Question 1

Natural law theory generally assumes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   God can act in manners that are immoral.
B)   Moral truth is independent of God's will.
C)   Something is morally correct because God has deemed it so.
D)   Society defines moral standards.E) None of the above
F) A) and C)

Question 2

The book of Job in the Jewish Tanakh provides the story of God allowing Satan to remove the blessings of Job's life in order to see if Job is pious only because he is well off.The defender of divine command theory would say which of the following about the story?

Accepted Answer

A)   With sufficient study,we can come to understand God's actions.
B)   The actions taken were bad,which we can tell because Satan does them.
C)   God's actions are necessarily right,even if we do not understand why.
D)   God's treatment of Job is a violation of moral standards.E) A) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 3

A claim sometimes made by vegans against the consumption of milk products is that humans are the only animals to ingest the milk of another species.Recently scientists have reported observing feral cats on Isla de Guadalupe nursing from elephant seals (and thus depriving seal pups of nutrition) .If this nursing is understood as "natural," what impact does it have on the vegan argument?

Accepted Answer

A)   It strengthens it.
B)   It weakens it.
C)   It is irrelevant to the argument.
D)   It clarifies it.E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 4

On what basis does Aquinas argue that masturbation,homosexuality,and bestiality are wrong?

Accepted Answer

A)   These acts violate the word of God.
B)   These acts offend our moral sense and bring about feelings of guilt and shame in the participants.
C)   These acts are irrational and do not aim at the common good.
D)   In the long run,these acts maximize pain and suffering rather than pleasure.E) None of the above
F) B) and D)

Question 5

Religiously based prohibitions on what sorts of food can be consumed,such as those practiced by those who keep kosher or follow halal,are examples of which sort of moral belief?

Accepted Answer

A)   noncognitivism
B)   naturalism
C)   divine Command
D)   teleologyE) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

Briefly explain the differences between group altruism,reciprocal altruism,and kin altruism.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...

Question 7

During the Second World War,John Osborn,a sergeant major in the Canadian army,threw his body onto an enemy grenade.He and one other solider died in the explosion,though his sacrifice saved the lives of others.How might a psychological egoist interpret Osborn's actions?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...

Question 8

Why is the belief that God knows morality better than humans do problematic for a religiously based morality?

Accepted Answer

A)   It makes morality dependent on God.
B)   It makes morality inferior to God.
C)   It makes morality superior to God.
D)   It makes morality independent from God.E) None of the above
F) B) and C) D

Question 9

Briefly explain the difference between psychological and ethical egoism.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...

Question 10

Several studies have shown that when we perform charitable actions,the regions of our brains known colloquially as "pleasure centers" show heightened activity.Discuss the impact of these results on the acceptance of a morality of selflessness.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...

Question 11

Imagine that a student was told she could either drop out of college or declare a major in underwater basket weaving.Which of the following is the best explanation for why this is a false dilemma?

Accepted Answer

A)   The choices are not exclusive;she could drop out and then declare the major.
B)   The choices are not bad;one would desire to major in underwater basket weaving.
C)   The choices are not exhaustive;she could major in philosophy.
D)   The choices are not natural;these are social constraints,not physical ones.E) A) and D)
F) A) and B) C

Question 12

Divine command theory differs from natural law theory in that divine command

Accepted Answer

A)   theory holds that there are objective moral truths,whereas natural law theory does not.
B)   theory is the view that moral rules are created by God,whereas natural law theory is the view that moral rules are based on some purpose of the universe.
C)   theorists all believe in God,whereas natural law theorists are all atheists.
D)   theory requires the use of reason to determine what is morally permissible,whereas natural law theory relies on conscience alone.E) B) and D)
F) B) and C) B

Question 13

Kant believed that it was possible for God to have chosen different moral standards.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

One position that Glaucon puts forward in the "Ring of Gyges" story is that if given the chance to take actions without the possibility of being observed,we would act in unjust manners.Briefly discuss if you believe that Glaucon is right about this,and why.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...

Question 15

A difficulty for natural law theorists is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)   divine command theory
B)   causal determinism
C)   the Euthyphro dilemma
D)   the fact/value distinctionE) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 16

The notion that morality is based upon a larger purpose or meaning to life is referred to as ________ reasoning.

