Chapter 2 Self-Check Questions

. True or false: to do a good job thinking and talking about moral issues, you should avoid making any generalizations.

True

False

. True or false: all generalizations are moral claims.

True

False

. Which of the following is a generalization?

Hector is a friendly person.

Dogs make good pets.

The United States is a democratic republic.

Zelda is a lazy cat.

. Which of the following is a generalization?

Drunk driving is wrong.

It was wrong for your uncle to drive drunk.

The gift my mother gave me for my birthday was generous.

That apple is delicious!

. According to Chapter 2, which of the following are risks of using generalizations? Pick 2.

Generalizations, even those derived from experience or our community, are sometimes false.

Generalizations are impossible to test.

Generalizations can sometimes produce miscommunication if they are understood differently by different people.

Generalizations are never useful, because they are abstract.

. An illustrative example is [pick the best answer]:

A drawing meant to represent a generalization.

A specific, concrete example intended to show a generalization is false.

A kind of generalization.

A specific, concrete example of the kind of thing described in a generalization.

. What are the features of a good illustrative example? Pick 2.

The illustrative example is not based upon a hypothetical case that has never actually happened.

The illustrative example is a concrete instance in which the generalization is false.

The illustrative example is a concrete instance in which the generalization is uncontroversially true.

The illustrative example is a broadly accessible instance of the general claim.

. True or false: a good illustrative example can either be realistic (drawn from real-world events or common situations) or fanciful (an invented or hypothetical scenario that isn't likely ever to happen).

True.

False.

. According to Chapter 2, one potential advantage of realistic illustrative examples is:

They are often useful for establishing conceptual points (that may or may not have clear applications in the real world).

They are effective illustrative examples even if they're controversial.

They are often useful for convincing philosophers, even if non-philosophers don't understand.

They are often useful for illustrating points that clearly apply to the world as it is.

. According to Chapter 2, one potential advantage of fanciful illustrative examples is:

They are often useful for illustrating conceptual points (that may or may not have clear applications in the real world).

They are effective illustrative examples even if they're controversial.

They are often useful for convincing philosophers, even if non-philosophers don't understand.

They are often useful for establishing points that clearly apply to the world as it is.

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