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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Descriptive relativism necessarily implies metaethical relativism.
a. True
b. False
2. According to the text, moral skeptics hold that it is difficult or impossible to know what is good or bad, right or wrong.
a. True
b. False
3. Richard Rorry argues that there is no algorithm to determine precise answers about which beliefs are better than others.
a. True
b. False
4. According to individual ethical relativism, I cannot be objectively mistaken in my moral judgments.
a. True
b. False
5. If people disagree about some moral matter, their disagreement will always be due to their having different moral
values.
a. True
b. False
6. Weak forms of ethical relativism hold that there are objective moral principles, even though they will need to be
applied differently in different contexts.
a. True
b. False
7. If two people have the same moral values, then they will always reach the same conclusions about what is right and
wrong.
a. True
b. False
8. The belief that what is right in some circumstances is not necessarily right in others cannot be held by ethical
objectivists.
a. True
b. False
9. Strong ethical relativism holds that there is no objective good or bad, right or wrong.
a. True
b. False
10. Social or cultural relativism holds that what is right is whatever one’s society or culture holds to be right.
a. True
b. False
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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
11. Strong ethical relativism holds that
a. There is no objective right and wrong.
b. Right and wrong are not really knowable.
c. Some actions are more right than others.
d. All actions are equally moral.
12. According to Martha Nussbaum, the central capabilities
a. Provide the basis of respect for differences.
b. Can be realized independent of individual taste.
c. Can each be concretely realized in different ways.
d. Are contradictory to living an ethical life.
13. According to W.D. Ross, the fact that there are several prima facie duties means
a. That ethical absolutism is the correct approach.
b. There is a hierarchical structure to the universal value system.
c. That we are obligated to fulfill all of them.
d. That there will be conflicts of values.
14. Absolutism is described as the view that
a. It is impossible to know somethings.
b. What is good in a concrete case differs from person to person.
c. Moral principles are context-independent.
d. There are no universal norms.
15. Which of the following is not a reason for supporting ethical relativism?
a. Moral uncertainty
b. Diversity of moral views
c. Situational differences
d. Social cohesion
Indicate one or more answer choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
16. Which of the following is NOT among Nussbaum’s “central capabilities?”
a. Life
b. Religion
c. Bodily integrity
d. Play
17. This type of ethical relativism holds that ethical judgments are the result of the moral outlook and attitudes of
particular persons:
a. Cultural relativism.
b. Individual relativism.
c. Objectivism.
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d. Atheism.
18. Which of the following sayings is commonly used to express cultural relativism?
a. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
b. “To each his own.”
c. “What comes around goes around.”
d. “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
19. G.E. Moore held that goodness is a specific quality that attaches to people or acts. This is a form of
a. moral pluralism.
b. moral realism.
c. moral relativism.
d. subjectivism.
20. Which of the following viewpoints necessarily implies that there are no universally applicable moral norms?
a. Metaethical relativism
b. Subjectivism
c. Descriptive relativism
d. Objectivism
21. According to your text, what is a straw man?
a. An argument that sets up an easy–to-defeat version of an opposing position
b. A scarecrow
c. A normative claim
d. An argument against relativism
22. Which of the following philosophers does your text describe as a proponent of perspectivism?
a. Nietzsche
b. Rawls
c. Nussbaum
d. Pojman
23. The view that moral rules or principles have no exceptions and are context-independent is known as
a. absolutism.
b. objectivism.
c. metaethical relativism.
d. pluralism.
24. Give an example of situational differences that does NOT imply relativism. Explain how/why the situational
differences in your example defy relativism.
25. Discuss the relevance of moral uncertainty to both the relativist and non-relativist positions. Why does the relativist
claim that moral uncertainty leads to relativism? How does the non-relativist counter the relativist argument? Which
position do you find most convincing?
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26. Describe Nussbaum’s “central capabilities” approach. Why does your text refer to such an approach as both “weak
relativism” and “soft universalism?”
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Answer Key
1. False
2. True
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