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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Social contract theory is a form of reciprocal altruism.
a. True
b. False
2. One form of psychological egoism asserts that we always try do what we think is in our own best interest.
a. True
b. False
3. Ayn Rand believed that egoism was morally wrong.
a. True
b. False
4. To say that something is a normative theory is to say that it tells us what we ought to do.
a. True
b. False
5. One reason that people don’t always do what is best for them may be weakness of will.
a. True
b. False
6. Social contract theory assumes that human beings are psychological egoists.
a. True
b. False
7. Adam Smith believed that economic self-interest produces the best general outcome.
a. True
b. False
8. Psychological egoism is a theory that holds that we each ought to do what is in our own best interest.
a. True
b. False
9. Cooperation cannot be explained from an egoistic perspective.
a. True
b. False
10. Ethical egoism is a descriptive theory.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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11. According to psychological egoism people
a. Act in ways that are harmful to them.
b. Often act against their own self interests.
c. Act in the way they perceive to be best for them.
d. Act out of deep subconscious needs.
12. All of the following are used to evaluate ethical egoism except
a. Grounding in Psychological egoism.
b. Consistency and coherence.
c. Conformity to commonsense morality.
d. Effectiveness in satisfying individual interest.
13. According to individual ethical egoism one should
a. Ignore the needs of others.
b. Help others to help themselves.
c. Do what is in one’s self interest.
d. Do what makes one happy at the moment.
14. For psychological egoism to be valid, we must show that people
a. Act with an aim of achieving self-satisfaction.
b. Get self-satisfaction from their actions.
c. Use others in selfish ways.
d. Need to make other people happy.
15. In the story questioning Lincoln’s ability to be selfless, Lincoln
a. Talked to the family of a fallen soldier.
b. Rescued a pig.
c. Entered the fight about Texas’ right to become a slave state.
d. Ignored a person in need.
16. Which of the following is NOT an example of ethical egoism?
a. We should treat others well because we want to be treated well in return.
b. We should treat others well so they will treat others well.
c. We should work hard because a “job well done is its own reward.”
d. We should work hard because doing so is a good model for our children.
17. The ring of Gyges can best be described as which of the following?
a. A ring of inheritance indicating royalty
b. A ring that represents a committed romance
c. A ring that can make the wearer invisible
d. A geological formation in ancient Greece
18. What does Glaucon want to demonstrate by giving two people rings?
a. Even “good” people will do evil if they can act without consequence.
b. The people have a deep bond with each other.
c. The people are children of the king.
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d. People can be trusted with great power.
Indicate one or more answer choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
19. What is the difference between these two claims:
Claim 1. “You shouldn’t lie because lying will always come back to haunt you.”
Claim 2. “You shouldn’t lie because lying always causes someone to suffer.”
a. Claim 1. would be a counsel of prudence, but claim 2. would be a moral claim.
b. Claim 1. would be a moral claim, but claim 2. would be a counsel of prudence.
c. Claim 1. would be an example of individual ethical egoism, but claim 2. would an example of universal ethical
egoism.
d. Claim 1. would be an example of universal ethical egoism, but claim 2. would an example of individual ethical
egoism.
20. Which of the following terms describes an economic system with minimal government regulation or intervention?
a. laissez-faire capitalism
b. capitalism
c. socialism
d. communism
21. What is akrasia?
a. Weakness of will.
b. A character in Plato’s dialogues.
c. A form of psychological egoism.
d. A form of ethical egoism.
22. Where did Ayn Rand immigrate to the United States from?
a. France
b. China
c. Argentina
d. Russia
23. Which of the following is NOT true of Hobbes’ social contract theory?
a. It is both a political and a moral position.
b. It assumes that a person’s agreement to social rules will be grounded in self-interest.
c. It assumes that the outcome of the social contract will be a democratic government.
d. It assumes that a person’s agreement to social rules will be rational.
24. The term ‘altruism’ refers to
a. Universal ethical egoism.
b. Selfishness.
c. Selfless action.
d. Psychological egoism.
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25. What is reciprocal altruism? How can psychological egoism and/or ethical egoism account for reciprocal altruism?
Can psychological egoism and/or ethical egoism account for all forms of altruism (even apparently non-reciprocal
instances)?
26. Describe the ways that Adam Smith’s economic theory and Ayn Rand’s social philosophy are similar.
27. Explain the prisoner’s dilemma. How does the prisoner’s dilemma pose a problem for egoism?
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Answer Key
1. True
2. True
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