Chapter 03: Philosophical Ethics and Business

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Which of the following ethical frameworks directs us to decide based on overall
consequences of our acts?
a. Principle-based ethics
b. Kantian tradition
c. Utilitarianism
d. Virtue ethics
2. Identify the ethical tradition that directs us to act on the basis of moral principles.
a. Principle-based ethics
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue ethics
d. Consequence-based ethics
3. The study of various character traits that can contribute to, or obstruct, a happy and
meaningful human life is part of _____.
a. Kantian tradition
b. virtue ethics
c. principle-based ethics
d. utilitarianism
4. Utilitarianism's fundamental insight is that we should decide what to do by:
a. considering the moral character of individuals.
b. following the rules, regardless of consequences.
c. acting only out of a self-interest.
d. considering the consequences of our actions.
5. Utilitarianism has been called a(n):
a. commonsensical approach to ethics.
b. behavioral approach to ethics.
c. consequentialist approach to ethics.
d. intuitive approach to ethics.
6. According to many philosophers, ethical duties should be ___ ___, which means that a
person much obey fundamental ethical rules no matter what.
a. categorical imperatives
b. Invisible hand
c. human rights
d. Principle Based
7. Which of the following traditions is commonly identified with the rule of producing "the
greatest good for the greatest number"?
a. Principle-based
b. Kantian
c. Virtue
d. Utilitarianism
8. What is the difference between a principle-based framework of ethics and
utilitarianism?
a. Ethics of principles is based on self-interest, whereas utilitarianism is based on human
rights.
b. Ethics of principles is based on human rights, whereas utilitarianism is based on self-
interest.
c. Ethics of principles is based on rules, whereas utilitarianism is based on
consequences.
d. Ethics of principles is based on consequences, whereas utilitarianism is based on rules
9. Which of the following principles does utilitarianism emphasize?
a. Producing the greatest good for the greatest number
b. Acting only out of self-interest
c. Ensuring that a fair decision is an impartial decision
d. Obeying the law and keeping promises
10. Which of the following traditions would support child labor if it produces better overall
consequences than the available alternatives?
a. Virtue ethics
b. Deontological ethics
c. Utilitarianism
d. Classicism
11. According to the _____, the most efficient economy is structured based on the
principles of free market capitalism.
a. Kantian framework of ethics
b. principle-based framework of ethics
c. utilitarian framework of ethics
d. virtue-based framework of ethics
12. The essence of utilitarianism is its:
a. focus on personal character.
b. reliance on consequences.
c. focus on principles.
d. reliance on moral systems.
13. Which of the following is a problem with utilitarian ethics?
a. Its need to count, measure, compare, and quantify consequences
b. Utilitarianism's focus on the means
c. The focus on the good of individuals compared to the overall good
d. The necessity to follow rules with no regard to consequence
14. Which of the following ethical approaches binds us to act or decide in certain ways?
a. Kantian ethics
b. Utilitarianism
c. Virtue ethics
d. Principle-based ethics
15. According to principle-based ethics, which of the following are natural rights?
a. Happiness, satisfaction
b. Liberty, Equality
c. Wealth, good fortune
d. Freedom of speech
16. Which of the following statements reflects the approach of a principle-based ethical
tradition?
a. Obey the law
b. Ends justify the means
c. Maximize the overall good
d. Survival of the fittest
17. According to virtue ethics, one of the ways in which choices affect character is through _____.
a. The way he looks at life.
b. Through genetics.
c. The people and organizations one chooses to associate with.
d. The consequences of his choices.
18. "We ought to stop at a red light, even if no cars are coming and I could get to my
destination that much sooner." Identify the ethical approach that follows this line of
thought.
a. Virtue ethics
b. Utilitarianism
c. Role ethics
d. Ethics of principles
19. While he is normally against the idea of harming animals, Eric views animal research in
the pharmaceutical industry as a way to improve drugs that will benefit mankind. Which
moral philosophy most closely represents his viewpoint?
a. Egoism
b. Relativism
c. Humanitarianism
d. Utilitarianism
20. Amanda and Jeremy argue about the employment of children in tobacco farms in a
certain part of the world. Jeremy is of the view that this practice is ethical. He supports
this view by stating facts about how the economic and social gains from employing
children in these farms outweigh the long-term economic losses due to the health
problems and lack of education suffered by these children. Jeremy is most likely an
adherent of _____
a. Altruism
b. Principle-based
c. Utilitarianism
d. Virtue ethics

21. ._____ ensure the integrity and proper functioning of the economic, legal, or financial
systems.
a. Social functions
b. Administrative functions
c. Marketing functions
d. Gatekeeper functions
22. According to Immanuel Kant, there is essentially one fundamental moral duty:
a. to treat people as objects that exist for our purposes.
b. to consider the consequence of our actions.
c. to treat each person as an end in themselves.
d. to do whatever we choose to do to another person.
23. A rights-based ethical framework would object to child labor because:
a. of all the likely consequences of a practice of employing young children in factories.
b. such practices are a means to production and economic growth.
c. such practices violate our duty to treat children with respect.
d. child labor does not produce beneficial consequence
24. What is the difference between virtue ethics and principle-based ethics?
a. Virtue ethics is based on character traits, whereas principle-based ethics is based on a
set of rules.
b. Virtue ethics is based on the consequences of actions, whereas principle-based ethics
is based on character traits.
c. Virtue ethics is based on set of rules, whereas principle-based ethics is based on
consequences of actions.
d. Virtue ethics is based on producing the greater good, whereas principle-based ethics
is based on self-interest.
25. Which of the following approaches shifts the focus from questions about what a person
should do, to a focus on who that person is?
a. Altruism
b. Principle-based
 c. Utilitarianism
d. Virtue ethics
26. The study of various character traits that can contribute to, or obstruct, a happy and
meaningful human life is part of _____.
a. Kantian tradition
b. virtue ethics
c. principle-based ethics
d. utilitarianism

27. Which of the following is based on the moral norms and principles that say all human
beings are empowered to do something or have something done for them?
a. Human rights
b. Legal rights
c. Constitutional rights
d. Jurisdictional rights
28. Who of the following believed that free markets and private property produce greater
benefits than government interference could?
a. John Locke
b. Adam Smith
c. David Ricardo
d. Karl Marx

True or False
1. Ethics attempts to answer the question of how we should live, but it does not give
reasons to support its answers.
2. A principle-based framework defines a set of rules that enforces us to act or decide in
certain ways.
3. The concept of a human or moral right is central to the utilitarian ethical tradition.
4. Principle-based ethics direct us to consider the moral character of individuals and how
various character traits can contribute to, or obstruct, a happy and meaningful human
life.
5. Virtue ethics directs us to act on the basis of moral principles such as respecting human
rights.
6. Utilitarian’s believe that they ought to obey certain principles even if doing so does not
increase overall happiness.
7. An ethics of virtue focuses on the actions of a person rather than the person's
characteristics
8. Utilitarians believe that an act is either absolutely right or wrong in all cases in every
situation.
9. In principle-based ethics, liberty and equality are considered legal rights created by
governments and communities.
10. An individual's self, or character, is identical to his or her most basic and enduring
dispositions, values, beliefs, and attitudes.