Questions and Answers
What constitutes being with full moral status (FMS)?
Which of the following best describes partial moral status (PMS)?
What ethical implication arises from the concept of non-interference regarding beings with full moral status?
Which group is often assumed to have full moral status?
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Why is there no consensus about the full moral status of human fetuses?
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What is a characteristic of entities with no moral status?
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In the context of cognitive capacities, which of the following categories can sometimes have FMS?
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Which statement best represents an objection to the criteria for determining moral status?
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What differentiates beings with Full Moral Status (FMS) from those with Partial Moral Status (PMS)?
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What is meant by the concept of treating beings with FMS equally?
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Which property is argued to grant Full Moral Status (FMS) according to some scholars?
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Why might infants be considered as having different moral status than certain animals?
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What is meant by Full Moral Status (FMS)?
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What is a common objection to grounding moral status on cognitive abilities?
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Which of the following best describes Partial Moral Status (PMS)?
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In the given scenario where a driver must choose between a St Bernard and a man to run over, what ethical implications are revealed?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a sophisticated cognitive ability that could confer FMS?
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What ethical implication arises from the concept of non-interference?
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What would likely change in the moral consideration if the St Bernard were replaced with a dead raccoon?
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What does it mean for a being to have Partial Moral Status (PMS)?
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What cognitive capacities might influence the determination of an entity's moral status?
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Which of the following is an objection that can be raised against criteria for determining moral status?
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Why might a gardener be considered to have higher moral status than a ball or a kitten in a moral dilemma?
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In moral dilemmas between animals and humans, what is often the societal intuition about their statuses?
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Study Notes
Understanding Moral Status
- Moral status refers to the level of importance attributed to certain beings or entities, indicating the moral duties owed to them.
- Moral status categories: Full Moral Status (FMS) and Partial Moral Status (PMS).
- FMS denotes entities we owe strong, obligatory duties; PMS refers to entities with lesser moral considerations.
Trade-off Scenarios
- Scenario illustrates moral dilemmas; for example, choosing between harming a dog or a human.
- Choices reflect intuitions about relative importance: a human often takes precedence over an animal.
Reasons to Aid and Treat Fairly
- Strong reasons to aid beings with FMS compared to those with PMS.
- Aiding one being over another doesn’t inherently grant the aided being a higher moral status.
- Entities with FMS are generally seen as equals deserving equitable treatment, while this duty is less stringent for PMS entities.
Grounds for Full Moral Status
- FMS often rooted in complex cognitive abilities, such as autonomy and rationality.
- Kant emphasized dignity based on rational capacities; intellect influences moral status perceptions.
- Criticism of cognitive ability as a sole criterion; infants may deserve higher moral status than animals despite having limited cognitive abilities.
Hierarchies of Moral Status
- Distinctions in moral status:
- No moral status for inanimate objects
- Partial moral status for certain beings
- Full moral status for beings deserving strong duties against interference and for aid.
Entities Typically Considered for Moral Status
- Adult cognitively unimpaired humans are typically seen as possessing FMS.
- Cognitive abilities influence attributions of FMS to infants and individuals with impairments; consensus varies, especially regarding fetuses and some animals.
Controversies Surrounding Moral Status
- Lack of universal agreement on the moral status of human fetuses, conscious-impaired humans, and certain sophisticated animals.
- Moral status debates crucial as they define ethical obligations and treatment of various entities in society.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of moral status, distinguishing between Full Moral Status (FMS) and Partial Moral Status (PMS). It examines trade-off scenarios that highlight moral dilemmas and reasons for aiding different beings. Test your understanding of how moral duties are assigned based on the level of importance attributed to various entities.
