Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Quizzes

Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Quiz

1 What city was Kant born in?

Berlin

London

Königsberg

Paris
2 What ruler did Kant dedicate many of his works to?

Napoleon

Frederick the Great, the King of Prussia

Maximilian Robespierre, the French revolutionary

King George III
3 What intellectual movement is Kant generally associated with?

Romanticism

Poststructuralism

Medieval Christianity

The Enlightenment
4 What aspect of Kant's moral philosophy is typical of his time?

The Christian undercurrent of much of his argumentation.

His belief that there is no objective truth.

The belief that man is the only legitimate authority for making moral decisions.

His logical proofs for the existence of God.
5 What is Kant's major work?

The Essay Concerning Human Understanding

The Social Contract

The Declaration of Independence

The Critique of Pure Reason
6 What year was the Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals published?

1776

1800

1789

1785
7 What work did Kant publish to elucidate the problems posed by the will in the Groundwork?

The Critique of Pure Reason

Religion within the Bounds of Pure Reason

Anthropology Seen From A Pragmatic Perspective

The Critique of Practical Reason
8 What is the goal of the Groundwork?

To use pure philosophy to provide a universal, necessary basis for moral judgment.

To give the reader practical advice about how to conduct himself in various situations.

To prove that no moral judgments can be universal.

To reconcile Christian ethics on a rational footing.
9 What science investigates the laws that determine objects in the world of appearances?

Ethics

Metaphysics

Astronomy

Physics
10 What science investigates the laws that govern how ideas are formed?

Physics

Logic

Ethics

Psychology
11 Why can't conventional wisdom and philosophy be combined?

Because conventional wisdom is too influenced by religious superstition.

Because conventional wisdom only provides us with situational knowledge, not universal knowledge.

They can, but only following a rigorous critique of both.

Because situational knowledge is the basis of empiricism, a philosophy Kant rejects.
12 In what way is the Preface to the Groundwork similar to the openings to Kant's other works?

Kant begins by demonstrating why abstract philosophical reasoning is the only legitimate means of addressing the question at hand.

Because it is a groundwork and not a proper philosophical work, the preface is actually unique.

Because of the difficult and technical vocabulary that Kant uses.

Because it begins with a dedication to Frederick the Great.
13 What philosopher is Kant arguing against in the first section of the Groundwork?

Socrates

David Hume

Jesus

G.W.F. Hegel
14 What is the theory of moral sentiments?

The belief that all moral judgments come from our emotions.

The belief that it feels good to do good.

The belief that reflecting on morality is too sentimental, and so beneath the dignity of philosophy.

The belief that our emotions, especially pity, are fundamentally moral.
15 What is Kant's main argument in the first section?

That there are no objective moral judgments.

That inclinations, motives, and emotions can't be the basis for a morality, only reason can.

That coolness is a valuable characteristic to have when making moral judgments.

That what matters most in moral judgments is the happiness they cause other people.
16 Why does Kant believe that only a good will is necessarily and universally good?

Because having a good will makes it easier to make sure that one's actions cause the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Because other good characteristics, like coolness, can actually be bad in certain situations.

Because every culture believes that having a good will is a valuable characteristic.

Because the will to goodness comes from God, who is infinite.
17 What makes a good will good?

Its accordance with Christian doctrine and natural law.

The emotions that influence it.

The form of the judgments it makes.

The results that it achieves.
18 Which faculty that humans possess is best designed to make man happy?

The understanding

Reason

Instinct

Faith
19 Why does Kant believe Nature made man reason?

To give him an edge over other animals.

To bring him closer to God.

To help him determine the best thing to do in a given situation.

To guide him towards action that accord with his true dignity and worth.
20 Why does reason sometimes make people unhappy?

Because it makes us feel that people who are unworthy of happiness are happy nonetheless.

Because it alienates us from Nature.

Because thinking constantly is painful and exhausting.

Because it makes us realize that there is no God.
21 What is the highest good, in Kant's view?

A pious life.

Goodness for its own sake.

Pleasure.

Esteem in the eyes of others.
22 What is the relationship of philosophy to the common understanding of duty?

Philosophy links human beings to the tradition of thought.

As a needlessly abstract form of thought that obscures man's natural sense of what is right.

As a tool for instilling man with reason and thereby making him less evil.

As a kind of corrective that supplements a moral sense that everyone already has.
23 If a merchant sells his wares at a fair price, is he acting dutifully?

No, because his customers don't know whether his price is fair or not.

Not necessarily, because he might be doing this to avoid being considered a cheat.

Yes, because his prices are fair.

Yes, because by running his business well he is helping the community.
24 If you take pleasure in living your life well, are you acting dutifully?

Not necessarily, because you might not be doing so out of a sense of duty.

No, because pleasure is not moral.

Yes, because to preserve your life is a duty.

Yes, because to realze your full human potential is a duty.
25 If you are kind to others because it pleases you are you acting morally?

Yes, because by being happy yourself you are increasing the aggregate amount of happiness.

No, because only God possesses true goodness.

No, because if it pleased you to be cruel, you would do that instead.

Yes, because you are lessening human suffering.

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