DAT 250 MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE 2026
Categorical Imperative First Formulation - Answers You should only act on moral rules that you can
imagine everyone else following without a logical contradiction
Categorical Imperative Second Formulation - Answers You should treat everyone including yourself as
ends ends in themselves and never only as means to an end
Act utilitarianism - Answers For each individual action, you should apply the principle of utility directly
and choose the action that maximizes happiness in that specific situation
Principle of Utility AKA greatest happiness principle - Answers An action is morally right if it produces
the greatest overall happiness for the greatest number
Rule Utilitarianism - Answers We ought to adopt those moral rules that if followed by everyone lead
to the greatest increase in total happiness over all affected parties. EX: If everyone followed a rule like
"its okay to lie" trust would decrease and overall happiness would decrease. Focuses on long term
happiness
Social Contract Theory - Answers Morality comes from an agreement among individuals to cooperate
for mutual benefit
-We give up some freedoms in exchange for protection and order
Negative Right - Answers A right that another can guarantee by leaving you alone to exercise your
right. Usually also absolute rights
Positive Right - Answers A right that obliges others to do something on your behalf. Usually also
limited rights
Absolute right - Answers RIght that is guaranteed with no exception
Limited Right - Answers A right that may be restricted based on circumstances
Virtue Ethics - Answers Moral virtues are habits or dispositions formed through the repetition of
relevant virtuous actions. A right action is something a virtuous person would do
Virtues - Answers Character traits human beings need in order to flourish and be truly happy.
Vice - Answers Character traits that prevent humans from flourishing and being truly happy
Argument - Answers Refers to a set of statements that make and support a claim with respect to a
question or issue
Proposition - Answers The meaning of each statement
A valid argument - Answers An argument is valid if its structure ensures that the truth of the premises
makes the truth of the conclusion a logical certainty
A sound argument - Answers A valid argument with all its premises true
Premises - Answers The elements from which the conclusion is derived
Grounds - Answers The facts or pieces of evidence used to support the conclusion
Warrant - Answers The reason why the truth of the conclusion follows from the truth of the grounds
Backing - Answers The justification for the warrant
Affirming the antecedent - Answers If p then q (warrant)
P (grounds)
then q (conclusion)
Denying the consequent - Answers If p then q (warrent)
not q (grounds)
Therefore not p (conclusion)
Process of elimination - Answers P or q (grounds)
Not p (grounds)
therefore q (conclusion)
Chain rule - Answers If p then q (warrant)
If q then r (warrant)
p (grounds)
therefore r (conclusion)
Stasis theory - Answers Having the same conversation, same topic, two opposing sides to the topic
Steps for stasis - Answers 1) Start with basics and progress till you disagree
2) What kind of question are you answering
3) No stasis? Back up till you find it
4) Cant find stasis? Try later
4 parts of stasis - Answers 1) Conjecture: What can be inferred?
2) Definition: What is its nature?
Categorical Imperative First Formulation - Answers You should only act on moral rules that you can
imagine everyone else following without a logical contradiction
Categorical Imperative Second Formulation - Answers You should treat everyone including yourself as
ends ends in themselves and never only as means to an end
Act utilitarianism - Answers For each individual action, you should apply the principle of utility directly
and choose the action that maximizes happiness in that specific situation
Principle of Utility AKA greatest happiness principle - Answers An action is morally right if it produces
the greatest overall happiness for the greatest number
Rule Utilitarianism - Answers We ought to adopt those moral rules that if followed by everyone lead
to the greatest increase in total happiness over all affected parties. EX: If everyone followed a rule like
"its okay to lie" trust would decrease and overall happiness would decrease. Focuses on long term
happiness
Social Contract Theory - Answers Morality comes from an agreement among individuals to cooperate
for mutual benefit
-We give up some freedoms in exchange for protection and order
Negative Right - Answers A right that another can guarantee by leaving you alone to exercise your
right. Usually also absolute rights
Positive Right - Answers A right that obliges others to do something on your behalf. Usually also
limited rights
Absolute right - Answers RIght that is guaranteed with no exception
Limited Right - Answers A right that may be restricted based on circumstances
Virtue Ethics - Answers Moral virtues are habits or dispositions formed through the repetition of
relevant virtuous actions. A right action is something a virtuous person would do
Virtues - Answers Character traits human beings need in order to flourish and be truly happy.
Vice - Answers Character traits that prevent humans from flourishing and being truly happy
Argument - Answers Refers to a set of statements that make and support a claim with respect to a
question or issue
Proposition - Answers The meaning of each statement
A valid argument - Answers An argument is valid if its structure ensures that the truth of the premises
makes the truth of the conclusion a logical certainty
A sound argument - Answers A valid argument with all its premises true
Premises - Answers The elements from which the conclusion is derived
Grounds - Answers The facts or pieces of evidence used to support the conclusion
Warrant - Answers The reason why the truth of the conclusion follows from the truth of the grounds
Backing - Answers The justification for the warrant
Affirming the antecedent - Answers If p then q (warrant)
P (grounds)
then q (conclusion)
Denying the consequent - Answers If p then q (warrent)
not q (grounds)
Therefore not p (conclusion)
Process of elimination - Answers P or q (grounds)
Not p (grounds)
therefore q (conclusion)
Chain rule - Answers If p then q (warrant)
If q then r (warrant)
p (grounds)
therefore r (conclusion)
Stasis theory - Answers Having the same conversation, same topic, two opposing sides to the topic
Steps for stasis - Answers 1) Start with basics and progress till you disagree
2) What kind of question are you answering
3) No stasis? Back up till you find it
4) Cant find stasis? Try later
4 parts of stasis - Answers 1) Conjecture: What can be inferred?
2) Definition: What is its nature?