Accepted Answer

A)   teleological
B)   theological
C)   cosmological
D)   tautologicalE) A) and C)
F) B) and D)

Question 17

Maritain quotes Antigone on the origin of moral laws in order to show that

Accepted Answer

A)   Antigone was an example of someone with excellent moral reasoning.
B)   anonymous moral understandings are merely cultural relics.
C)   no one knows where long-standing moral beliefs originated.
D)   moral laws have a long history of acceptance.E) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

Exam 5: Religion and Natural Law

Natural law theory generally assumes which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

The book of Job in the Jewish Tanakh provides the story of God allowing Satan to remove the blessings of Job's life in order to see if Job is pious only because he is well off.The defender of divine command theory would say which of the following about the story?

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

On what basis does Aquinas argue that masturbation,homosexuality,and bestiality are wrong?

Correct Answer
verified

Religiously based prohibitions on what sorts of food can be consumed,such as those practiced by those who keep kosher or follow halal,are examples of which sort of moral belief?

Correct Answer
verified

Briefly explain the differences between group altruism,reciprocal altruism,and kin altruism.

Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

During the Second World War,John Osborn,a sergeant major in the Canadian army,threw his body onto an enemy grenade.He and one other solider died in the explosion,though his sacrifice saved the lives of others.How might a psychological egoist interpret Osborn's actions?

Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Why is the belief that God knows morality better than humans do problematic for a religiously based morality?

Correct Answer
verified
D

Briefly explain the difference between psychological and ethical egoism.

Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Several studies have shown that when we perform charitable actions,the regions of our brains known colloquially as "pleasure centers" show heightened activity.Discuss the impact of these results on the acceptance of a morality of selflessness.

Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Imagine that a student was told she could either drop out of college or declare a major in underwater basket weaving.Which of the following is the best explanation for why this is a false dilemma?

Correct Answer
verified
C

Divine command theory differs from natural law theory in that divine command

Correct Answer
verified
B

Kant believed that it was possible for God to have chosen different moral standards.

Correct Answer
verified

One position that Glaucon puts forward in the "Ring of Gyges" story is that if given the chance to take actions without the possibility of being observed,we would act in unjust manners.Briefly discuss if you believe that Glaucon is right about this,and why.

Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

A difficulty for natural law theorists is which of the following?

Correct Answer
verified

The notion that morality is based upon a larger purpose or meaning to life is referred to as ________ reasoning.

Correct Answer
verified

Maritain quotes Antigone on the origin of moral laws in order to show that

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 5: Religion and Natural Law

Natural law theory generally assumes which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The book of Job in the Jewish Tanakh provides the story of God allowing Satan to remove the blessings of Job's life in order to see if Job is pious only because he is well off.The defender of divine command theory would say which of the following about the story?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

On what basis does Aquinas argue that masturbation,homosexuality,and bestiality are wrong?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Religiously based prohibitions on what sorts of food can be consumed,such as those practiced by those who keep kosher or follow halal,are examples of which sort of moral belief?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Briefly explain the differences between group altruism,reciprocal altruism,and kin altruism.

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...View AnswerShow Answer

During the Second World War,John Osborn,a sergeant major in the Canadian army,threw his body onto an enemy grenade.He and one other solider died in the explosion,though his sacrifice saved the lives of others.How might a psychological egoist interpret Osborn's actions?

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...View AnswerShow Answer

Why is the belief that God knows morality better than humans do problematic for a religiously based morality?

Correct AnswerverifiedD

Briefly explain the difference between psychological and ethical egoism.

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...View AnswerShow Answer

Several studies have shown that when we perform charitable actions,the regions of our brains known colloquially as "pleasure centers" show heightened activity.Discuss the impact of these results on the acceptance of a morality of selflessness.

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...View AnswerShow Answer

Imagine that a student was told she could either drop out of college or declare a major in underwater basket weaving.Which of the following is the best explanation for why this is a false dilemma?

Correct AnswerverifiedC

Divine command theory differs from natural law theory in that divine command

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Kant believed that it was possible for God to have chosen different moral standards.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

One position that Glaucon puts forward in the "Ring of Gyges" story is that if given the chance to take actions without the possibility of being observed,we would act in unjust manners.Briefly discuss if you believe that Glaucon is right about this,and why.

Correct AnswerverifiedAnswers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...View AnswerShow Answer

A difficulty for natural law theorists is which of the following?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The notion that morality is based upon a larger purpose or meaning to life is referred to as ________ reasoning.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Maritain quotes Antigone on the origin of moral laws in order to show that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
verified
Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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D

Correct Answer
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Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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C

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B

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Answers will vary.A sufficient answer sh...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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