: G-B, R-B) - Answer- 1.
The Goal-based Approach (Utilitarian): Even if the publication and consumption of
pornography is bad for the community as a whole, just considered in itself, the
consequences of trying to censor or otherwise suppress pornography would be, in the
long run, even worse.
, 2. The Right-based Approach (Liberal Approach): Even if pornography makes the
community worse off, even in the very long run, it is nevertheless wrong to censor or
restrict it because this violates the individual moral or political rights of citizens who
resent the censorship
What is a liberal democracy? - Answer- A type of democracy where there is an
emphasis on the protection of individual rights and liberties, where the rule of law is
strictly adhered to and where government is limited by enforceable constitutional laws
What is an aristocracy? - Answer- A government ruled by a small group of noble,
landowning families
What stance did Mill take on individual rights? - Answer- Mill took a categorical
approach to individual rights
What is a categorical approach? (Mill) - Answer- Individuality should assert itself.
Where, not the person's own character, but the traditions or customs of other people are
the rule of conduct, there is wanting one of the principal ingredients of human
happiness, and quite the chief ingredient of individual and social progress
What are the limitations of Mill's doctrine on individual rights? - Answer- Meant to apply
only to human beings in the maturity of their faculties
Not children, or of young persons below the age which the law may fix as that of
manhood or womanhood
What are Mill's three basic liberties? (Hint: TaO, PT, U) - Answer- 1. The freedom of
thought and opinion.
This includes the freedom to act on such thought, (i.e. freedom of speech.)
2. The freedom to pursue tastes (provided they do no harm to others), even if they are
deemed "immoral."
3. The freedom to unite so long as the involved members are of age, the involved
members are not forced, and no harm is doneto others (i.e., freedom of association)
What is the most fundamental freedom according to Mill? - Answer- Freedom of thought
and opinion is the most fundamental liberty
He says since human beings are not infallible, they have no authority to decide an issue
for all people, and to keep others from coming up with their own judgments
What are the two types of tyranny? (Hint: S, SotM) - Answer- 1. The State Tyranny: The
tyranny of the majority was thus first recognized through the acts of public authorities
2. The Social Tyranny of the Majority (e.g., civil society, religious beliefs, customs,
pressure groups, etc.)
