moral puzzle

A Moral "Puzzle"
Exercises in applying moral principles

Imagine that Jill must make a decision about how to spend her evening. Assume that the following matrix represents the relevant alternatives from which Jill will choose the course of action, and the individual utilities respectively for Jill, John, John's dog, and Jill's parrot: (You may assume, e.g., that each number represents the balance of pleasure and pain that each of them receives.)

THE MATRIX OF UTILITY

.

..Jill...

..John.

...Dog..

.Parrot.

Agent of
the act

Beings other
than the agent

Social utility

Study together at John's place

15

35

5

0

.

.

.

Study together at Jill's place

30

20

-5

3

.

.

.

Study separately

15

15

5

3

.

.

.

Go to a concert together

45

5

-5

0

.

.

.

Finish the above matrix by putting the appropriate numbers into the appropriate boxes. Now answer all of the following questions about this matrix: by filling the appropriate bubbles on the scantron sheet.

1. Studying together at John's place has the following utility for the agent who makes the decision (the agent of the act)

A) 15

B) 35

C) 5

D) 0

5. Studying together at Jill's place has the following utility for beings other the agent:

A) 23

B) 18

C) -2

D) 48

9. Studying separately has the following social utility

A) 15

B) 20

C) 23

D) 38

2. Studying together at John's has the following utility for beings other the agent of the act

A) 15

B) 35

C) 5

D) 40

E) 55

6. Studying together at Jill's has the following social utility

A) 23

B) 18

C) -2

D) 48

10. Going to a concert together has the following utility for the agent of the act

A) 45

B) 5

C) -5

D) 0

3. Studying together at John's has the following social utility

A) 15

B) 35

C) 5

D) 40

E) 55

7. Studying separately has the following utility for the agent of the act

A) 15

B) 5

C) 3

D) 48

11. Going to a concert together has the following utility for beings other than the agent of the

A) 45

B) 5

C) -5

D) 0

4. Studying together at Jill's place has the following utility for the agent of the act

A) 30

B) 20

C) -55

D) 3

E) 55

8. studying separately has the following utility for beings other than the agent of the act

A) 15

B) 20

C) 23

D) 38

12. Going to a concert together has the following social utility

A) 45

B) 5

C) -5

D) 0

13. In accordance with Ethical Egoism, Jill ought to
A) do what benefits her most
B) do what benefits others most
C) do what benefits all most
D) all of the above

15. In accordance with Ethical Altruism, Jill ought to
A) do what benefits her most
B) do what benefits others most
C) do what benefits all most
D) all of the above

14. In accordance with Utilitarianism, Jill ought to
A) do what benefits her most
B) do what benefits others most
C) do what benefits all most (what maximizes social utility)
D) all of the above

16. Mill and Bentham might argue that John ought not to study with Jill's at her place because
A) there is something else he can do that has a better balance of utility
B) studying at Jill's place would treat John's dog merely as a mean;
C) studying at Jill's place would treat several animals merely as a mean;
D) none of the above.

Imagine now the following: 1) Jill promised her mother that she will study hard at school; also 2) she promised her mother that she will not visit her male friends at night; also 3) if they study together they will study long at night, and finally 4) John would clearly benefit from studying with Jill.

17. Sir David Ross might argue that Jill has a prima facie duty to study with John because
A) she promised her mother to study
B) she has a duty to benefit others
C) A) and B)
D) none of the above

20. Kant would argue that John ought not to study with Jill's at her place because
A) there is something else he can do that has a better balance of utility
B) studying at Jill's place would treat John's dog merely as a mean;
C) studying at Jill's place would treat several animals merely as a mean;
D) none of the above.

18. According to Ross, Jill may have a prima facie duty not to study at John's place because
A) she promised her mother not to visit her male friends at night
B) she has a duty not to get involve in extramarital sex
C) A) and B)
D) none of the above

21. Theories of rights must solve this puzzle in exactly the same way as Ross
A) true because they are both deontologists
B) unclear and possibly false, because they propose different versions of deontology.

19. Kant must solve this puzzle in exactly the same way as Ross
A) true because they are both deontologists
B) unclear and possibly false, because Kant is a consequentialist while Ross is a deontologist
C) unclear and possibly false, because they propose different versions of deontology.

22. Kant would argue that John's action is morally rights if and only if
A) the maxim of his action can become the universal moral law;
B) John does not use any person merely as a mean;
C) John does not significantly harm any person;
D) A) and VB) above;
E) all of the above.

Professional Ethics

.	..Jill...	..John.	...Dog..	.Parrot.	Agent of the act	Beings other than the agent	Social utility
Study together at John's place	15	35	5	0	.	.	.
Study together at Jill's place	30	20	-5	3	.	.	.
Study separately	15	15	5	3	.	.	.
Go to a concert together	45	5	-5	0	.	.	.

13. In accordance with Ethical Egoism, Jill ought to A) do what benefits her most B) do what benefits others most C) do what benefits all most D) all of the above	15. In accordance with Ethical Altruism, Jill ought to A) do what benefits her most B) do what benefits others most C) do what benefits all most D) all of the above
14. In accordance with Utilitarianism, Jill ought to A) do what benefits her most B) do what benefits others most C) do what benefits all most (what maximizes social utility) D) all of the above	16. Mill and Bentham might argue that John ought not to study with Jill's at her place because A) there is something else he can do that has a better balance of utility B) studying at Jill's place would treat John's dog merely as a mean; C) studying at Jill's place would treat several animals merely as a mean; D) none of the above.

17. Sir David Ross might argue that Jill has a prima facie duty to study with John because A) she promised her mother to study B) she has a duty to benefit others C) A) and B) D) none of the above	20. Kant would argue that John ought not to study with Jill's at her place because A) there is something else he can do that has a better balance of utility B) studying at Jill's place would treat John's dog merely as a mean; C) studying at Jill's place would treat several animals merely as a mean; D) none of the above.
18. According to Ross, Jill may have a prima facie duty not to study at John's place because A) she promised her mother not to visit her male friends at night B) she has a duty not to get involve in extramarital sex C) A) and B) D) none of the above	21. Theories of rights must solve this puzzle in exactly the same way as Ross A) true because they are both deontologists B) unclear and possibly false, because they propose different versions of deontology.
19. Kant must solve this puzzle in exactly the same way as Ross A) true because they are both deontologists B) unclear and possibly false, because Kant is a consequentialist while Ross is a deontologist C) unclear and possibly false, because they propose different versions of deontology.	22. Kant would argue that John's action is morally rights if and only if A) the maxim of his action can become the universal moral law; B) John does not use any person merely as a mean; C) John does not significantly harm any person; D) A) and VB) above; E) all of the above.