California State University, Northridge » Religion » Religious Studies 361 - Contemporary Ethical Issues » Spring 2020

Religious Studies 361 - Contemporary Ethical Issues » Spring 2020 » Midterm Exam

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Question #1

Those, who advocated utilitarianism were:

A. Anselm and Augustine

B. Bentham and Mill

C. Kant and Ross

D. Rumi and Lewis

Question #2

James believes that it is unwise to think that one society or a nation can be more evolved and better than others. All societies can be good and bad in their own way. James is more likely a:

A. Utilitarianist

B. Cultural Relativist

C. Societal Platonist

D. Political Sceptic

Question #3

Intuitionism is:

A. Moral choices can only be made based on inner conviction and knowledge of right and wrong.

B. Human soul reincarnates in many bodies based on its karmic debt

C. Humans have a soul and a spirit and both are immaterial

D. Humans possess innate ability to foresee upcoming events

Question #4

Logical Positivist view on morality believes that

A. Moral statements that cannot be proven empirically, based on sensory data, are simply feelings and are meaningless

B. One should always chose the lesser of two evils

C. Before taking action, one should carefully weigh "for" and "against" arguments

D. All spiritual things are logical and therefore moral

Question #5

"Emotivism" ethical theory is most likely to be used by:

A. Moral actions are driven by inner motivation originated from consciousness

B. Morality is different for different people and it all depends on their culture and upbringing

C. Materialists, because it implies a belief that moral actions are simply emotional phenomenon and are not real or valid

D. Religious people, because it implies a belief in the emotional validity of the human soul

Question #6

How do you think Kant would reply to "doing evil" to achieve greater good for many?

A. Things are good and bad in themselves and consequences do not matter

B. Things are good if they produce more pleasure

C. Kant is skeptical about morality and doesn't believe there is objective morality

D. An action is moral if it uses human beings as means to an end

Question #7

Select the answer that corresponds to the ethical theory of "Prescriptivism"

A. Descriptivism

B. Pluralism

C. Realism

D. Golden Rule

Question #8

Darrel J. Fasching in "Comparative Religious Ethics" believes that religious language is:

A. By necessity, highly metaphoric and symbolic

B. Identical in all religions

C. Unnecessary and superstitious

D. Urban and political

Question #9

How does Mill's "Greatest Happiness" principle differ from Bentham's Utilitarianism?

A. Mill thinks Happiness and Pleasure are not the final goal of human beings, but Bentham does

B. Bentham believes utilitarianism must maximize pleasure and happiness, but Mill believes in supernaturalism and intuitionism

C. There is no difference, they both believe in the same principle of pleasure and happiness as the final goal

D. Bentham believes pleasure is pleasure, but Mill thinks higher, dignified and quality pleasure is the final goal

Question #10

According to Immanuel Kant, what is the Supreme Principle of morality?

A. Cultural Norms

B. The 10 commandments

C. Useful Consequences of actions

D. Good Will

Question #11

Select the statement which represents Kant's "Categorical Imperative" correctly:

A. Cheating is bad, but only in special cases you may, if it is necessary to achieve more important results.

B. You shouldn't cheat on your exams, because it will produce bad education and will increase unhappiness for the majority

C. You shouldn't cheat on your exams, because it is against the will of God

D. You shouldn't cheat on your exams, because if cheating on exams was the moral norm, there would be no exams, so it doesn't make sense

Question #12

In Hinduism, the system which rewards and punishes moral behavior is called:

A. Kama

B. Nirvana

C. Karma

D. Yoga

Question #13

Select the correct pair

A. Utilitarianism/Maximizing happiness for the majority

B. Cultural Relativism/Universal, Objective Morality

C. Islam/Original Sin

D. All pairs are correct

Question #14

According to Plato, (excerpt from "The Republic") what is the most important motive for moral actions?

A. One's loyalty to duty

B. Usefulness and talents

C. Realization that moral actions will be rewarded in a higher reality

D. Realization that all art is fake

Question #15

If someone deprives his/her body to achieve higher spirituality, he/she is practicing:

A. Bakhti Yoga

B. Moksha

C. Asceticism

D. Hedonism

Question #16

According to Islam, (see reading) what was the main reason for the cosmic antagonism between God and Satan?

A. Satan wanted to become God

B. Satan sinned and was cast out

C. Satan refused to bow down to newly created humans

D. The garden of Eden

Question #17

In his "Republic" Plato talks about several versions of each object (e.g.beds). Select the statement, which correctly reflects Plato's reasoning

A. There is no one object, but numerous, because each person sees his/her own version of the object

B. Objects have three versions: The physical, which is the real, the imitation through art, which is the shadow and the imitation of the imitation, which is the third

C. Each object can have three versions: the one depicted by painters, art, imitators, the second - the actual physical, and the third, which is the only original, true idea of the object

D. Objects are perceived in three ways: how people perceive them relatively, how people see them emotionally and how people interpret them subjectively

Question #18

Which of these thinkers advocated the idea that humans do morally wrong things, because their nature has been contaminated and therefore are incapable of pleasing God on their own

A. Augustine

B. Plato

C. Rumi

D. Kant

Question #19

Based on the assigned reading, how does traditional Christian understanding interpret the "Main Human Problem"?

A. Humans are capable of being good, but because of their weakness choose to be bad

B. Humans are originally pure, but Satan makes them sinful by tempting them

C. Humans nature is fallen and sinful from the beginning and they are unable to be good

D. Humans have divine nature and do not usually sin, but they make mistakes because of their lack of faith

Question #20

Which of these works introduces ideas similar to Moral Relativism more clearly?

A. Plato's Republic

B. Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics"

C. Plato's "Euthyphro"

D. Kant's "Grounds for Metaphysics of Morals"

Question #21

Naturalism does not believe in any reality beyond the physical, materialistic world

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #22

The theory advocating "there is no objective morality" is known as supernaturalism

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #23

Kant's ethical principle can be called "utilitaian" ethics

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #24

Emotivism means I do X, because X is emotionally suitable to me

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #25

If you want to be treated nicely, treat others in the same way. This is known as the Golden Rule

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #26

Based on the assigned reading, Aristotle believes that a thing can be called "good" only by its ability to achieve a specific purpose as opposed to being "good" in itself

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #27

Supernaturalism is similar to "Subjectivism" theory

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #28

Moral Relativism does not believe in universal objective morality

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #29

In "Euthyphro", Socrates suggests that "Supernaturalism" or "Divine Command" is the final foundation for ethics

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #30

Aristotle's Ethics is based on "purpose driven" morality

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #31

Hindu liberation from the wheel of death and incarnation is called "Karma"

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #32

According to Kant, Moral actions are determined by what they produce for society

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #33

Believing in subjective morality means that one thinks there are universal moral values independent of our perception, upbringing or opinion

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #34

Depriving the body for spiritual discipline is Ascetic Ethics

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #35

Shiah vs. Sunni controversy began because of the question of succession to Muhammad

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #36

Sharia is only based on the commandments written in the Quran

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #37

According to Augustine's interpretation of Christianity, humans are genuinely capable of overcoming their sins if they exercise strong will

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #38

For Kant, moral worth of an action depends more on the intention than on the consequences

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

Question #39

"Supernaturalist" theory of ethics states that all humans possess innate moral judgement from the divine source

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

Question #40

According to Islam, the root of human problem is the fallen, sinful human nature

A. FALSE

B. TRUE

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