Chapter 7 Self Quiz

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

People are fundamentally self-interested.

People are fundamentally altruistic.

Political power is best concentrated in the hands of a few good people.

Political power is dangerous when concentrated in the hands of a few people.

. Which of the following is impossible, according to psychological egoism?

Acting to benefit oneself

Acting to benefit others for the sake of oneself

Giving up some present benefit for the sake of a future benefit

Acting to benefit others for the sake of others

. Why isn't psychological egoism considered an ethical theory?

It aims to tell us how we do behave, not how we should behave.

It has no implications for ethics.

It is regarded as immoral.

Both a and b

. What does psychological egoism say about acts of altruism?

They are very nice to perform but never morally obligatory.

People sometimes perform them, but doing so is immoral.

They are rare and are performed only by truly exceptional people.

They are impossible.

. Which of the following best describes the relationship between psychological egoism and ethics?

Psychological egoism has no implications for ethics.

Psychological egoism aims to provide a comprehensive guide to our moral obligations.

The truth of psychological egoism would have a few minor implications for ethics.

The truth of psychological egoism would mean that most of what we take for granted about morality would be mistaken.

. What is strictly conscientious action?

Any action that is morally permissible

Any action that is morally required

Any action performed because one believes it to be morally required

Any action performed because one consciously chooses it from a set of alternatives

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

Any time we act, we expect to be better off.

Any time we act, we aim at making ourselves better off.

Any time we act, we make ourselves better off in some way.

Both a and b

. If one cannot conceive of any evidence that would refute psychological egoism, what does this suggest about the theory?

It is clearly true.

It is clearly false.

The theory is not being held rationally.

The theory is probably, but not certainly, true.

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

It is very probably true.

It is very probably false.

It is proven to be true.

It is proven to be false.

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

This would be impossible, according to psychological egoism.

Such a person acts out of a direct concern for morality.

Such a person acts out of a self-interested desire to avoid guilt.

Such a person behaves altruistically, which, according to psychological egoism, is very rare.

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