CARS CARS Ethical and Philosophical Reasoning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CARS passage argues that an action is morally wrong solely because it violates a long-standing social norm. Which philosophical criticism most directly challenges this reasoning?
- The argument commits a false analogy
- The argument commits the appeal to tradition fallacy by equating age with moral correctness (Correct answer)
- The argument relies on circular reasoning
- The argument contains an ad hominem attack
Correct answer: The argument commits the appeal to tradition fallacy by equating age with moral correctness
Equating a practice's historical longevity with its moral validity commits the appeal to tradition fallacy, since old norms can still be wrong.
Question 2: An author claims that a policy is ethical because it produces the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. Which ethical framework is this reasoning most consistent with?
- Deontological ethics
- Virtue ethics
- Utilitarian ethics (Correct answer)
- Divine command theory
Correct answer: Utilitarian ethics
Maximizing aggregate benefit for the largest number is the defining principle of utilitarian ethics.
Question 3: In a CARS passage on medical ethics, an author argues that a patient's informed consent must always be respected regardless of potential harm to the patient. Which ethical principle does this reflect?
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Autonomy (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Autonomy
Prioritizing a patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care, even over their welfare, reflects the principle of autonomy.
Question 4: A passage argues that moral obligations arise from rational universal laws rather than consequences. This reasoning is most closely associated with which philosopher?
- John Stuart Mill
- Immanuel Kant (Correct answer)
- Aristotle
- David Hume
Correct answer: Immanuel Kant
Kant's deontological ethics holds that moral obligations arise from universal rational laws (the categorical imperative), not from the consequences of actions.
Question 5: An author argues that an action was unethical because it was performed with a self-serving motive, even though it produced good outcomes. Which ethical dimension is the author prioritizing?
- The consequences of the action
- The character and intent of the agent (Correct answer)
- The social contract governing the action
- The relative harm versus benefit ratio
Correct answer: The character and intent of the agent
Judging actions based on the agent's intent and character is a feature of virtue ethics and deontological approaches that separate motive from outcome.
Question 6: A CARS passage discusses a philosopher who argues that there are no objective moral truths — only cultural preferences. This position is best described as which of the following?
- Moral realism
- Moral relativism (Correct answer)
- Moral absolutism
- Moral rationalism
Correct answer: Moral relativism
The view that moral truths are not objective but vary by cultural context is known as moral relativism.
CARS CARS Ethical and Philosophical Reasoning 1
A CARS passage argues that an action is morally wrong solely because it violates a long-standing social norm.
Which philosophical criticism most directly challenges this reasoning?