Ethics and Moral Philosophy Quiz

A branch of ethics that focuses on what moral principles and rules should be followed.

A branch of ethics that studies how people actually behave and think about morality.

The idea that the morality of an action is determined by its consequences.

A type of consequentialism that prioritizes maximizing happiness for the greatest number of people.

Objective moral truths exist independently of what people think or believe.

The idea that pleasure is the ultimate good and the absence of pain is the ultimate evil.

A type of pleasure that is considered superior because it is derived from intellectual, moral, or spiritual pursuits.

A type of pleasure that is considered inferior because it is derived from physical gratification or sensory experience.

The principle that all individuals' happiness should be considered equally when making moral decisions.

The idea that sometimes individual rights must be sacrificed for the greater good of society.

A situation where someone appears happy even though their happiness is based on a false or unhealthy foundation.

A thought experiment that explores whether a life full of pleasure, even if artificially created, would be truly fulfilling.

Hume's idea that you can't logically derive what should be (moral values) from what is (facts). Just because something exists doesn't mean it's morally right.

The belief that moral right and wrong are determined by a culture or society, not by universal truths. What's right in one place might be wrong in another.

The belief that there are objective moral truths that apply to everyone, regardless of culture or personal beliefs.

Moral Relativism's weakness in explaining moral progress. If everything is relative, how can we claim that we're morally improving over time?

Moral Relativism's difficulty in resolving conflicts between cultures. If each culture decides what's right, how do we handle disagreements?

Moral Relativism's inability to condemn practices viewed as universally wrong, like genocide. If it's 'right' for a culture, can we criticize it?

A key objection to Moral Relativism. Critics argue that the lack of universal standards undermines human rights, meaningful moral debates, and ethical objectivity.

The study of the nature of reality, including questions about existence, time, space, and the universe.

A hypothetical situation where individuals make decisions about society without knowing their own social position, abilities, or circumstances, ensuring fairness and impartiality.

One of Rawls' principles of justice stating that everyone should have equal basic liberties, such as freedom of speech and the right to vote.

One of Rawls' principles of justice suggesting that social and economic inequalities are acceptable only if they benefit the least advantaged in society.

Focused on balancing fairness by compensating victims and holding wrongdoers accountable.

Punishment is justified because it's a deserved response to wrongdoing.

Punishment is justified if it prevents future wrongdoing.

A perspective arguing that justice requires compensating for bad luck and disadvantages that individuals experience due to factors beyond their control.

A belief that luck should not determine success in life.

A moral philosophy focusing on moral rules and duties, regardless of consequences. The rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by whether it conforms to these principles, not its outcome.

The idea that even if an action leads to good consequences, it's morally wrong if it violates fundamental moral principles.

A moral theory based on the idea that morality arises from agreements or contracts between individuals.

A specific type of deontology focusing on respecting human autonomy and rationality. It emphasizes treating people as ends-in-themselves, not merely as means to an end.

Treat someone as an end-in-themselves, respecting their autonomy and dignity. They are not a tool or object to be used.

Using someone for your own purposes, without regard for their autonomy or dignity. It treats people as mere objects.

A principle of justice that focuses on the fair distribution of resources, rights, opportunities, and burdens in a society.

The principle that everyone should have equal basic freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.

Rawls argues that basic liberties, like freedom of speech and religion, are more important than economic or social benefits. These liberties cannot be traded for other things, even if it might lead to greater overall happiness.

Rawls criticizes the idea that maximizing overall happiness is the primary goal of a just society. He believes that fairness and the protection of the least advantaged are more important than maximizing overall happiness.

The idea that justice as fairness can be supported by a broad agreement among different moral, religious, and philosophical views. This means that a just society can be built without everyone agreeing on the same set of moral principles.

Rawls argues that institutions, such as the legal system and the economy, should reflect the principles of justice. This means striving to distribute goods and opportunities fairly, ensuring that everyone has a chance to succeed.

This theory argues that interference with individual liberty is justified only when someone's actions directly harm others, not when they harm themselves.

This principle justifies interference with an individual's actions, even if they are not directly harming others, if it is done for their own good. For example, mandatory seatbelt laws are paternalistic because they aim to protect individuals from themselves.