introduction to ethics

I'm working on a other question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

I come home and my apartment building is on fire. There is a family of five living in the apartment next to mine and only my mother in my apartment. I can only evacuate one apartment.

What is a problem with applying utilitarianism to this scenario?

• Utilitarianism says I have to choose what to do based on who is responsible for starting the fire.
• Utilitarianism says I should evacuate my apartment because that will make me the happiest.
• Utilitarianism says I should evacuate the apartment that has five occupants, even though my mother is more important to me.
• Utilitarianism says I cannot determine which apartment to evacuate because my mother's happiness is equal to the happiness of the five strangers.

What is meant by the formulation of humanity?

• Anything agreed on by all humanity is true.
• We shouldn't act in a way that has any harm to society.
• We should respect other peoples' points of view.
• Other people must be treated as ends, not only as means.

In Kantian deontology, the __________ must be derived from reason.

• utility principle
• categorical imperative
• formal maxim
• command theory

Jerome gets injured helping a distressed swimmer. Jerome dies, but the swimmer lives.

How would a utilitarian classify Jerome's action?

• Neutral
• Obligatory
• Impermissible
• Supererogatory

According to Kantian deontology, which of the following would make an act permissible?

• It is done with good intent.
• It brings about the greatest good for the most people.
• It is legal in this place.
• It is approved by a majority of people.

What is meant by the formulation of universal law?

• Acting according to a maxim that is defined by the global community
• Acting according to a maxim that, if applied to everyone, does not entail contradiction
• Acting according to a maxim that respects an act's inherent goodness
• Acting according to a maxim that brings about the greatest possible good

Which of the following represents rule utilitarianism?

• Rick helps his daughter with her taxes because he thinks parents should help their children.
• Rhonda drinks tea instead of coffee because she finds it more soothing.
• Raj buys a particular brand of computer because it best suits his professional needs.
• Renee is honest with her doctor because she wants a correct diagnosis.

Which of the following represents a potential problem for Kantian deontology?

• A person may have to follow different rules than others because of his or her circumstances.
• A person who isn't aware of committing a crime can't be guilty of it.
• A person's intentions aren't given enough consideration.
• A person can treat other people as means to an end without respect for them.

How might a Kantian deontologist evaluate assisted suicide?

• It is morally right because the patient gives his or her consent.
• It is morally right because it puts a person out of his or her pain.
• It is morally wrong because too many people would do it if they could.
• It is morally wrong because it deprives a person of his or her humanity.

Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with Kantian deontology?

• Gary is looking for an ethical framework that originates outside humanity.
• Gerard is looking for an ethical framework that can apply to everyone.
• Gina is looking for an ethical framework that is conscious of an act's negative effects.
• Gosia is looking for an ethical framework that is based in a society's laws and rules.

Which of the following pairs of goods are probably different in kind according to idealist utilitarianism?

• My life and the life of my children
• A polio vaccine and a syringe
• All of the answer choices are correct.
• A dog and a cat

Theo is running for political office. It is a well-known fact that Theo is corrupt— he intends to use his office for his own personal and financial gain, to the detriment of the communities he serves. Yet polls show that he has a considerable lead over his opponents because he can afford aggressive advertising. A group of citizens decides to take matters into its own hands by blackmailing Theo so he will drop out of the election.

Most people would agree that this action is immoral. How might it be evaluated by a utilitarian?

• Blackmailing Theo is morally wrong because it’s still possible that he won’t win the election, or that checks and balances will keep him from having too negative an impact.
• Blackmailing Theo is morally wrong because blackmail is always wrong, even if you don’t agree with someone’s values.
• Blackmailing Theo is morally right because the communities he serves will ultimately be happier with a leader who is not corrupt.
• Blackmailing Theo is morally right because most citizens do not want him as their leader, even if they have fallen for his advertising.

Which of the following people would likely be satisfied with utilitarianism?

• Walt is looking for an ethical framework that places a high value on his culture's traditions.
• Wendy is looking for an ethical framework that relies on the Torah for moral guidance.
• Warren is looking for an ethical framework that never allows any kind of theft.
• Walburga is looking for an ethical framework that is based in observable facts.

When a utilitarian evaluates an action, which of the following is most important?

• The action's inherent sinfulness
• The action's effects on the agent
• The action's total effects on everyone
• The action's rejection by society

Claire is helping her elderly neighbor, Ms. Flannigan, with some yard work. Ms. Flannigan has no close family and tells Claire that she is beginning to wonder who will get the small bundles of cash she has hidden throughout her large house. Ms. Flannigan even remarks that she cannot remember where she has hidden them all. After helping Ms. Flannigan, Claire goes inside to freshen up. In the bathroom she notices a large wad of cash tucked inside the medicine cabinet.

Which action is supported by utilitarianism but intuitively seems unethical?

• Claire takes the money and donates it to the food kitchen that feeds the community’s homeless population.
• Claire takes the money and puts it in a savings account that she will not touch for 10 years.
• Claire leaves the money, and tells Ms. Flannigan that she will take her to the bank the following week to deposit it.
• Claire leaves the money, but tells her friends about Mrs. Flannigan’s forgetfulness and where she had found the money.