GMAT Exam  >  GMAT Questions  >  Philosopher: Both the consequences and the mo... Start Learning for Free
Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.
The philosopher's argument requires the assumption that
  • a)
    one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actions
  • b)
    desiring to conform to a principle requires free will
  • c)
    nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is free
  • d)
    it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agent
  • e)
    it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principle
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions ha...
The philosopher's argument states that both the consequences and the motives of human actions have an impact on the moral worth of those actions. Additionally, the philosopher claims that to be a moral agent, one must have free will because without free will, one cannot desire to conform to a principle.
In evaluating the assumptions made by the philosopher, let's analyze each option:
(A) one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actions: This assumption is not explicitly stated in the philosopher's argument. The argument focuses on the importance of both consequences and motives, but it does not specify that lacking a concern for consequences excludes someone from being a moral agent.
(B) desiring to conform to a principle requires free will: This assumption aligns with the philosopher's argument. The philosopher states that one must have free will to be a moral agent because without free will, one cannot desire to conform to a principle. This assumption is necessary for the philosopher's argument to hold.
(C) nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is free: This assumption is not directly supported by the philosopher's argument. While the argument acknowledges the significance of consequences, it does not explicitly claim that not considering consequences negates freedom.
(D) it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agent: This assumption goes beyond the scope of the philosopher's argument. The argument focuses on the relationship between consequences, motives, free will, and moral worth, but it does not make a direct connection between desires and moral agency.
(E) it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principle: This assumption is not explicitly stated in the philosopher's argument. The argument emphasizes the importance of conforming to a principle for moral agency, but it does not claim that one cannot perform morally worthy actions without conforming to a principle at some point.
Therefore, the correct assumption, based on the philosopher's argument, is (B) desiring to conform to a principle requires free will. This assumption is necessary for the philosopher's argument that free will is essential for moral agency because it enables the desire to conform to a principle.
Attention GMAT Students!
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed GMAT study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in GMAT.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Similar GMAT Doubts

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question as follow.The special subject of the greater part of the letters and essays of Schiller is Aesthetics, and before passing any remarks on his treatment of the subject it will be useful to offer a few observations on the nature of this topic, and on its treatment by the philosophical spirit of different ages.First, then, aesthetics has for its object the vast realm of the beautiful, and it may be most adequately defined as the philosophy of art or of the fine arts. To some this definition may seem arbitrary, as excluding the beautiful in nature, but it will cease to appear so if it is remarked that the beauty which is the work of art is higher than natural beauty because it is the offspring of the mind. Moreover, if, in conformity with a certain school of modern philosophy, the mind be viewed as the true being, including all in itself, it must be admitted that beauty is only truly beautiful when it shares in the nature of mind, and is mind’s offspring.Viewed in this light, the beauty of nature is only a reflection of the beauty of the mind, only an imperfect beauty, which as to its essence is included in that of the mind. Nor has it ever entered into the mind of any thinker to develop the beautiful in natural objects, so as to convert it into a science and a system. The field of natural beauty is too uncertain and too fluctuating for this purpose. Moreover, the relation of beauty in nature and beauty in art forms a part of the science of aesthetics, and finds again its proper place.Q. Which of the following can be inferred about Schiller from the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question as follow.The special subject of the greater part of the letters and essays of Schiller is Aesthetics, and before passing any remarks on his treatment of the subject it will be useful to offer a few observations on the nature of this topic, and on its treatment by the philosophical spirit of different ages.First, then, aesthetics has for its object the vast realm of the beautiful, and it may be most adequately defined as the philosophy of art or of the fine arts. To some this definition may seem arbitrary, as excluding the beautiful in nature, but it will cease to appear so if it is remarked that the beauty which is the work of art is higher than natural beauty because it is the offspring of the mind. Moreover, if, in conformity with a certain school of modern philosophy, the mind be viewed as the true being, including all in itself, it must be admitted that beauty is only truly beautiful when it shares in the nature of mind, and is mind’s offspring.Viewed in this light, the beauty of nature is only a reflection of the beauty of the mind, only an imperfect beauty, which as to its essence is included in that of the mind. Nor has it ever entered into the mind of any thinker to develop the beautiful in natural objects, so as to convert it into a science and a system. The field of natural beauty is too uncertain and too fluctuating for this purpose. Moreover, the relation of beauty in nature and beauty in art forms a part of the science of aesthetics, and finds again its proper place.Q.Which of the following assertions is best supported by the information in the passage?

Top Courses for GMAT

Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Question Description
Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus. Information about Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
Solutions for Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for GMAT. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for GMAT Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Philosopher: Both the consequences and the motives of human actions have bearing on the moral worth of those actions. Nonetheless, to be a moral agent one must have free will, because one cannot be a moral agent without desiring to conform to a principle.The philosophers argument requires the assumption thata)one cannot be a moral agent if one lacks a concern for the consequences of actionsb)desiring to conform to a principle requires free willc)nobody who acts without taking the consequences of the action into consideration is freed)it is impossible to have desires without also being a moral agente)it is impossible to perform morally worthy actions without at some time conforming to a principleCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? tests, examples and also practice GMAT tests.
Explore Courses for GMAT exam

Top Courses for GMAT

Explore Courses
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev