Question 1

Describe the theory of psychological egoism, and explain why it is not considered a theory about ethics. Then explain why the truth of psychological egoism would nonetheless have serious implications for ethics if it were true.

Accepted Answer

The theory of psychological egoism is th...

Question 2

The case of the invisible hair elves is meant to show that

Accepted Answer

A)   seeing is believing.
B)   you should accept aging with grace.
C)   it is a mistake to hold a view as immune from refutation by evidence.
D)   there are some truths that can't be refuted by evidence.E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 3

According to the text, the first premise of argument from expected benefit,

Accepted Answer

A)   couldn't possibly be true.
B)   doesn't account for the fact that people can be mistaken about what's good for them.
C)   seems to ignore the possibility of pessimists.
D)   All of the aboveE) C) and D)
F) A) and B) C

Question 4

A psychological egoist would claim that giving up something you want for the sake of a loved one

Accepted Answer

A)   is actually a self-interested action.
B)   is inadvisable.
C)   is impossible.
D)   is immoral.E) A) and B)
F) All of the above

Question 5

According to the text, the argument from expected benefit

Accepted Answer

A)   is invalid.
B)   begs the question.
C)   shows that psychological egoism is true.
D)   shows that psychological egoism is false.E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 6

If getting what we want makes us better off, then

Accepted Answer

A)   all of our actions are self-interested.
B)   when we do what we want, our actions are self-interested.
C)   when we do what we want and what we want is to make ourselves better off, our actions are self-interested.
D)   None of the aboveE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 7

What lesson have many people taken from the story of the Ring of Gyges?

Accepted Answer

A)   People are fundamentally self-interested.
B)   People are fundamentally altruistic.
C)   Political power is best concentrated in the hands of a few good people.
D)   Political power is dangerous when concentrated in the hands of a few people.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 8

If all of our actions are motivated by our strongest desire, then

Accepted Answer

A)   psychological egoism is proven correct.
B)   psychological egoism is true only if all of our strongest desires are for self-interest.
C)   psychological egoism is refuted.
D)   all action is strictly conscientious action.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 9

According to the text, the existence of a guilty conscience

Accepted Answer

A)   is evidence against psychological egoism.
B)   is evidence for psychological egoism.
C)   is irrelevant to the question of whether psychological egoism is true.
D)   is impossible unless psychological egoism is true.E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 10

Explain what you take to be the strongest argument in favor of psychological egoism. Then, raise what you take to be the strongest objection to this argument. How would the egoist respond to this objection? Do you find this response satisfying? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The strongest argument in favor of psych...

Question 11

According to the text, from the fact that I expect my action to result in X, we can infer

Accepted Answer

A)   that my aim is to get X.
B)   that X will satisfy at least one of my desires.
C)   that I believe X is good.
D)   None of the aboveE) A) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

What does psychological egoism say about acts of altruism?

Accepted Answer

A)   They are very nice to perform but never morally obligatory.
B)   People sometimes perform them, but doing so is immoral.
C)   They are rare and are performed only by truly exceptional people.
D)   They are impossible.E) A) and B)
F) B) and C)

Question 13

How might the phenomenon of a guilty conscience be used to support the theory of psychological egoism? How might the very same phenomenon be used to argue against psychological egoism? Which argument do you think is better, and why?

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon of a guilty conscience co...

Question 14

Define altruism, and describe a case in which a person appears to behave altruistically. How would the psychological egoist explain the person's behavior in the case you describe? Do you find the egoist's explanation plausible in this case? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Altruism is the selfless concern for the...

Question 15

Psychological egoism is

Accepted Answer

A)   a political theory about how society ought to be organized.
B)   a descriptive theory of human motivation.
C)   an ethical theory about how we ought to act.
D)   a character trait that certain people have.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 16

What would the psychological egoist say about someone who acts to avoid a guilty conscience?

Accepted Answer

A)   This would be impossible, according to psychological egoism.
B)   Such a person acts out of a direct concern for morality.
C)   Such a person acts out of a self-interested desire to avoid guilt.
D)   Such a person behaves altruistically, which, according to psychological egoism, is very rare.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 17

According to the text, what does the evidence suggest about psychological egoism?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is very probably true.
B)   It is very probably false.
C)   It is proven to be true.
D)   It is proven to be false.E) B) and C)
F) B) and D) B

Question 18

Which of the following must be true in order for the argument from expected benefit to succeed?

Accepted Answer

A)   Any time we act, we expect to be better off.
B)   Any time we act, we aim at making ourselves better off.
C)   Any time we act, we make ourselves better off in some way.
D)   Both a and bE) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 19

If psychological egoism is true, then

Accepted Answer

A)   this has no ethical implications because psychological egoism is not an ethical theory.
B)   we cannot be morally obligated to behave altruistically.
C)   most of what is commonly taken for granted about morality would be mistaken.
D)   Both b and cE) All of the above
F) C) and D) D

Question 20

Altruism is

Accepted Answer

A)   any action that benefits others.
B)   a direct desire to benefit others for their own sake.
C)   a desire to benefit others in order to further our own ends.
D)   All of the aboveE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Exam 7: Psychological Egoism

Describe the theory of psychological egoism, and explain why it is not considered a theory about ethics. Then explain why the truth of psychological egoism would nonetheless have serious implications for ethics if it were true.

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe theory of psychological egoism is th...View AnswerShow Answer

The case of the invisible hair elves is meant to show that

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According to the text, the first premise of argument from expected benefit,

Correct AnswerverifiedC

A psychological egoist would claim that giving up something you want for the sake of a loved one

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According to the text, the argument from expected benefit

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If getting what we want makes us better off, then

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What lesson have many people taken from the story of the Ring of Gyges?

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If all of our actions are motivated by our strongest desire, then

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According to the text, the existence of a guilty conscience

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Explain what you take to be the strongest argument in favor of psychological egoism. Then, raise what you take to be the strongest objection to this argument. How would the egoist respond to this objection? Do you find this response satisfying? Why or why not?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe strongest argument in favor of psych...View AnswerShow Answer

According to the text, from the fact that I expect my action to result in X, we can infer

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What does psychological egoism say about acts of altruism?

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How might the phenomenon of a guilty conscience be used to support the theory of psychological egoism? How might the very same phenomenon be used to argue against psychological egoism? Which argument do you think is better, and why?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIThe phenomenon of a guilty conscience co...View AnswerShow Answer

Define altruism, and describe a case in which a person appears to behave altruistically. How would the psychological egoist explain the person's behavior in the case you describe? Do you find the egoist's explanation plausible in this case? Why or why not?

Correct AnswerAnswered by ExamLex AIAltruism is the selfless concern for the...View AnswerShow Answer

Psychological egoism is

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What would the psychological egoist say about someone who acts to avoid a guilty conscience?

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According to the text, what does the evidence suggest about psychological egoism?

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Which of the following must be true in order for the argument from expected benefit to succeed?

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If psychological egoism is true, then

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Altruism is

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The theory of psychological egoism is th...
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C

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The strongest argument in favor of psych...
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Answered by ExamLex AI
The phenomenon of a guilty conscience co...
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Altruism is the selfless concern for the...
View Answer

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B

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D

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