Phil 2030 – Introduction to Ethics
“Head Start” Quiz
10 extra credit points
Name ______
1. Which of the following questions is an Ethical question:
1) What Is the nature of man?
2) What responsibility do citizens have to their government?
3) Does man have free will?
4) Does something have to be true for you to have knowledge of it?
5) Does God exist?
2. A person who says “When it comes to ethics, everybody has their own opinions and you can’t say they are wrong if they honestly believe what they say” is:
1) an idiot
2) a relativist
3) a subjectivist
4)
a scholar
5) absolutely right!
3. The fundamental principle of critical thinking emphasizes:
1) that facts are indisputable. As long as you rely on facts, no one will challenge you.
2) that arguments are subjective. It is fine to believe pretty much whatever you want.
3) that people are often swayed by rhetoric and fallacies. Sometimes that is logical and sometimes it is not.
4) An argument that is really good is so obvious to everyone that it is not necessary to have reasons for the conclusion.
5) that ethics relies on values only, not critical thinking.
4. Arguing “You may claim that the death penalty is an ineffective deterrent against crime, but it isn’t because what about the victims of crime?" is not a good argument because:
1) it is a straw man.
2) it begs the question.
3) It is an ad hominem.
4) It is a red herring.
5) None of the above. This is a good argument.
5. As a branch of Philosophy, Ethics tries to:
1) destroy religion in every way it possibly can
2) convince people that they are wrong about whatever it is they believe
3) ask questions about what may have previously been assumed
4) show that science is always right.
5) merely support one’s religious views.
a)
6. Which of the following objections to philosophy seem valid to you:
1) it is nonsense
2) it is not practical
3) it conflicts with what I believe and thus it is wrong
4) all of the above
5) none of the above
7. In The Allegory of the Cave, Aristotle suggests that:
1) Man will always be slaves to stronger men.
2) Man can’t attain freedom from his ignorance.
3) Philosophy is just another form of rhetoric to enslave other persons.
4) Man can never understand anything about the world.
5) Huh? It was Plato who discussed the Allegory of the cave, not Aristotle.
8. The Greek philosopher who suggested that life was not worth living if we do not ask fundamental questions about our world and how we should live was:
1) Parmenides
2) Socrates
3) Homer
4) Plato
5) Aristotle
9. The following is generally true about philosophical discussions:
a) Everyone has their own opinions, all opinions are equally good, and usually the loudest person wins.
b) In philosophy, it doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong. What counts is just that you participated.
c) Discussion in philosophy is guided by the principles of logic and critical reasoning. One should have good reasons for what they believe.
d) All of the above
e) None of the above.
10. The view in ethics that suggests that the best standard of morality is the promotion of everyone’s best interests and that can be always measured by consequences of the action is:
a) the Categorical Imperative
b) Utilitarianism
c) Hedonism
d) Ethical Relativism
e) Absolutism