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Ethicist: A person who treats others well is more worthy of praise if this treatment is at least partially motivated by feelings of compassion than if it is entirely motivated by cold and dispassionate concern for moral obligation. This is so despite the fact that a person can choose to do what is morally right but cannot choose to have feelings.
If the ethicist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
(A) Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
(B) If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise.
(C) Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
(D) Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the
welfare of the people affected.
(E) If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise.
If the ethicist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
(A) Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
(B) If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise.
(C) Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
(D) Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the
welfare of the people affected.
(E) If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise.
12 Jan 2025, 02:31
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Can someone please share an official explanation for this or validate my understanding?
Here's my understanding -
To be worthy of praise, person needs to treat others well with some compassion rather than only moral obligation.
Author adds that person have to portray such behavior in spite of them not having control on their feelings whereas they can always choose what's morally right.
If the ethicist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
(A) Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person. Inline with author's argument that if person showcases compassion then they are praiseworthy
(B) If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise. Argument relies on treating others well first and foremost that is increasing welfare for being praiseworthy, opposite to what is mentioned here, that if welfare is diminished then they might not be praiseworthy, hence it might not be totally opposite to the point made in the argument and author may agree with this view
(C) Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person. This goes against author's belief who suggests that compassion which is not under anyone's control should be used for praiseworthiness whereas this choice totally contradicts that opinion. This can mean that something like moral obligation which people can choose should be used for praiseworthiness but not compassion which is not completely under their control.
(D) Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the
welfare of the people affected. This is something with which author might partially agree, he emphasizes on the quality of compassion but if the actions are taken for improving welfare even from just moral obligation angle that person should at least be little praiseworthy.
(E) If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise. So author's point is that if someone has compassion over which they don't have control then they are more praiseworthy. Here, we see that the person has intent to be compassionate and hence praiseworthy even though they cannot be compassionate because that's something out of their control. This might partially agree with author's view.
Here's my understanding -
To be worthy of praise, person needs to treat others well with some compassion rather than only moral obligation.
Author adds that person have to portray such behavior in spite of them not having control on their feelings whereas they can always choose what's morally right.
If the ethicist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
(A) Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person. Inline with author's argument that if person showcases compassion then they are praiseworthy
(B) If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise. Argument relies on treating others well first and foremost that is increasing welfare for being praiseworthy, opposite to what is mentioned here, that if welfare is diminished then they might not be praiseworthy, hence it might not be totally opposite to the point made in the argument and author may agree with this view
(C) Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person. This goes against author's belief who suggests that compassion which is not under anyone's control should be used for praiseworthiness whereas this choice totally contradicts that opinion. This can mean that something like moral obligation which people can choose should be used for praiseworthiness but not compassion which is not completely under their control.
(D) Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the
welfare of the people affected. This is something with which author might partially agree, he emphasizes on the quality of compassion but if the actions are taken for improving welfare even from just moral obligation angle that person should at least be little praiseworthy.
(E) If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise. So author's point is that if someone has compassion over which they don't have control then they are more praiseworthy. Here, we see that the person has intent to be compassionate and hence praiseworthy even though they cannot be compassionate because that's something out of their control. This might partially agree with author's view.
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14 May 2026, 10:30
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The passage is basically saying:
A person who helps others is more praiseworthy if they help because they genuinely care about people, rather than helping only because they think it is their duty.
Example:
People can choose their actions, but they cannot directly choose their feelings.
Still, the ethicist believes feelings matter while judging praise.
So the main idea is:
Even unchosen feelings like compassion can make a person more praiseworthy.
A. Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
>This could be true because the ethicist clearly believes compassionate feelings increase praiseworthiness.
B. If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise.
>This could be true because the ethicist discusses people who treat others well. Harmful actions may still fail to deserve praise even if compassion exists.
C. Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
>This cannot be true because the ethicist explicitly says feelings of compassion increase praiseworthiness even though feelings are not chosen. So something outside choice still affects praise.
D. Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the welfare of the people affected.
>This could be true because the ethicist says compassion makes actions more praiseworthy, not that duty-based good actions deserve no praise at all.
E. If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise.
>This could be true because nothing in the passage rules out praising someone for wanting to be compassionate.
Ans C
A person who helps others is more praiseworthy if they help because they genuinely care about people, rather than helping only because they think it is their duty.
Example:
- Person A helps poor people because they feel compassion.
- Person B helps poor people only because “it is morally required.”
People can choose their actions, but they cannot directly choose their feelings.
Still, the ethicist believes feelings matter while judging praise.
So the main idea is:
Even unchosen feelings like compassion can make a person more praiseworthy.
A. Only actions that are at least partially the result of a person's feelings should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
>This could be true because the ethicist clearly believes compassionate feelings increase praiseworthiness.
B. If a person feels compassion toward the people affected by that person's actions, yet these actions diminish the welfare of those people, that person does not deserve praise.
>This could be true because the ethicist discusses people who treat others well. Harmful actions may still fail to deserve praise even if compassion exists.
C. Only what is subject to a person's choice should be used in measuring the praiseworthiness of that person.
>This cannot be true because the ethicist explicitly says feelings of compassion increase praiseworthiness even though feelings are not chosen. So something outside choice still affects praise.
D. Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the welfare of the people affected.
>This could be true because the ethicist says compassion makes actions more praiseworthy, not that duty-based good actions deserve no praise at all.
E. If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise.
>This could be true because nothing in the passage rules out praising someone for wanting to be compassionate.
Ans C
Bunuel
