Chapter 001 Understanding Ethics
/ Questions
1. (p. 4) The field of ethics is the study of how people try to live their lives according to a standard of "right"
behavior.
The field of ethics is the study of how people try to live their lives according to a standard of "right"
behavior.
2. (p. 4) Moral standards are based on religious, cultural, or philosophical beliefs by which judgments are
made about good or bad behavior.
3. (p. 4) A structured community of people bound together by similar traditions and customs refers to society.
4. (p. 4) Standards of ethical behavior are absorbed by osmosis as you observe the examples, both positive and
negative, set by everyone around you—parents, family members, friends, peers, and neighbors.
5. (p. 4) Individuals acquire their personal moral standards in the same way that they learn the alphabet.
Individuals acquire their personal moral standards by osmosis as you observe the examples, both positive
and negative, set by everyone around you—parents, family members, friends, peers, and neighbors.
6. (p. 4) A set of personal principles formalized into a code of behavior refers to a value system.
7. (p. 4) The terms morals and values do not mean the same thing.
The terms morals and values are often used to mean the same thing, a set of personal principles by which
you aim to live your life.
8. (p. 4) A person's values have a specific worth to them.
9. (p. 4 - 5) An intrinsic value, such as happiness and health, is a good thing in itself and is pursued for its own
sake.
10. (p. 5) An intrinsic value means that the pursuit of a one value is a good way to reach another value.
The pursuit of one value to reach another value is an instrumental value. Foe example, money is valued for
what it can buy.
11. (p. 5) There are clearly defined rules of right and wrong, and you should live your life in direct observance
of those rules.
We would like to believe that there are clearly defined rules of right and wrong and that you can live your
life in direct observance of those rules. However, it is more likely that situations will arise that will require
exceptions to those rules.
12. (p. 5) 12. Simple truth is one of the four basic categories of ethics and can be expressed simply as doing
the right thing.
13. (p. 5) 13. Typically people do share the same interpretation of what "the right thing" is, but they may not
share the same commitment in doing it.
Typically people do not share the same interpretation of what "the right thing" is, and they may not share the
same commitment in doing it.
14. (p. 5) Superman has become a fictional representation of personal integrity.
15. (p. 5) Rules of appropriate individual behavior represent the idea that the moral standards we develop for
ourselves impact our lives on a daily basis in our behavior and the other types of decisions we make.
16. (p. 6) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the golden rule.
17. (p. 6) Every religion in the world shares the golden rule.
This is simple and very clear rule is shared by many different religions in the world.
18. (p. 6) Aristotle believed in individual character and integrity, and established a concept of living your life
according to a commitment to the achievement of a clear ideal – what sort of person would I like to become,
and how do I go about becoming that person?
19. (p. 6) Virtue ethics is the concept of living your life according to the achievement of clear and similar
virtues.
Thee problem with virtue ethics is that societies can place different emphasis on different virtues. For
example, Greek society at the time of Aristotle valued wisdom, courage, and justice. By contrast, Christian
societies value faith, hope, and charity.
20. (p. 6) Ethics for the greater good is also referred to as utilitarianism.
21. (p. 6) The problem with ethics for the greater good is the idea that the ends justify the means.
22. (p. 6) The problem with utilitarianism is the focus on doing the most good for a select few, such as Adolf
Hitler and the idea of launching a national genocide against Jews on the utilitarian grounds of restoring the
Aryan race.
The problem with this approach to ethics is the idea of doing the greatest good for the greatest number of
people. Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party launched a national genocide against Jews and "defective" people on
the utilitarian grounds of restoring the Aryan race.
23. (p. 6) Universal ethics argue that there are certain universal principles that should apply to all ethical
judgments.
24. (p. 7) The problem with universal ethics is that no one is held accountable for the consequences of actions
taken to abide by those principles.
25. (p. 8) Applied ethics is the study of how ethical theories are put into practice.
26. (p. 7) Ethical relativism is where the traditions of your society, your personal opinions, and the
circumstances of the present moment define your ethical principles.
27. (p. 8) Ethical dilemmas are the study of how ethical theories are put into practice.
The study of how ethical theories are put into practice is applied ethics. Ethical dilemmas are situations in
which there is no obvious right or wrong decision, but rather a right or right answer.
28. (p. 8) An ethical dilemma is a situation in which there is no obvious right or wrong decision, but
rather a right or right answer.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
29. (p. 8) The basic assumption of ethical theory is that you as an individual or community are in control of all
the factors that influence the choices that you make.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
30. (p. 9) Usually an ethical dilemma can be resolved with a satisfactory answer to the problem.
Usually an ethical dilemma cannot really be resolved in the sense that a resolution of the problem implies a
satisfactory answer to the problem. Since, in reality, the "answer" to an ethical dilemma is often the lesser of
two evils, it is questionable to assume that there will always be an acceptable answer— it's more a question
of whether or not you can arrive at an outcome you can live with.
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.5
31. (p. 9) The first step in resolving an ethical dilemma is to analyze the consequences.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
32. (p. 9) Due to aggressive competitors, Joe Smith feels pressured to lie to an important customer to keep the
customer. He feels they will never discover the truth. With this ethical dilemma, the first thing Joe must do is
analyze the actions without thinking about consequences.
