Ethics in America DSST Study guide Questions and
Answers
Ethics - correct answer-The academic discipline of analyzing morality,
based on reasoning, rules and logic.
Cosmogony - correct answer-The study of the origin of the universe.
Pythagoras - correct answer-A pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician
and cosmologist who wrote nothing himself, but is historically thought to
have believed in the magic of numbers and reincarnation.
Sophists - correct answer-A group of traveling teachers from the fifth
century BC who were paid to lecture on a variety of topics. They can be
considered the first relativists, and gained a reputation for being
untrustworthy thanks to their reliance on persuasion over truth.
Relativism - correct answer-The belief that every point of view and standard
of behavior is equally valid.
Thucydides - correct answer-A Greek historian who wrote The History of
the Peloponnesian War, which presented a mixture of facts and fact-based
fictionalization. In it he raises questions of the ethics of war. He equated
freedom with happiness and courage.
Socrates - correct answer-One of the most famous thinkers of all time, not
for his beliefs, but his dialectic method of teaching. He never wrote
anything himself, but was memorialized in the works of his student, Plato.
For him, virtue and knowledge were the same, and all wickedness
stemmed from ignorance. The Athenian government saw him as a threat
and had him executed.
Dialectic - correct answer-Also known as the Socratic Method, a method of
argument in which one person asks the other questions to try to get them to
realize their own answers or the flaws in their argument.
Plato - correct answer-Founder of the Academy and writer of the Republic.
Allegory of the Cave - correct answer-An extended metaphor created by
Plato. It describes a group of prisoners in a cave, chained so their backs
are to the entrance. They believe that the shadows (sensed reality) before
, Ethics in America DSST Study guide Questions and
Answers
them are reality, until someone manages to get free, turn around and see
the source of the shadows (the real world, which can only be experienced
intellectually).
Aristotle - correct answer-A philosopher and Plato's student who
concentrated on empirical knowledge. He believed that change is
necessary and natural, and everything has a purpose. He wrote
Nicomachean Ethics, and that balance was the key to happiness.
Stoics - correct answer-Followers of Zeno, Greeks who believed that
absolute laws and destiny ruled the universe, and that since humans could
not change fate, they were happiest when they simply accepted it and lived
with self-control.
Hedonists - correct answer-Also known as Epicureans after their original
teacher, these believed that happiness was the purpose of life, and
anything that reduced pain and increased happiness was therefore good.
Christianity - correct answer-A religion founded by Jesus Christ, based on
the Bible, that teaches that humanity is fallen and can only find salvation
through faith in Christ and his substitutiary sacrifice.
Judaism - correct answer-The oldest monotheistic religion, it is based on
the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible, and influenced both Christianity and
Islam. It places emphasis on history, laws and religious community.
Islam - correct answer-A religion based on the Koran, which incorporates
elements of Christianity and Judaism but declares itself to be the fulfillment
of both through its prophet, Mohammed.
Hinduism - correct answer-A polytheistic religion in which moral guidance is
based on principles like ahimsa (nonviolence), dharma (caste duties) and
karma (consequences). It emphasizes detachment from pain and causing
as little harm as possible.
Buddhism - correct answer-An offshoot of Hinduism with saints instead of
gods, and which emphasizes moral behavior to achieve happiness through
many cycles of reincarnation.
Answers
Ethics - correct answer-The academic discipline of analyzing morality,
based on reasoning, rules and logic.
Cosmogony - correct answer-The study of the origin of the universe.
Pythagoras - correct answer-A pre-Socratic philosopher, mathematician
and cosmologist who wrote nothing himself, but is historically thought to
have believed in the magic of numbers and reincarnation.
Sophists - correct answer-A group of traveling teachers from the fifth
century BC who were paid to lecture on a variety of topics. They can be
considered the first relativists, and gained a reputation for being
untrustworthy thanks to their reliance on persuasion over truth.
Relativism - correct answer-The belief that every point of view and standard
of behavior is equally valid.
Thucydides - correct answer-A Greek historian who wrote The History of
the Peloponnesian War, which presented a mixture of facts and fact-based
fictionalization. In it he raises questions of the ethics of war. He equated
freedom with happiness and courage.
Socrates - correct answer-One of the most famous thinkers of all time, not
for his beliefs, but his dialectic method of teaching. He never wrote
anything himself, but was memorialized in the works of his student, Plato.
For him, virtue and knowledge were the same, and all wickedness
stemmed from ignorance. The Athenian government saw him as a threat
and had him executed.
Dialectic - correct answer-Also known as the Socratic Method, a method of
argument in which one person asks the other questions to try to get them to
realize their own answers or the flaws in their argument.
Plato - correct answer-Founder of the Academy and writer of the Republic.
Allegory of the Cave - correct answer-An extended metaphor created by
Plato. It describes a group of prisoners in a cave, chained so their backs
are to the entrance. They believe that the shadows (sensed reality) before
, Ethics in America DSST Study guide Questions and
Answers
them are reality, until someone manages to get free, turn around and see
the source of the shadows (the real world, which can only be experienced
intellectually).
Aristotle - correct answer-A philosopher and Plato's student who
concentrated on empirical knowledge. He believed that change is
necessary and natural, and everything has a purpose. He wrote
Nicomachean Ethics, and that balance was the key to happiness.
Stoics - correct answer-Followers of Zeno, Greeks who believed that
absolute laws and destiny ruled the universe, and that since humans could
not change fate, they were happiest when they simply accepted it and lived
with self-control.
Hedonists - correct answer-Also known as Epicureans after their original
teacher, these believed that happiness was the purpose of life, and
anything that reduced pain and increased happiness was therefore good.
Christianity - correct answer-A religion founded by Jesus Christ, based on
the Bible, that teaches that humanity is fallen and can only find salvation
through faith in Christ and his substitutiary sacrifice.
Judaism - correct answer-The oldest monotheistic religion, it is based on
the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible, and influenced both Christianity and
Islam. It places emphasis on history, laws and religious community.
Islam - correct answer-A religion based on the Koran, which incorporates
elements of Christianity and Judaism but declares itself to be the fulfillment
of both through its prophet, Mohammed.
Hinduism - correct answer-A polytheistic religion in which moral guidance is
based on principles like ahimsa (nonviolence), dharma (caste duties) and
karma (consequences). It emphasizes detachment from pain and causing
as little harm as possible.
Buddhism - correct answer-An offshoot of Hinduism with saints instead of
gods, and which emphasizes moral behavior to achieve happiness through
many cycles of reincarnation.
