Moral Standards and Dilemmas Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which attribute is considered essential for a human act to be recognized as knowingly done?

Emotion

Knowledge (correct)

Instinct

Intuition

What minimum requirements are mentioned for morality in relation to human acts?

Habitual behavior

Emotional responses

Knowledge and reason (correct)

Blind faith

Which of the following actions is likely considered not knowingly done?

Studying

Biking

Breathing (correct)

Praying

In the context of human acts, which term refers specifically to actions carried out with awareness and intent?

Knowingly done acts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a focus of the module regarding human acts?

Tradition Signup and view all the answers

What concept is important for understanding acts done with moral consideration?

Impartiality Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a human act that is done knowingly?

A thoughtfully decided action Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions would typically require knowledge and awareness to perform?

Eating Signup and view all the answers

What is one aspect of morality according to Webster's dictionary?

It is conforming to a standard of right behavior. Signup and view all the answers

According to Montemayor, why is Ethics important?

It investigates the meaning and purpose of human life. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher is noted for claiming that 'the unexamined life is not worth living'?

Socrates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the definitions of Ethics from Montemayor’s book?

Ethics is the study of happiness. Signup and view all the answers

What societal issues are mentioned as indicators of a breakdown in moral fabric?

Juvenile crime and drug abuse Signup and view all the answers

What is considered the supreme science according to Plato?

Ethics Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary concern of morality as stated in the content?

The questions of right and wrong Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between ethics and happiness?

Ethics is concerned with attaining life’s greatest Good, which is happiness. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a moral dilemma?

An agent has conflicting moral requirements. Signup and view all the answers

In a genuine moral dilemma, what must be true about the conflicting moral requirements?

Neither conflicting requirement is overridden. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes personal dilemmas from organizational dilemmas?

Personal dilemmas are resolved by individuals, while organizational dilemmas are addressed by groups. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios represents an organizational dilemma?

A medical institution debating whether to withdraw life support from a patient. Signup and view all the answers

What is common to all moral dilemmas?

They require a decision between equally undesirable options. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when an agent cannot fulfill both conflicting moral requirements?

The agent experiences moral failure regardless of the choice. Signup and view all the answers

When can a case not be considered a genuine moral dilemma according to some ethicists?

If one of the moral requirements is overridden. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a personal dilemma?

An individual's conflicting promises to two friends. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes moral standards from non-moral issues?

Moral standards prescribe obligations regarding right and wrong. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines moral standards?

Norms concerning actions seen as morally right or wrong. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to distinguish between moral and non-moral issues?

To avoid oversimplifying complex cultural matters. Signup and view all the answers

What role do moral standards play in ethical decision-making?

They establish obligations based on concepts of right and wrong. Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of viewing cultural issues as merely non-moral?

Imposing personal viewpoints on cultural practices without basis. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a moral standard?

Killing innocent individuals is wrong. Signup and view all the answers

How are norms and values related to moral standards?

Norms and values combine to form moral standards. Signup and view all the answers

What might happen if moral standards are not recognized?

Imposing one's cultural standards on others. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of invincible ignorance?

It is a state where a person is unaware of their ignorance. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes vincible ignorance?

A person must act with due diligence to rectify it. Signup and view all the answers

How does affected ignorance influence accountability?

It increases accountability due to a willful choice to remain ignorant. Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of impartiality emphasize in ethical decision-making?

Each individual's perspective is equally important. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of reason in moral judgments?

It provides a basis to evaluate moral truths. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples illustrates affected ignorance?

An employee ignores safety protocols to avoid accountability. Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the concept of 'malice' have regarding ignorance?

It increases with willful ignorance of one’s duties. Signup and view all the answers

What must a person do when they recognize their vincible ignorance?

Seek information to resolve their ignorance. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Standards & Non-Moral Standards

Moral standards are norms that individuals or groups have about the kinds of actions believed to be morally right or wrong, as well as the values placed on what we believe to be morally good or morally bad.
Moral standards promote the good, which encompasses the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment.
Moral standards establish guidelines for human conduct regarding rights and obligations.
Moral standards are the sum of combined norms and values.
Norms are general rules about actions or behaviors, for example: "We are always under the obligation to fulfil our promises."
Values are enduring beliefs about what is good and desirable, for example: "It is always believed that killing innocent people is absolutely wrong."

Moral Dilemmas

A dilemma refers to a situation where a difficult decision must be made between two or more options, especially those that are equally undesirable.
Moral dilemmas are situations where a difficult choice must be made between two courses of action, each of which involves breaking a moral principle.
Moral dilemmas involve conflicts between moral requirements.
The key features of a moral dilemma include:
- The agent is required to take two or more actions.
- The agent can take each of the actions.
- The agent cannot take both or all of the actions.

Levels of Moral Dilemmas

Personal Dilemmas: Experiences and resolved on a personal level. Many ethical decisions fall into this category.
Organizational Dilemmas: Ethical cases encountered and resolved by a social organisation, including business, medical fields and public sector.

Knowledge and the Human Act

This module focuses on the human act as knowingly done.
The module explores knowledge, reason, and impartiality as essential components of morality.
Invincible ignorance renders an act involuntary. A person is not morally liable if they are unaware of their state of ignorance. For example, a waiter unaware that the food he is serving has been poisoned is not guilty of murder.
Vincible ignorance does not destroy, but lessens voluntariness and accountability for the act. A person who becomes aware of their state of ignorance has a moral obligation to rectify it by seeking information. Acting with vincibile ignorance is imprudent. For example, a waiter who suspects the food he is serving is poisoned has a moral obligation to find out or warn the guests.
Affected ignorance decreases voluntariness but increases accountability. Affected ignorance implies malice. For example, a child who refuses to be guided by parents is responsible for their wrongdoings.

Reason and Impartiality

Reason plays a vital role in ethics because moral truths are truths of reason. A moral judgment is true if it is supported by a better reason than its alternatives.
Impartiality involves treating each individual's interests and point of view as equally important.
Impartiality is a principle of justice where decisions should be based on objective criteria, rather than bias, prejudice, or favouring one person over another for improper reasons.

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Description

Test your understanding of moral standards and dilemmas with this quiz. Explore the norms and values that guide human conduct and the complexities of making difficult ethical decisions. This quiz will challenge your grasp of the concepts and their implications in real-world scenarios.