PHIL 447N Final Exam Questions With
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. In a workplace scenario, an employee is asked to follow a company policy
that conflicts with their personal moral beliefs. How should ethical
reasoning guide their response? ✔
Answer: Ethical reflection and principled justification
Rationale: Ethical decision-making requires evaluating duties,
consequences, and principles rather than relying solely on personal
preference. Key concept: normative ethical reasoning.
2. A researcher manipulates data to achieve desired outcomes. Which ethical
principle is most directly violated? ✔
Answer: Integrity
Rationale: Integrity requires honesty and accuracy in reporting information.
Key term: research ethics.
3. In Kantian ethics, what determines whether an action is morally right? ✔
Answer: Adherence to duty and universal moral law
Rationale: Kant emphasizes categorical imperatives rather than
consequences. Key concept: deontological ethics.
4. A utilitarian evaluates two policies. One benefits many but harms a few; the
other benefits fewer people but harms no one. Which is preferred under
classical utilitarianism? ✔
, Answer: The policy producing the greatest overall utility
Rationale: Utilitarianism prioritizes maximizing total happiness. Key term:
utility maximization.
5. A nurse refuses to participate in a procedure due to moral objection. What
ethical principle is being exercised? ✔
Answer: Conscientious objection
Rationale: Individuals may refuse actions conflicting with deeply held moral
beliefs. Key concept: professional ethics.
6. A company prioritizes environmental sustainability even when it reduces
short-term profit. Which ethical framework does this best reflect? ✔
Answer: Virtue ethics
Rationale: Virtue ethics emphasizes moral character and responsible action.
Key term: moral virtue.
7. A decision is made solely based on rules without considering outcomes.
Which ethical approach is used? ✔
Answer: Deontological ethics
Rationale: Deontology focuses on rules and duties. Key concept: duty-based
ethics.
8. A policy disproportionately harms a minority group despite benefiting the
majority. Which ethical concern arises? ✔
Answer: Justice and fairness
Rationale: Ethical justice requires equitable treatment of all groups. Key
term: distributive justice.
9. A manager lies to avoid short-term financial loss. Which ethical principle is
violated? ✔
Answer: Truthfulness
Rationale: Honesty is a core ethical requirement in professional conduct.
10.A moral dilemma involves choosing between saving one life or five lives.
What ethical theory directly addresses this calculation? ✔
, Answer: Utilitarianism
Rationale: Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on outcomes and total
benefit.
11.A company follows ethical guidelines even when competitors do not. What
concept is demonstrated? ✔
Answer: Ethical responsibility
Rationale: Acting morally despite external pressure reflects ethical
commitment.
12.A philosopher argues morality is based on societal agreement. Which view
is this? ✔
Answer: Ethical relativism
Rationale: Moral truth varies by culture or society in relativism.
13.A professional prioritizes honesty even when it leads to personal
disadvantage. This reflects which ethical trait? ✔
Answer: Integrity
Rationale: Integrity involves consistency between values and actions.
14.In a case study, a government enforces equal laws for all citizens. Which
principle is being applied? ✔
Answer: Equality before the law
Rationale: Justice requires equal application of legal standards.
15.A healthcare provider balances patient autonomy with beneficence. What
ethical tension is present? ✔
Answer: Competing ethical principles
Rationale: Bioethics often involves balancing autonomy and beneficence.
16.A decision prioritizes long-term societal good over individual preference.
Which framework is most aligned? ✔
Answer: Utilitarian ethics
Rationale: Focus is on collective welfare rather than individual rights.
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf A+ Grade Guarantee
Verified By Professionals
1. In a workplace scenario, an employee is asked to follow a company policy
that conflicts with their personal moral beliefs. How should ethical
reasoning guide their response? ✔
Answer: Ethical reflection and principled justification
Rationale: Ethical decision-making requires evaluating duties,
consequences, and principles rather than relying solely on personal
preference. Key concept: normative ethical reasoning.
2. A researcher manipulates data to achieve desired outcomes. Which ethical
principle is most directly violated? ✔
Answer: Integrity
Rationale: Integrity requires honesty and accuracy in reporting information.
Key term: research ethics.
3. In Kantian ethics, what determines whether an action is morally right? ✔
Answer: Adherence to duty and universal moral law
Rationale: Kant emphasizes categorical imperatives rather than
consequences. Key concept: deontological ethics.
4. A utilitarian evaluates two policies. One benefits many but harms a few; the
other benefits fewer people but harms no one. Which is preferred under
classical utilitarianism? ✔
, Answer: The policy producing the greatest overall utility
Rationale: Utilitarianism prioritizes maximizing total happiness. Key term:
utility maximization.
5. A nurse refuses to participate in a procedure due to moral objection. What
ethical principle is being exercised? ✔
Answer: Conscientious objection
Rationale: Individuals may refuse actions conflicting with deeply held moral
beliefs. Key concept: professional ethics.
6. A company prioritizes environmental sustainability even when it reduces
short-term profit. Which ethical framework does this best reflect? ✔
Answer: Virtue ethics
Rationale: Virtue ethics emphasizes moral character and responsible action.
Key term: moral virtue.
7. A decision is made solely based on rules without considering outcomes.
Which ethical approach is used? ✔
Answer: Deontological ethics
Rationale: Deontology focuses on rules and duties. Key concept: duty-based
ethics.
8. A policy disproportionately harms a minority group despite benefiting the
majority. Which ethical concern arises? ✔
Answer: Justice and fairness
Rationale: Ethical justice requires equitable treatment of all groups. Key
term: distributive justice.
9. A manager lies to avoid short-term financial loss. Which ethical principle is
violated? ✔
Answer: Truthfulness
Rationale: Honesty is a core ethical requirement in professional conduct.
10.A moral dilemma involves choosing between saving one life or five lives.
What ethical theory directly addresses this calculation? ✔
, Answer: Utilitarianism
Rationale: Utilitarianism evaluates actions based on outcomes and total
benefit.
11.A company follows ethical guidelines even when competitors do not. What
concept is demonstrated? ✔
Answer: Ethical responsibility
Rationale: Acting morally despite external pressure reflects ethical
commitment.
12.A philosopher argues morality is based on societal agreement. Which view
is this? ✔
Answer: Ethical relativism
Rationale: Moral truth varies by culture or society in relativism.
13.A professional prioritizes honesty even when it leads to personal
disadvantage. This reflects which ethical trait? ✔
Answer: Integrity
Rationale: Integrity involves consistency between values and actions.
14.In a case study, a government enforces equal laws for all citizens. Which
principle is being applied? ✔
Answer: Equality before the law
Rationale: Justice requires equal application of legal standards.
15.A healthcare provider balances patient autonomy with beneficence. What
ethical tension is present? ✔
Answer: Competing ethical principles
Rationale: Bioethics often involves balancing autonomy and beneficence.
16.A decision prioritizes long-term societal good over individual preference.
Which framework is most aligned? ✔
Answer: Utilitarian ethics
Rationale: Focus is on collective welfare rather than individual rights.
