Ethics Test 1 Flashcards
(27 cards)
Philosophy means the ________.
Love of wisdom.
Philosophy began around ____ B.C.
600
Philosophy began along the coast of modern day ______.
Turkey
Philosophy is based on the assumption that nature is _______, ________, and ____________.
Predictable, lawlike, intelligible to humans
One definition of philosophy is that it is ________________________________.
The rational, critical investigation of very general questions that can not be answered by empirical science.
Four main subjects of study:
Metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, and logic.
Metaphysics is:
The nature of ultimate reality: what exists?
Epistemology is:
The theory of knowledge: what can we know?
Value theory is:
Ethics, political theory, aesthetics: How should we live? What is beauty?
Logic is:
The study of proper reasoning
The criteria for evaluating ethical theories is:
Simplicity, Clarity, Guidance in making ethical decisions, and consistency with other beliefs.
Criteria of Simplicity is:
An ethical theory should be as simple as possible
Criteria of Clarity is:
The theory should be as clear as possible.
Criteria of Guidance in making ethical decisions is:
The ethical theory should help us make difficult moral decisions when we do not know what ethics requires of us
Criteria of Consistency with other beliefs is:
The implications of the theory should be compatible with all or most of our most deeply held moral convictions
The three basic types of ethical theories:
Teleological, Deontological, and Virtue Ethics
Theories that fall under teleological:
Act and Rule Utilitarianism
Theories that fall under Deontological:
Kantian Ethics, Ross’ Ethics, Golden Rule, Divine Command Theory
Theories that fall under Virtue Ethics:
Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
Act Utilitarianism
We ought to do whatever maximizes the overall amount of good for everyone effected by our actions.
Utilitarianism - People
Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill
Rule Utilitarianism
We ought to act in accordance to a set of rules that, if generally followed, would produce the happiest world. Talk about exceptions!
Ethical Relativism
There are no objective moral principles, right and wrong are relative to society so what is right and wrong is defined by the views of the majority of the people within a society
Kantianism
Always act according to a maxim that you could apply to every situation to find to solution and never use someone simply as a means to an end.