Theory of Conduct: Practice Questions

In the Theory of Conduct, an action is considered morally right if it aligns with a duty, regardless of its consequences. Which ethical perspective primarily supports this view?

A doctor faces a dilemma: telling a patient a comforting lie about their prognosis (which would reduce immediate distress but withhold truth) versus disclosing the full, harsh truth (which upholds honesty but causes significant immediate suffering). Which ethical concept from the Theory of Conduct or The Nature of Morality best describes this situation?

Within the Theory of Conduct, which ethical framework suggests that the "rightness" of an action is determined solely by the "goodness" of its outcomes, effectively prioritizing the good over the right?

Consider a situation where a person follows a strict duty to be fair, even though they know it will result in less overall happiness for the group. Which ethical stance from the Theory of Conduct best justifies this decision?

A soldier is ordered to carry out a mission that conflicts with his personal sense of loyalty to a captured comrade. According to the Theory of Conduct, this struggle is an example of:

Kantian ethics emphasizes duties regardless of consequences. Provide an example of how the potential incompatibility of duties might arise, such as a conflict between fairness and loyalty, as discussed in the Theory of Conduct.

Within the Theory of Conduct, evaluate how Rule-Utilitarianism attempts to resolve the potential conflict between maximizing utility and adhering to strict moral duties better than Act-Utilitarianism.

In the Theory of Conduct, when a person evaluates an action as right or wrong based on the nature of the action itself regardless of the outcomes, identify the specific unit this reasoning belongs to and the priority it establishes.