Ethics combined & concluded Flashcards
(25 cards)
what are the primary issues of NML stealing
living in an ordered society as theft inhibits (stops) peaceful co-existence and security
what are the secondary issues of NML stealing
biblical command ‘do not steal’ and the cardinal virtue of justice would condemn any stealing
could stealing ever be a proportionate response in NML
-a starving man is stealing food for himself and his family to keep them alive
-Aquinas says this is not considered stealing (as it is to save a life)
is the proportionalist response appropriate in the 21st century NML stealing
yes:
value of saving a life outweighs the dis value of stealing someones possession
no:
victim will feel a sense of injustice at his loss
what is the intention of the person performing the act in NML?
-his intention was not to increase his wealth only to save his life
-value outweighs the dis value
conclusion of NML on stealing
it is wrong unless it has a higher value
situation ethics on stealing
it all depends on the situation
situation ethics library example stealing
student has to have a book in order to pass but it costs £90, they plan on stealing it and then putting it back once done with it
is this ok by standards of SE?
-motivation is to pass exam not increase his wealth
-there is a foreseeable consequence of a fine
-it doesn’t increase or decrease love for anyone, but for him it increases
-it puts people before the law
-again, does it increase love? no because it will deny others of being able to access the book
virtue ethics stealing
it is not a situation it is the development of ones character
what did Aristotle say about stealing in VE
he said there are certain things which there are no excess or deficiencies to: spitefulness, adultery, murder and THEFT
(there are more than these 4 but not important to know)
-all theft is wrong
-even in the case of Aquinas’s starving man
what is the primary issues of NML lying
-living in an ordered society as lying inhibits (stops) efficient workings of society
-business trade would stall (if people habitually lied)
-marriage and families could not operate in an atmosphere with no trust
what is the secondary issues of NML lying
-biblical command ‘do not be a false witness’
-cardinal virtue of justice condemns telling a lie
-Aquinas stated every lie is a sin
could lying ever be a proportionate response in NML
-stealing has proportion in a life threatening situation
-Aquinas wrote a lie injures ones neighbour
-the effect on the person telling the lie is also consequential
-you can give a misleading truth
in Kants axe man example one cannot say they don’t know where their friend is but they can say they saw them the supermarket 2 hours ago if that is true
points for NML lying
the fact you can’t EVER tell a lie is a weakness
-what if a lie will benefit the person more
situation ethics on lying
it depends on the situation
-if lying produces a morally superior outcome to telling the truth, then it’s permitted
-Aquinas disagrees with Americas doctor-patient confidentiality
situation ethics lying example doctor
-a man has a disease which he has clearly not told his fiance about
-his doctor meets them and sees this
-SE does not condone with holding the truth (unlike NML)
-Fletcher would not think the doctor should keep it to himself
situation ethics lying example ww2
in Berkeley a team figured out enigma, but continued to send spies to Germany knowing they would die without telling them they knew
-the motivation for the lie was to ultimately win the war saving millions
-the forseeable consequences are that the agents will die but the Naizs will be fooled into thinking th
the British having figured it out before
-their sacrifice increases love because it will end the war quicker
-the action did not put the spies first but it did put the saving of the millions of lives first
-again, does it increase love? for Fletcher it is decided by an agapeic calculus:
1. the amount of risk
2. distribution of love to the majority
3. love in the long term
he concluded that lying to the spies was forbidden but withholding the information was allowed
situation ethics lying calculation/points
- motivation for the lie
- what are the forseeable consequences
- does the action increase love
- does this action put people before the law
- again, does this increase love
(5 can be decided by agapeic calculus: - the amount of risk
- distribution of love to the majority
- love in the long term)
conclusion of lying situation ethics
there is no rule that someone cannot lie, all depends on the situation
virtue ethics on lying
-it is not about the particular situation, but the development of a persons character overtime
-this is learnt by habituation and learning form a virtuous master
virtues and vices relevant to lying
honesty/truthfulness
courage
justice
does telling a lie lead to good habits and better character? virtue ethics
no, this shows cowardice and a lack of justice
is there a mean between truthfulness and dishonesty? virtue ethics
no, in fact, a person who habitually tells the truth will develop into a truthful person
virtue ethics is not just about telling the truth, it is about all the virtues that come with it
virtue ethics on the ww2 example
-on one hand they were lied to and could have resented not being told the truth
-on the other hand it was war time and the virtue of courage requires personal sacrifices, it also takes courage to lie convincingly when so many lives are on the line
-it assumes the British officers would have felt pain and regret sending these spies to their death which is virtuous
