Question Database: Ethics
Equality
Which of the following is a correct statement about Singer's principle of equality? ('Treat all interests equally')
I. From the POE it follows that someone who says that blacks are more intelligent than whites is making a factual error.
II. From the POE it follows that someone who says that blacks are more intelligent than whites is making a moral error.
A. I only.
B. II only.
C. I and II.
D. Neither.
Answer: D
Topic:
Principle of equality
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
Which of the following statements about the POE are true (A) and which are false (B):
(1) The POE rules out most racially discriminatory policies, because those policies fail to treat the interests of all equally.
(2) The POE rules out racial hatred because such hatred is not based on treating the interests of everyone equally.
(3) All preference utilitarians must accept the POE.
Answer: (1) A (2) B (3) A
Topic:
Principle of equality
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
Which of these is the more egalitarian outcome?
A. Two people in moderate pain.
B. One person in strong pain and one person in moderate pain.
Answer: A
Topic:
principle of equality, egalitarianism
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
Which of these actions will produce the more egalitarian outcome?
A. Two people receive one dose of a drug each.
B. One person receives two doses of a drug and one person receives none.
C. They are tied.
D. Cannot say.
Answer: D
Topic:
principle of equality, egalitarianism
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
Which of these is the more egalitarian outcome?
A. One person ends up with no leg and no toe on other leg. Other person ends up with legs and toes intact.
B. Two people each end up missing a leg.
C. They are tied.
D. Cannot say.
Answer: B
Topic:
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
Which outcome would be recommended by the Principle of Equality?
A. One person ends up with no leg and no toe on other leg. Other person ends up with legs and toes intact.
B. Two people each end up missing a leg.
C. They are tied.
D. Cannot say.
Answer: A
Topic:
Course Level:
First year, intro. to philosophy.
Notes:
From lecture:
Why? There are two people's interests at stake:
1 . The interest in having all one's legs intact.
2. The interest in keeping one's big toe on one's only remaining leg.
Clearly the first interest is far more pressing, urgent, etc. It should be weighted more heavily.