Chapter 1
Multiple-choice Questions (with answers and references to the text)
1. Which of the following is an example of a negative right or liberty?
(a) freedom of speech, as provided in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
(b) freedom of religion, as provided in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
(c) the right to use your labor, skills or mind to create goods and services
(d) all of the above
2. Claim rights or positive rights
(a) are rights to act without interference
(b) are guaranteed in the First Amendment
(c) impose an obligation on some people to provide certain things for others
(d) all of the above
True/False
______ More people worldwide have access to a cellphone than to a toilet.
______ Wikipedia relies upon an advertising-based business model.
______ A Turing Test determines the strength of an encryption method.
______ Accelerometers help robots stay upright.
______ Researchers are developing brain-computer interfaces to enable severely handicapped
people to control appliances with their thoughts.
Short-answer Questions
1. Briefly describe the difference between negative and positive rights (liberties
and claim rights). Give an example of a negative right and a positive right.
2. Briefly compare deontological and utilitarian theories of ethics. Which is more
relative? Which is more absolute?
3. Are there ever instances in which a legal act might not be an ethical act? Explain.
Matching Questions
Essay Questions
1. Explain the difference between deontological theories of ethics and utilitarian
theories of ethics.
2. Explain the difference between negative rights and positive rights.