Kant’s view is like rule utilitarianism in that
both believe that human happiness is an essential component of what is morally right or wrong
both believe that the formulation of rules is an important part of moral reasoning
both believe we can be certain about the moral rules we use
all of the above
According to Kant, it is always wrong to treat a person as a means
On Kant’s view, telling a person the truth sometimes treats that person merely as a means if the truth is hurtful
Treating a person better than he or she deserves treats that person as an end by recognizing the intrinsic value of that person
Which of the following is a correct formulation of Kant’s Categorical Imperative?
Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time desire that it become a universal law
So act as to treat humanity, whether yourself or others, in every case as an end withal, never as a means.
People always act on the maxim they can at the same time will that they should become a universal law
All of the above
None of the above
On Kant’s view:
we know that lying promises are wrong because of our universal experience of the pain such things bring
we know that lying promises are wrong but future experience might prove us wrong
all moral imperatives are hypothetical imperatives
Kant’s view is an abolitionist view
One of the problems for Kant’s view is that a moral absolute such as “Always tell the truth” might conflict with the moral absolute, “Always preserve innocent life.” If morals are absolutes and absolutes can conflict, there may be no correct answer as to what to do in some cases.
If a person does what is right out of love for humanity, that person’s act has great moral worth, according to Kant
If a person does the right thing because reason says to do it, the act has no moral worth unless the person is motivated by love of humanity
The object of On Liberty is to assert one very simple principle, according to Mill. What is that principle?
The Principle of Utility
The Categorical Imperative
The Harm Principle
The Liberty Principle
According to the principle defended in On Liberty,
We are never allowed to interfere in a person’s liberty
We are permitted to interfere with a person’s liberty on paternalistic grounds
We are never allowed to interfere with an individual’s liberty on paternalistic grounds
Mill argues that the reason we are free is that we are born with inalienable rights, one of them being the right to liberty
What does Mill mean by “utility” in On Liberty?
Utility in its lowest sense, consisting only in the total quantity of pleasure for all affected.
Utility in its largest sense, grounded on the permanent interests of man as a progressive being
He means that we are born with inalienable natural rights
If a controversial view is true and the majority believes that the contrary view is false, the controversial view should not be allowed because it will make the majority unhappy, according to Mill.
If a view is false and offensive to the greatest number, it should not be allowed because of the pain it will produce
Which of the following is true regarding Mill’s view on the liberty of action?
We are free to do only those actions that promote the greatest good for the greatest number
We are free to do anything at all we want to do
We are free to do anything we choose so long as it does not harm others
Does Mill think we should be able to do things that hurt ourselves if they only hurt ourselves?
Yes, because Mill hated people and hoped they would kill themselves
No, because when persons hurt themselves, even if they hurt only themselves, the amount of pain in the world increases.
Yes, because allowing people to choose for themselves in an indispensable element in utility in the largest sense grounded on the permanent interests of man as a progressive being
What is Mill’s view of what he calls “experiments in living?
They should be allowed only if they provide the greatest good for the greatest number
They should be allowed (if people want to try them) so that we can progress
Experience has shown that new ways of living produce more harm than good
According to Mill, unless a view is defended fully, frequently, and fearlessly
it will be held as a dead dogma, not as a living truth
it will be held in the manner of a prejudice with little comprehension or feeling of its rational grounds
the meaning of the doctrine itself will be in danger of being lost, or enfeebled, and deprived of its vital effect on the character and conduct
Mill argues that in every conceivable case, utility is maximized by allowing a view to be promoted rather than by suppressing that view. How many conceivable cases are there?
1
2
3
There are an infinite number of cases.
One of the problems raised against utilitarianism concerns justice. What is the problem?
It is well known that utilitarians are unjust by nature
Actions don’t have consequences after all
If an unjust act promotes more utility than a just act, utilitarianism seems to say the unjust act is the right act
It is not just for people to be happy
According to rule utilitarianism, the government ought to rule its people harshly to promote the greater good
Which of the following are raised as objections to utilitarianism?
Violating a person’s rights might promote the greatest good for the greatest number
Enslaving a small minority might promote the greatest good for the greatest number
Punishing the innocent might promote the greatest good for the greatest number
Act utilitarianism is sometimes called indirect utilitarianism because actions have consequences only indirectly
According to rule utilitarianism:
We ought to promote the greatest good for the greatest number with each act we do
We ought to rule over those who care about self-interest alone
We ought to obey the rule that would promote the greatest good for the greatest number
How are we to choose which rules are best, according to rule utilitarianism?
Rules should be selected from holy books
Rules should be selected by reason alone
Rules should be selected by experience
According to rule utilitarianism, moral rules are intrinsically valuable
We concluded in class that rule utilitarianism can meet important objections raised against act utilitarianism
Unlike ethical relativism, which has found little favor among philosophers, many philosophers have thought utilitarianism a plausible theory.
According to Rule Utilitarianism, justice is intrinsically valuable
Kant’s view is a rationalist view. That means Kant believes that all moral knowledge comes through experience?
On Kant’s view, moral truths can be known with certainty?
Kant’s view is deontological. That means that it is rooted in religious duty rather than consequences?
Which of the following is an imperative?
People always act on the maxim they can will to be a universal law
Treating humanity, whether yourself or others, always as an end and never as a means only is right
Act only on the maxim you could will to be a universal law
According to Kant, the only thing good in itself is
Pleasure
Happiness
The Good Will
A will is a good will if and only if it sincerely desires to do the right thing and always acts according to that desire
If a person does the right thing by keeping a promise, that act has no moral worth if it is done solely out of love for the person, on Kant’s view
A hypothetical imperative is in the form, “If you want X, then do Y!”
Kant thought moral imperatives are hypothetical imperatives?
A good will, according to Kant, is the will that chooses according to reason and is not swayed by desire.