The first thing he must do is analyze the consequences.
Bloom's: Applying
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.5
33. (p. 9) The final step in solving an ethical dilemma is to evaluate the results of your decision.
The final step in resolving an ethical dilemma is to make a decision.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
34. (p. 10) Arthur Dobrin identified 15 questions you should consider when resolving an ethical dilemma.
Arthur Dobrin identified eight questions to consider when resolving an ethical dilemma.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
35. (p. 10) The process of ethical reasoning involves looking at the available information and then drawing
conclusions based on that information in relation to our own ethical standards.
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.5
36. (p. 10) Preconventional is the lowest level of Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of ethical reasoning.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
37. (p. 10 - 11) The first stage of Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of ethical reasoning is preconventional.
The first stage is obedience and punishment orientation.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
38. (p. 11) The third stage of Kohlberg's stages of ethical reasoning is law and order.
The third stage is "Good boy/nice girl" orientation.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
39. (p. 11) In the third stage of Kohlberg's stages of ethical reasoning, a person is focused on meeting the
expectations of friends and coworkers and how something will affect their life.
The third stage is "Good boy/nice girl" orientation, and a person is focused on meeting the expectations of
family members—that is, something is right or wrong because it pleases those family members.
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Outcome: 1.5
40. (p. 11) The highest level of ethical reasoning is the post-conventional level.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
41. (p. 12) According to Kohlberg's framework, an individual can jump beyond the next stage of his or her six
stages.
According to Kohlberg, an individual cannot jump beyond the next stage.
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Outcome: 1.5
42. (p. 12) Kohlberg stated that it would be impossible for a person to comprehend the moral issues and
dilemmas at a level so far beyond his or her life experience and education.
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.5
Multiple Choice Questions
43. (p. 4) ______ refers to a study of how people try to live their lives according to a standard of right" or
"wrong" behavior.
A. Morality
B. Ethics
C. Virtuosity
D. Philosophy
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.1
44. (p. 4) All of the following are sources of individuals' moral standards except:
A. Family
B. Religion
C. Government
D. Friends
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
45. (p. 4) A structured community of people bound together by similar traditions and customs refers to
_________.
A. neighborhood
B. global Village
C. cult
D. society
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
46. (p. 4) _______ is a particular set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that characterize a group of
individuals.
A. Culture
B. Role
C. Morals
D. Norm
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
47. (p. 4) When individuals share similar standards in a community, we can use the term _______.
A. moral system
B. value system
C. ethical system
D. instrumental system
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
48. (p. 4) The terms _________ and values are often used to mean the same thing, a set of personal principles
by which you aim to live your life.
A. instrumental system
B. outcomes
C. morals
D. lessons
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
49. (p. 4) An _______ is a value that is a good thing in itself and is pursued for its own sake.
A. intrinsic value
B. extrinsic value
C. instrumental value
D. external value
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
50. (p. 4 - 5) An _________, such as happiness and health, is a good thing in itself and is pursued for its own
sake.
A. extrinsic value
B. external value
C. instrumental value
D. intrinsic value
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
51. (p. 5) An _______ is where the pursuit of that value is a good way to reach another value.
A. intrinsic value
B. extrinsic value
C. instrumental value
D. external value
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
52. (p. 5) The impact of a person's or a group's _______ can be seen in the extent to which their daily lives are
influenced by those values.
A. ethics
B. morality
C. religion
D. value system
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.2
53. (p. 5) What is it that makes the study of ethics so complex?
A. Constant change
B. The grey area
C. Differing religions
D. Black and white decisions
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.3
54. (p. 5) Which of the following is not one of the four basic categories of ethics?
A. Personal integrity
B. Rules of appropriate individual behavior
C. Rules of appropriate behavior for a community or society
D. Stretched truth
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.3
55. (p. 5) ________ is just doing the right thing, and it is something most people can understand and support.
A. Personal integrity
B. Rules of appropriate individual behavior
C. Rules of appropriate behavior for a community or society
D. A simple truth
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.3
56. (p. 5) Which of the following defines simple truth?
A. The idea that the moral standards we develop for ourselves impact our lives on a daily basis.
B. The idea that we must bring our personal value systems into a world that we share with people who may
have different value systems.
C. Doing the right thing.
D. Viewing one's behavior from an external, rather than an internal, viewpoint.
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Outcome: 1.3
57. (p. 5) All of the following represent the ideal of personal integrity except:
A. Scrooge McDuck
B. Batman
C. Superman
D. Spider-Man
Bloom's: Understanding
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Outcome: 1.3
58. (p. 6) For some, the _______ rule best expresses the goal of living an ethical life: Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you.
A. golden
B. virtuous
C. moral justice
D. equality
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.3
59. (p. 6) Ethical theories can be divided into the following categories except:
A. Virtue ethics
B. Ethics for the greater good
C. Rational ethics
D. Universal ethics
Bloom's: Remembering
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Outcome: 1.3
60. (p. 6) ______ is a concept of living your life according to a commitment to the achievement of a clear
ideal.
A. Universal ethics
B. Ethics for the greater good
C. Utilitarianism
D. Virtue ethics