Free Philosophy: Morality and The Moral Life Questions and Answers

Question 1

Feelings are _____ in the moral life.

Accepted Answer

essential and inevitable

Answer

While moral philosophy often emphasizes reason, feelings (emotions) are widely recognized as an essential and inevitable component of human moral experience. They motivate moral action, inform our perceptions of right and wrong, and are deeply intertwined with our values and empathy. Although not an unerring guide, emotions play a crucial role in our moral judgments and responses.

Question 2

According to a moral philosophy, _____.

Accepted Answer

why an action is right or wrong

Answer

Moral philosophy, or ethics, is a branch of philosophy that explores fundamental questions about morality, including the concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, justice, and virtue. Its primary aim is to systematically analyze and provide reasoned justifications for why certain actions are considered morally right or wrong, and what principles should guide human conduct. It seeks to establish normative frameworks for ethical decision-making.

Question 3

A crucial moral standard of sufficiency is called as _____.

Accepted Answer

consistency with our considered moral judgments

Answer

In moral philosophy, a robust ethical theory or standard should be consistent with our 'considered moral judgments' or 'moral intuitions' – those deeply held moral beliefs that we maintain after careful reflection and without obvious bias. While not the sole criterion, a theory that radically contradicts these widely accepted judgments often faces significant challenges in gaining acceptance. This consistency helps ensure the theory is plausible and applicable to real-world moral dilemmas.

Question 4

The divine command theory has been criticized for suggesting that God's orders are ___.

Accepted Answer

arbitrary

Answer

A major criticism of the Divine Command Theory, which states that an action is morally right if and only if God commands it, is that it makes morality seem arbitrary. If God's commands are the sole basis for morality, then God could, in principle, command anything (e.g., cruelty) and it would become morally right. This implies that morality is not based on inherent goodness or reason, but simply on divine will, which many find problematic and lacking a rational foundation.

Question 5

Kant asserts that only _____ can be characterized as "good" without further explanation.

Accepted Answer

a good will

Answer

Immanuel Kant famously argued that the only thing that is 'good without qualification' or 'good in itself' is a good will. He believed that qualities like intelligence, courage, or even happiness can be used for bad purposes, and thus are not inherently good. A good will, for Kant, is one that acts purely out of duty and respect for the moral law, regardless of the consequences or personal inclinations.

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

PhD Doctor of Philosophy Practice Test

Free Philosophy: Morality and The Moral Life Questions and Answers