PHIL 200: ETHICS
Unit 3 Challenge 1
Claire is helping her elderly neighbor, Ms. Flannigan, with some yard work. Ms. Flannigan has
no close family and tells Claire that she is beginning to wonder who will get the small bundles of
cash she has hidden throughout her large house. Ms. Flannigan even remarks that she cannot
remember where she has hidden them all. After helping Ms. Flannigan, Claire goes inside to
freshen up. In the bathroom she notices a large wad of cash tucked inside the medicine cabinet.
Which action is supported by utilitarianism but intuitively seems unethical?
Answer: Claire takes the money and donates it to the food kitchen that feeds the community’s
homeless population.
According to Kantian deontology, which of the following would make an act permissible?
Answer: It is done with good intent.
I come home and my apartment building is on fire. There is a family of five living in the
apartment next to mine and only my mother in my apartment. I can only evacuate one apartment.
What is a problem with applying utilitarianism to this scenario?
Answer: Utilitarianism says I should evacuate the apartment that has five occupants, even though
my mother is more important to me.
Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with utilitarianism?
Answer: Adelaide is looking for an ethical framework that takes future generations into
consideration.
Emma isn’t sure how she’s going to continue providing for her family. In a moment
of desperation, she steals a bag of groceries from the store.
Many people would say that stealing is wrong. How might this action be evaluated by a
utilitarian?
Answer: Emma’s action is morally right because the overall happiness it brings her family is
greater than the decrease in happiness it brings the store.
Which of the following pairs of goods are directly comparable according to hedonic
utilitarianism?
Answer: All of the answer choices are correct.
What is meant by the formulation of humanity?
Answer: Other people must be treated as ends, not only as means.
, PHIL 200: ETHICS
Which of the following represents a potential problem for Kantian deontology?
Answer: A person who isn't aware of committing a crime can't be guilty of it.
How might a Kantian deontologist evaluate assisted suicide?
Answer: It is morally wrong because it deprives a person of his or her humanity.
Which of the following considerations is important for a utilitarian when evaluating the morality
of an action?
Answer: How likely it is to bring about happiness
Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with Kantian deontology?
Answer: Helen is looking for an ethical framework that respects the freedom of others.
Which of the following represents act utilitarianism?
Answer: Penelope works because she needs money for rent and food.
How would a Kantian deontologist evaluate an action?
Answer: By evaluating the relevant maxim
Jerome gets injured helping a distressed swimmer. Jerome dies, but the swimmer lives.
How would a utilitarian classify Jerome's action?
Answer: Neutral
Which statement about Kantian deontology is true?
Answer: It is an objectivist theory because ethics must be determined by pure reason and apply
to all persons.
For a utilitarian, which consideration is most important?
Answer: The consequences of an action
Why is utilitarianism an objectivist or relativist theory?
Answer: Utilitarianism is objectivist because it asserts that everyone should act to increase
utility.
Which of the following considerations is important for a utilitarian when evaluating the morality
of an action?
Unit 3 Challenge 1
Claire is helping her elderly neighbor, Ms. Flannigan, with some yard work. Ms. Flannigan has
no close family and tells Claire that she is beginning to wonder who will get the small bundles of
cash she has hidden throughout her large house. Ms. Flannigan even remarks that she cannot
remember where she has hidden them all. After helping Ms. Flannigan, Claire goes inside to
freshen up. In the bathroom she notices a large wad of cash tucked inside the medicine cabinet.
Which action is supported by utilitarianism but intuitively seems unethical?
Answer: Claire takes the money and donates it to the food kitchen that feeds the community’s
homeless population.
According to Kantian deontology, which of the following would make an act permissible?
Answer: It is done with good intent.
I come home and my apartment building is on fire. There is a family of five living in the
apartment next to mine and only my mother in my apartment. I can only evacuate one apartment.
What is a problem with applying utilitarianism to this scenario?
Answer: Utilitarianism says I should evacuate the apartment that has five occupants, even though
my mother is more important to me.
Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with utilitarianism?
Answer: Adelaide is looking for an ethical framework that takes future generations into
consideration.
Emma isn’t sure how she’s going to continue providing for her family. In a moment
of desperation, she steals a bag of groceries from the store.
Many people would say that stealing is wrong. How might this action be evaluated by a
utilitarian?
Answer: Emma’s action is morally right because the overall happiness it brings her family is
greater than the decrease in happiness it brings the store.
Which of the following pairs of goods are directly comparable according to hedonic
utilitarianism?
Answer: All of the answer choices are correct.
What is meant by the formulation of humanity?
Answer: Other people must be treated as ends, not only as means.
, PHIL 200: ETHICS
Which of the following represents a potential problem for Kantian deontology?
Answer: A person who isn't aware of committing a crime can't be guilty of it.
How might a Kantian deontologist evaluate assisted suicide?
Answer: It is morally wrong because it deprives a person of his or her humanity.
Which of the following considerations is important for a utilitarian when evaluating the morality
of an action?
Answer: How likely it is to bring about happiness
Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with Kantian deontology?
Answer: Helen is looking for an ethical framework that respects the freedom of others.
Which of the following represents act utilitarianism?
Answer: Penelope works because she needs money for rent and food.
How would a Kantian deontologist evaluate an action?
Answer: By evaluating the relevant maxim
Jerome gets injured helping a distressed swimmer. Jerome dies, but the swimmer lives.
How would a utilitarian classify Jerome's action?
Answer: Neutral
Which statement about Kantian deontology is true?
Answer: It is an objectivist theory because ethics must be determined by pure reason and apply
to all persons.
For a utilitarian, which consideration is most important?
Answer: The consequences of an action
Why is utilitarianism an objectivist or relativist theory?
Answer: Utilitarianism is objectivist because it asserts that everyone should act to increase
utility.
Which of the following considerations is important for a utilitarian when evaluating the morality
of an action?
