SparkNotes: Utilitarianism: Review Quiz

During which century did John Stuart Mill write Utilitarianism?

(A) The 17th

(B) The 19th

(C) The 12th

(D) The 20th

Which writer was a major proponent of the theory of utilitarianism?

(A) Jeremy Bentham

(B) Immanuel Kant

(C) Karl Marx

(D) John Rawls

Which of the following does Mill present as a potential criticism of utilitarianism?

(A) It cannot account for the differences between higher and lower pleasures

(B) It is a godless theory

(C) Virtue is more important than happiness

(D) All of the above

Mill argues that justice is:

(A) a less important consideration than practical utility

(B) valuable because it is socially useful

(C) valuable by a standard that exists independent of utility

(D) at odds with social utility

An example of an "internal sanction" would be

(A) the fear of going to jail for bad actions

(B) the fear of being punished by God for bad actions

(C) the guilt of one's own conscience for bad actions

(D) All of the above

Mill notes that the foundational principles of science are as hotly debated as those of morality. However, he argues, the difference between the two debates is that:

(A) The lack of first principles is more serious in the case of morality

(B) The lack of first principles is more serious in the case of science

(C) Morality does not need first principles at all

(D) Science does not need first principles at all

Utility can be defined as:

(A) Usefulness, in opposition to pleasure

(B) Fulfillment of animalistic desires

(C) pleasure and the absence of pain.

(D) a constant state of rapturous excitement.

Utilitarianism dictates that actions are morally good

(A) when they promote the actor's interests and well-being.

(B) when they promote general happiness.

(C) when they are performed by a virtuous person.

(D) when they reflect the following of a just principle, regardless of the consequences.

In response to the criticism that the most virtuous people have been martyrs who gave up their happiness, Mill replies

(A) that martyrdom is only valuable because they sacrificed their own happiness for the general good.

(B) that martyrdom is actually not virtuous.

(C) that martyrs are always much happier than other people.

(D) that virtue is not a morally valid standard of judgment.

Which of the following actions would Mill judge as morally the best?

(A) Saving a person from drowning out of a sense of moral duty.

(B) Saving a person from drowning out of a desire for celebrity.

(C) Saving a person from drowning out of a desire for reward money.

(D) All three actions are equally good.

In response to the criticism that there is not enough time to calculate which actions will produce the most good, Mill replies

(A) that people should take more time to deliberate on their actions.

(B) that this is a necessary limitation of all ethical theories.

(C) that people know the results that actions tend to produce, and they don't have to retest every action by first principles every time they perform it.

(D) that upon reading his essay, people will have all the guidance they need.

In the debate over whether feelings of duty are innate or implanted, Mill argues that for the purposes of his theory

(A) the distinction doesn't matter because either way, people are incapable of feeling a duty to promote utilitarian ends.

(B) the distinction doesn't matter because either way, people are capable of feeling a duty to promote utilitarian ends.

(C) feelings of duty must be innate.

(D) feelings of duty must be implanted.

Mill argues that sentiments in favor of utilitarianism are natural because

(A) humans are social beings who must care about other people's interests.

(B) humans recognize that they have a contractual duty to recognize the projects of others in their society.

(C) utilitarianism is a product of practical reason.

(D) None of the above.

Artificial sentiments are different from natural ones because

(A) artificial sentiments are held in society while natural ones are held in a state of nature.

(B) natural sentiments are innate, while artificial sentiments are learned.

(C) natural sentiments are barbaric, while artificial sentiments are civilized.

(D) artificial ones will be rejected upon analysis, while natural ones will not.

Mill replies to the objection that people see virtue as an end by saying

(A) that virtue is only a means to happiness.

(B) that virtue is another word for pleasure.

(C) that virtue can be part of people's happiness.

(D) None of the above.

Mill objected to Jeremy Bentham's version of utilitarianism because

(A) it was too emotional.

(B) it has an impoverished definition of happiness.

(C) it's only end was pleasure.

(D) All of the above.

Mill leaves the ultimate proof of utilitarianism to the "thoughtful reader" because

(A) it is based on empirical questions.

(B) the answer can only be comprehended by self-reflection and observation.

(C) first principles cannot be proven by reasoning.

(D) All of the above.

If a person would have to lie in order to save somebody's life, Mill would argue that

(A) she should lie, because the utility of saving a life outweighs the claims of justice's.

(B) morality cannot provide a correct answer to this dilemma.

(C) she should not lie because lying is always wrong.

(D) she should do what feels right, and follow her own integrity.

Which of the following does Mill say is a common meaning of the term justice?

(A) Receiving what one deserves.

(B) Not violating agreements.

(C) Not showing preferences inappropriately.

(D) All of the above.

Mill defines perfect obligations as

(A) obligations that no one person has a right to have performed for her benefit.

(B) obligations in a which a person has a right to have that obligation performed.

(C) just legal obligations.

(D) obligations codified in public opinion but not in law.

Why are humans' instincts of self-defense different from those of animals?

(A) Humans are more intelligent, and can sympathize more broadly than animals can.

(B) Animals are more in touch with the natural world than humans are.

(C) Humans signed a social contract while animals are in a state of nature.

(D) Actually their instincts are identical.

Mill argues that the foundation of rights is

(A) the social contract.

(B) natural law.

(C) utility.

(D) the categorical imperative.

Mill finds justice's claims so pressing because of its link to

(A) security.

(B) the social contract.

(C) objective claims independent of utility.

(D) All of the above.

Which of the following does Mill describe as a conflict involving justice?

(A) When people should be punished.

(B) How punishments should be apportioned.

(C) How taxes should be levied.

(D) All of the above.

Mill argues that rights are secure because

(A) modern society is close to infallible.

(B) there is a strong utilitarian interest in protecting them.

(C) there is never a good reason to violate rights.

(D) None of the above.