CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
Ethics
What would a conventionalist call this action in Becky's culture?
Impermissible
The common practice in Arnold's culture is to remove one's shoes when
entering a house.
What would a conventionalist call this action in Arnold's culture?
Obligatory
Charlie likes to put on elaborate theme parties on Friday evenings. Some
people look down on him for doing so, but many people support and enjoy his
parties.
What would a conventionalist call this action in Charlie's culture?
neutral
Isabel moved with her elderly mother to a culture in which it is mandatory
that adult children care for their parents. As her mother ages and requires
more care, Isabel considers placing her in a facility so that she can continue
thriving in her own profession.
According to conventionalism, which action is most appropriate for Isabel to take?
• She should continue to care for her mother in her own home.
, CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
David hires a recent immigrant, Boris, from Russia as a computer tech in his company. Boris does not
speak English well. David’s boss thinks this is a problem, but David does not.
“He needs to learn the language if he’s going to live in America,” David's boss asserts.
“But Boris doesn’t need to know the language in order to do his job,” returns David.
According to conventionalism, who has the stronger ethical stance— David or his boss?
•
The boss, because speaking English is a societal norm in American culture.
When visiting the Czech Republic, Carolyn takes her children to a public park and notices that her children are much
noisier than their peers. Carolyn wonders if perhaps Eastern Europeans view public parks differently.
According to conventionalism, which action is most appropriate for Carolyn?
Carolyn should tell her children to play more quietly
Which of the following people would most likely be satisfied with conventionalism?
Jeremiah is looking for an ethical framework that allows morality to change over time.
Ingrid is looking for an ethical framework that respects local norms
Henry is looking for an ethical framework that can account for
disagreement on right and wrong. Which of the following
observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences argument?
Premise 2 is false because many cultures agree on certain moral
issues.
Which of the following observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences
argument?
• Premise 1 is false because disagreement does not mean there is no
objective truth.
Which of the following observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences
argument?
Premise 1 is false because universal truths are not always easy to discover.
,CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
Which statement expresses a shortcoming of conventionalism?
there can be no intercultural evaluation of what is good
Which of the following statements about egoism is true?
Egoism is both a theory about how things are and about how things ought to
be.
Which type of egoism is the theory that humans should act according to their own
best interests?
Ethical egoism
Which type of egoism is the theory that humans are only capable of acting in their
own self interest?
Psychological egoism
Which of the following scenarios would be neutral for an egoist?
Ignatius wants to see two movies, but only has time for one, so he flips a coin
to decide.
Which of the following scenarios would be impermissible for an egoist?
• Hailey donates 10% of her paycheck to help feed the hungry out of a sense of duty,
even though she would prefer to keep the money.
• Which of the following scenarios would be obligatory for an egoist?
Jeanney steals her neighbor's newspaper because she doesn't want to pay for
one herself.
According to egoism, all of the following are important ideas to consider on the
issue of gun control laws in the United States, EXCEPT .
• an individual has an obligation to consider the safety of others
Cheating on one’s spouse is widely rejected in most societies. How might an
egoist complete this statement?
Cheating on your spouse is permissible if .
nothing bad happens to you as a result
, CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
You are a mechanic who can make more money by diagnosing and repairing
nonexistent car problems. How might an egoist complete this statement?
Charging people for unnecessary repairs is .
wrong, because running an honest business will earn you more money in the
long run
Which of the following statements supports egoism?
It is a natural reaction in all humans to avoid pain or suffering.
Important innovations are often made by those seeking their own self
interests.
Society benefits when individuals succeed.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between
philosophy and science?
Philosophy is concerned with how to understand and interpret scientific facts.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between
philosophy and science?
Philosophy helps define concepts that are at the center
of scientific study. Philosophy pursues truths that
cannot be determined through empirical observation.
Which of the following is a philosophical question?
Is it possible for a computer to
have free will? What would
life on other planets mean for
us? How much freedom
should individuals have?
Which of the following is a benefit of philosophy?
Consistency is maintained between actions and beliefs.
People learn to ask questions about the
Q & A EXAM
Ethics
What would a conventionalist call this action in Becky's culture?
