Normative Ethics — MCQs August 22, 2025 by u930973931_answers 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. Normative ethics is primarily concerned with: (A) The meaning of moral language (B) The criteria for what actions are right or wrong (C) Descriptions of cultural practices (D) The history of ethics 2. Which of the following is not a branch of normative ethics? (A) Consequentialism (B) Deontology (C) Virtue ethics (D) Emotivism 3. The theory that the morality of an action depends on its consequences is called: (A) Deontology (B) Consequentialism (C) Virtue ethics (D) Intuitionism 4. Utilitarianism is a type of: (A) Virtue ethics (B) Consequentialism (C) Deontology (D) Relativism 5. Who is most closely associated with utilitarianism? (A) Aristotle (B) Immanuel Kant (C) Jeremy Bentham (D) Thomas Hobbes 6. Which philosopher refined utilitarianism with the idea of higher and lower pleasures? (A) Bentham (B) Mill (C) Kant (D) Rawls 7. The principle of “the greatest happiness for the greatest number” is central to: (A) Virtue ethics (B) Utilitarianism (C) Deontology (D) Intuitionism 8. Deontological ethics focuses on: (A) Consequences (B) Duties and rules (C) Virtues of character (D) Personal happiness 9. Which philosopher is most associated with deontology? (A) Kant (B) Aristotle (C) Bentham (D) Hume 10. Kant’s categorical imperative requires: (A) Maximizing happiness (B) Following natural law (C) Acting only on maxims you could will as universal law (D) Acting on emotions 11. “Treat humanity always as an end, never merely as a means” is from: (A) Aristotle (B) Kant (C) Mill (D) Hobbes 12. Virtue ethics emphasizes: (A) Outcomes of actions (B) Duties and obligations (C) Moral character (D) Divine commands 13. The founder of virtue ethics is: (A) Plato (B) Kant (C) Aristotle (D) Bentham 14. Aristotle’s ethical system is based on the concept of: (A) Utility (B) Duty (C) Eudaimonia (flourishing) (D) Emotions 15. The “doctrine of the mean” is associated with: (A) Mill (B) Bentham (C) Aristotle (D) Kant 16. Rule utilitarianism differs from act utilitarianism by focusing on: (A) Each individual action (B) General moral rules that maximize happiness (C) Moral character development (D) Duty without consequences 17. Which ethical theory argues that motives matter most? (A) Deontology (B) Utilitarianism (C) Relativism (D) Virtue ethics 18. Which normative theory is sometimes described as “agent-centered”? (A) Utilitarianism (B) Deontology (C) Virtue ethics (D) Relativism 19. Hedonism, in ethics, is the belief that: (A) Knowledge is the highest good (B) Pleasure is the highest good (C) Virtue is the highest good (D) Duty is the highest good 20. The ethical theory that focuses on fairness and justice is associated with: (A) Rawls (B) Aristotle (C) Mill (D) Hobbes 21. Rawls’ “veil of ignorance” is a thought experiment in: (A) Virtue ethics (B) Utilitarianism (C) Justice as fairness (D) Divine command theory 22. The “state of nature” and social contract theory are associated with: (A) Hobbes (B) Kant (C) Aristotle (D) Moore 23. Hobbes believed that morality arises from: (A) Human nature’s pursuit of virtue (B) A divine law (C) Social contract to avoid chaos (D) Maximizing pleasure 24. Natural law theory is often linked to: (A) Bentham (B) Aquinas (C) Aristotle (D) Ayer 25. According to natural law theory, moral principles are: (A) Based on human contracts (B) Created by society (C) Derived from human nature and reason (D) Expressions of feelings 26. Which ethical theory is criticized for being too rigid? (A) Utilitarianism (B) Virtue ethics (C) Deontology (D) Relativism 27. Which ethical theory is criticized for justifying immoral acts if they maximize happiness? (A) Deontology (B) Utilitarianism (C) Virtue ethics (D) Natural law 28. The concept of “rights” is most closely tied to: (A) Deontological ethics (B) Consequentialism (C) Virtue ethics (D) Emotivism 29. The theory that morality should focus on developing virtues over time is: (A) Act utilitarianism (B) Rule utilitarianism (C) Virtue ethics (D) Relativism 30. An example of a virtue in Aristotle’s theory is: (A) Justice (B) Courage (C) Temperance (D) All of the above 31. The criticism that virtue ethics lacks clear guidance concerns its: (A) Ambiguity in decision-making (B) Reliance on reason (C) Focus on duty (D) Dependence on consequences 32. Which ethical theory emphasizes impartiality and equal consideration of interests? (A) Deontology (B) Utilitarianism (C) Virtue ethics (D) Relativism 33. Kantian ethics is often described as: (A) Relativist (B) Teleological (C) Deontological (D) Hedonistic 34. The difference principle is part of which theory? (A) Utilitarianism (B) Rawls’ theory of justice (C) Deontology (D) Virtue ethics 35. Which theory asks, “What kind of person should I be?” rather than “What should I do?” (A) Utilitarianism (B) Virtue ethics (C) Deontology (D) Social contract theory 36. Kant distinguishes between: (A) Hypothetical and categorical imperatives (B) Higher and lower pleasures (C) Act and rule utilitarianism (D) Virtue and vice 37. In utilitarianism, the principle of utility measures: (A) Duty (B) Happiness (C) Intuition (D) Virtue 38. The criticism that utilitarianism may sacrifice minority rights relates to: (A) Duty-based ethics (B) Majority rule problem (C) Natural law (D) Virtue theory 39. Which ethical theory evaluates actions based on universal moral duties? (A) Utilitarianism (B) Deontology (C) Relativism (D) Hedonism 40. Aristotle believed virtues are developed through: (A) Teaching and laws (B) Habit and practice (C) Intuition (D) Divine command 41. The focus of normative ethics is different from applied ethics because: (A) It analyzes specific cases (B) It asks general principles of right and wrong (C) It studies moral language (D) It describes cultural traditions 42. The categorical imperative is an example of: (A) A moral maxim (B) A consequentialist rule (C) A utilitarian formula (D) A social contract 43. Which ethical theory emphasizes balance and moderation? (A) Utilitarianism (B) Deontology (C) Virtue ethics (D) Relativism 44. Act utilitarianism judges each act individually by: (A) Motive (B) Universal law (C) Immediate consequences (D) Social contract 45. Rule utilitarianism evaluates actions by: (A) Their motives (B) Their adherence to rules that maximize happiness (C) The agent’s character (D) Natural law 46. Which normative theory is most closely tied to Christianity and natural reason? (A) Virtue ethics (B) Deontology (C) Natural law theory (D) Utilitarianism 47. Which philosopher emphasized that moral rules must apply universally? (A) Mill (B) Bentham (C) Kant (D) Hobbes 48. The idea that justice requires equal basic liberties is central to: (A) Utilitarianism (B) Rawls’ theory (C) Virtue ethics (D) Hobbesian contract theory 49. The criticism of deontology is that it can: (A) Lead to conflicting duties (B) Ignore motives (C) Rely too much on happiness (D) Focus only on character 50. Normative ethics is best defined as the study of: (A) The meaning of moral words (B) How to apply ethics in specific cases (C) Theories about what makes actions right or wrong (D) The history of ethical thought