Ethical Theories Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Moral Philosophies

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of normative ethics?

Evaluating beliefs and moral reasoning processes

Forming a related whole of various norms and rules

Justifying ethical norms and moral principles (correct)

Analyzing the meaning of terms like 'good' and 'bad'

Which term is analyzed by metaethics?

Legal terms

Economic terms

Terms like 'good' and 'moral' (correct)

Religious terms like 'sin' and 'virtue'

What does ethical relativism emphasize?

Moral nihilism

Universal moral truths

Individual moral beliefs and practices (correct)

Moral subjectivism

According to situational ethics, moral differences are based on:

Personal beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to moral differences suggests that there is one universal moral truth?

Deep down, we can find basic moral truth Signup and view all the answers

What is the main principle of the categorical imperative approach?

The motive or intention of the actor determines the moral goodness or badness of an act. Signup and view all the answers

Which ethical theory focuses on measuring the morality of an action based on its consequences?

Teleological Ethics Signup and view all the answers

'Moral subjectivism' refers to the idea that:

Moral views differ from person to person Signup and view all the answers

According to Utilitarianism, what defines a morally good action?

Causing pleasure to the greatest number of people. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes man from animals according to the text?

Having a basic knowledge of right and wrong. Signup and view all the answers

In ethical decision-making, which aspect does the Divine Command Theory emphasize?

The will or law of God is the ultimate standard for right and wrong. Signup and view all the answers

What does Hedonism primarily focus on in terms of value?

Pleasure as valuable and pain as disvaluable. Signup and view all the answers

According to Peter Drucker, what is the primary role of an enterprise in society?

To consider its moral and social obligations to stakeholders Signup and view all the answers

What is the essence of business ethics?

To resolve moral issues and problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of moral reasoning in business?

Benchmarking ethical issues and problems against a moral standard Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of a good moral standard?

It is grounded on good moral argument and is objective Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of moral judgment in resolving ethical issues?

It must be logical and based on moral standards Signup and view all the answers

How should business organizations view their ethical obligations to society?

They should consider their moral and social obligations to stakeholders Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Theories

The Categorical Imperative Approach emphasizes that one should always base their actions on maxims or rules that are believed to be universal.
Moral goodness or badness of an act does not depend on the consequences of the act but on the motive or intention of the actor.

Divine Command Theory

The standard of right and wrong is the will or law of God.
Examples include Christian ethics, which are based on the Bible.

Teleological Ethics

Also known as the Consequentialist Theory.
Measures the morality of an action based on the consequences.
If the consequence is good, regardless of the motive, the act is always morally good.
Examples:
- Hedonism: all and only pleasure has worth or value, and all and only pain has disvalue.
- Utilitarianism: the greatest good is the greatest happiness or pleasure of the greatest number.

Moral Sense

The difference between humans and animals is that humans have a moral perception.
Humans have a natural insight to morality and a concept of good or bad.
Moral sense is native to all persons regardless of race, religion, culture, education, and creed.

Business Ethics

Business organizations are not just created to make profits but to consider their moral and social obligations to stakeholders.
The essence of business ethics provides a framework for the resolution of moral issues and problems.

Moral Reasoning in Business

Moral reasoning is a process in which ethical issues and problems are benchmarked against a moral standard.
Characteristics of a good moral standard include:
- Looks at the issue as something that is very serious.
- Grounded on good moral argument, with no room for loopholes and counterarguments.
- Objective and not subjective.

Normative Ethics

3 tasks of normative ethics:
- To form into a related whole the various norms, rules, and values of a society's morality.
- To find the basic principle from which the particular norm can be derived.
- To justify an ethical norm or moral principle.

Methaethics

Branch of normative ethics concerned with the analysis and meaning of terms like "good", "bad", "moral", "immoral", and "moral obligation".
Does not evaluate beliefs nor evaluate the process of moral reasoning but simply analyzes the usage and meaning of words.

Problem of Ethical Relativism and Situation Ethics

Ethical Relativism:
- Claims that when any two cultures or individuals hold different moral values of an action, both can be right.
- An action may be right for one person or society but wrong for another, however, both can be equally correct.
Situation Ethics:
- Emphasizes moral differences based on personal beliefs and convictions.

Approaches to Moral Differences

There is no moral truth (Moral Nihilism).
There is no universal truth.
Deep down, we can find basic moral truth.
There is one universal moral truth.
We cannot know whether or not there is moral truth (Moral Subjectivism).

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Description

Test your knowledge on ethical theories such as categorical imperative and divine command theory. Explore key concepts like universal rules, moral intentions, and divine will in determining ethical actions.