Impermissible
The common practice in Arnold's culture is to remove one's shoes when
entering a house.
What would a conventionalist call this action in Arnold's culture?
Obligatory
Charlie likes to put on elaborate theme parties on Friday evenings. Some
people look down on him for doing so, but many people support and enjoy his
parties.
What would a conventionalist call this action in Charlie's culture?
neutral
Isabel moved with her elderly mother to a culture in which it is mandatory
that adult children care for their parents. As her mother ages and requires
more care, Isabel considers placing her in a facility so that she can continue
thriving in her own profession.
According to conventionalism, which action is most appropriate for Isabel to take?
• She should continue to care for her mother in her own home.
, CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
David hires a recent immigrant, Boris, from Russia as a computer tech in his company. Boris does not
speak English well. David’s boss thinks this is a problem, but David does not.
“He needs to learn the language if he’s going to live in America,” David's boss asserts.
“But Boris doesn’t need to know the language in order to do his job,” returns David.
According to conventionalism, who has the stronger ethical stance— David or his boss?
•
The boss, because speaking English is a societal norm in American culture.
When visiting the Czech Republic, Carolyn takes her children to a public park and notices that her children are much
noisier than their peers. Carolyn wonders if perhaps Eastern Europeans view public parks differently.
According to conventionalism, which action is most appropriate for Carolyn?
Carolyn should tell her children to play more quietly
Which of the following people would most likely be satisfied with conventionalism?
Jeremiah is looking for an ethical framework that allows morality to change over time.
Ingrid is looking for an ethical framework that respects local norms
Henry is looking for an ethical framework that can account for
disagreement on right and wrong. Which of the following
observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences argument?
Premise 2 is false because many cultures agree on certain moral
issues.
Which of the following observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences
argument?
• Premise 1 is false because disagreement does not mean there is no
objective truth.
Which of the following observations poses a challenge to the cultural differences
argument?
Premise 1 is false because universal truths are not always easy to discover.
,CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
Which statement expresses a shortcoming of conventionalism?
there can be no intercultural evaluation of what is good
Which of the following statements about egoism is true?
Egoism is both a theory about how things are and about how things ought to
be.
Which type of egoism is the theory that humans should act according to their own
best interests?
Ethical egoism
Which type of egoism is the theory that humans are only capable of acting in their
own self interest?
Psychological egoism
Which of the following scenarios would be neutral for an egoist?
Ignatius wants to see two movies, but only has time for one, so he flips a coin
to decide.
Which of the following scenarios would be impermissible for an egoist?
• Hailey donates 10% of her paycheck to help feed the hungry out of a sense of duty,
even though she would prefer to keep the money.
• Which of the following scenarios would be obligatory for an egoist?
Jeanney steals her neighbor's newspaper because she doesn't want to pay for
one herself.
According to egoism, all of the following are important ideas to consider on the
issue of gun control laws in the United States, EXCEPT .
• an individual has an obligation to consider the safety of others
Cheating on one’s spouse is widely rejected in most societies. How might an
egoist complete this statement?
Cheating on your spouse is permissible if .
nothing bad happens to you as a result
, CAPELLA-SOPHIA ETHICS MILESTONES
Q & A EXAM
You are a mechanic who can make more money by diagnosing and repairing
nonexistent car problems. How might an egoist complete this statement?
Charging people for unnecessary repairs is .
wrong, because running an honest business will earn you more money in the
long run
Which of the following statements supports egoism?
It is a natural reaction in all humans to avoid pain or suffering.
Important innovations are often made by those seeking their own self
interests.
Society benefits when individuals succeed.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between
philosophy and science?
Philosophy is concerned with how to understand and interpret scientific facts.
Which of the following statements best describes the relationship between
philosophy and science?
Philosophy helps define concepts that are at the center
of scientific study. Philosophy pursues truths that
cannot be determined through empirical observation.
Which of the following is a philosophical question?
Is it possible for a computer to
have free will? What would
life on other planets mean for
us? How much freedom
should individuals have?
Which of the following is a benefit of philosophy?
Consistency is maintained between actions and beliefs.
People learn to ask questions about the
