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Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues

Barbara MacKinnon, Andrew Fiala

Chapter 1

Ethics and Ethical Reasoning - all with Video Answers

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Chapter Questions

02:51

Problem 1

Determine whether the following statements about the nature of ethics are true or false. Explain your answers.
a. Ethics is the study of why people act in certain ways.
b. The solution to moral conflicts and ethical disputes is to accurately describe the way the world actually is.
c. The statement “Most people believe that cheating is wrong” is an ethical evaluation of cheating.

Anand Jangid
Anand Jangid
Numerade Educator
01:48

Problem 2

Label the following statements as either normative (N) or descriptive (D). If normative, label each as ethics (E), aesthetics (A), law (L), religion (R), or custom (C).
a. One ought to respect one’s elders because it is one of God’s commandments.
b. Twice as many people today, as compared to ten years ago, believe that the death penalty is morally justified in some cases.
c. It would be wrong to put an antique chair in a modern room.
d. People do not always do what they believe to be right.
e. I ought not to turn left here because the sign says “No Left Turn.”
f. We ought to adopt a universal health insurance policy because everyone has a right to health care.

Oluwadamilola Ameobi
Oluwadamilola Ameobi
Numerade Educator

Problem 3

Discuss the differences between the ideas that ethics is subjective and that it is objective.

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Problem 4

Explain emotivism and intuitionism in ethical theory.

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04:11

Problem 5

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using naturalistic explanations in ethics.

Xiao Zi Huang
Xiao Zi Huang
Numerade Educator
01:39

Problem 6

As they occur in the following statements, label the reasons for the conclusion as appeals to the motive (M), the act (A), or the consequences (C).
a. Although you intended well, what you did was bad because it caused more harm than good.
b. We ought always to tell the truth to others because they have a right to know the truth.
c. Although it did turn out badly, you did not want that, and thus you should not be judged harshly for what you caused.

Raghvendra Singh
Raghvendra Singh
Numerade Educator