Chapter 21 Self Quiz

. Calhoun claims the following are obstacles individuals face in attempting to take others’ interests seriously:

one’s inclination to give more weight to one’s own interests

one’s inclination to give more weight to the interest of those in one’s own community

one’s inability to recognize the interests of others

both A and B

. In an attempt to overcome egoism and group bias, which of the following is not, in Calhoun’s view, a risk:

We may mistakenly conclude that there are more substantial similarities among people than there in fact are.

we may underappreciate individual difference and exaggerate similarity.

we may not engage sufficiently with the problems confronting our own moral communities.

we may fail to appreciate how individuals’ preferences may be malformed.

. Calhoun’s central objection can be summarized as which of the following?

Undue emphasis on shared humanity underestimates how basic moral interests are shaped by social location.

There is no formal, abstract notion of the “moral self.”

There is no use for a formal, abstract notion of the “moral self.”

The traditional emphasis on our common humanity overemphasizes how contingent matters influence individuals’ moral interest.

. Calhoun argues that in assessing moral theories we should

change our methods.

adjust our theoretical priorities.

better appreciate the nonlogical implications.

all of the above

. Calhoun worries that the search for a “moral self” may be counterproductive if we

fail to see how intrinsic features of gender resist theoretical regimentation.

fail to appreciate how inegalitarian contexts may give rise to distorted preferences.

exaggerate our ability to enact egalitarian policies.

exaggerate the superficial differences arising from differences in gender.

. Calhoun regards one’s identification with particular social groups as a potential barrier to taking others’ rights and interests seriously.

True

False

. Calhoun would likely deny that there are morally significant differences between genders.

True

False

. Our preferences may themselves be the product of oppressive circumstances.

True

False

. Calhoun regards the project of identifying a “moral self” as the product of sloppy moral thinking.

True

False

. Calhoun believes that non-philosophic factors like the theorist’s social role can exert a significant influence on his or her philosophic reasoning about morality.

True

False

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