Ethical Theories and Moral Dilemmas

The video tutorial explores the development of deontology within the context of metaethics, focusing on key figures like William Ross and his intuitional pluralism. It discusses the resurgence of natural law and contractualism, highlighting John Rawls's theory of justice as fairness. Thomas Nagel's rationalism is examined, contrasting with Rawls's ideas. The tutorial concludes with contemporary ethical concepts, including Hilary Putnam's conceptual relativity and the famous trolley problem, emphasizing the importance of applied ethics in modern contexts.

What is the main idea behind William Ross's concept of prima facie value?

• It is a value that is determined by majority opinion.

• It is a value that is apparent at first sight through intuition.

• It is a value that can be identified through scientific methods.

• It is a value that changes based on cultural context.

Which of the following is NOT one of the main goods proposed by William Ross?

• Virtue

• Pleasure

• Knowledge

• Wealth

What does John Rawls mean by 'reasonable pluralism'?

• The belief that all moral theories are equally valid.

• The notion that laws should be based on majority rule.

• The idea that there can be many conceptions of good and justice in a democratic society.

• The acceptance of multiple religions in a society.

What is the significance of the 'veil of ignorance' in Rawls's theory?

• It focuses on the role of emotions in decision-making.

• It emphasizes the importance of cultural traditions.

• It ensures that decisions are made without bias.

• It allows for the consideration of historical context.

Which principle is NOT part of Rawls's theory of justice?

• Liberty

• Difference

• Equal opportunity

• Majority rule

According to Thomas Nagel, what is the role of rationality in moral decision-making?

• Rationality is secondary to emotions.

• Rationality is irrelevant in moral contexts.

• Rationality should be avoided in ethical discussions.

• Rationality is the primary guide for altruistic actions.

How does Hilary Putnam view the relationship between facts and values?

• Values are derived from facts.

• Values are more important than facts.

• Facts and values are completely separate.

• Facts and values are intertwined and cannot be separated.

What does Hilary Putnam mean by 'conceptual relativity'?

• The idea that all concepts are relative to individual perspectives.

• The view that concepts can evolve and adapt to different situations.

• The belief that metaphysics is necessary for understanding language.

• The notion that language is fixed and unchanging.

What is the main ethical dilemma in the original 'trolley problem'?

• Choosing between two equally harmful actions.

• Determining if it is ethical to sacrifice oneself for others.

• Deciding whether to push a person off a bridge to stop a trolley.

• Choosing between saving one person or five by flipping a switch.

What is Judith Thomson's contribution to the 'trolley problem'?

• She introduced the concept of moral luck.

• She developed the 'footbridge' scenario.

• She argued against the use of thought experiments.

• She proposed a new version involving a runaway train.