Ethics Y9 Flashcards
(86 cards)
What is Absolutism?
The view that certain actions are inherently good or bad.
Define Altruism.
Selfless actions done without thought or expectation of reward.
What is Ethics?
The philosophical study of right and wrong.
What does Morality refer to?
Ideas or principles about what is right and wrong.
What is Relativism?
The view that whether an action is good or bad depends on the situation.
What is the ‘will to power’?
A term used by Nietzsche to describe a natural human desire for strength and power.
Define Eudaimonia.
A contented state of being happy/flourishing.
What is Virtue?
A positive characteristic that suggests moral excellence or goodness.
What does Temperance mean?
Control of your own behaviour, such as not drinking or eating too much (moderation).
What is the Golden Mean?
A term used by Aristotle to work out the virtue between two extremes (vice of excess - too much and vice of deficiency - too little).
How does Nietzsche view Christian morality?
He believed it was invented by the weak to control the strong and that human nature wanted to be strong and powerful.
What does Nietzsche suggest about living a good life?
You know you are living a good life if you would be happy to repeat your life in the exact same way (eternal return).
What is an Ubermensch?
A future stage of human development envisioned by Nietzsche, characterized by a hatred of weakness and the creation of strong morals.
According to Aristotle, what is the sole purpose of life?
Happiness or being fulfilled in life (Eudaimonia).
What does Aristotle argue about virtues?
Every action we do is focused on an aim or outcome, and practicing virtues leads to a better society.
What are vices of excess and deficiency?
Vices of excess are too much of the virtue, and vices of deficiency are too little of the virtue.
What is the argument for the flexibility of virtue ethics?
It is not based upon absolute rules that cannot be broken.
True or False: Virtue ethics provides clear rules on how to act in particular situations.
False.
Fill in the blank: Virtue ethics allows you to learn from your _______.
mistakes.
Who argued that virtue ethics is compassionate and caring?
Martha Nussbaum.
Who was Friedrich Nietzsche?
19th century German atheist who expressed his belief that humans no longer needed the idea of God by saying ‘God is dead and we have killed him’.
What is Aristotle known for?
Greek philosopher who lived between 384 and 322 BCE; his most famous work on living a moral life is Nicomachean ethics.
What did Aristotle say about excellence?
‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit.’
Who was John Locke?
17th century English philosopher who argued that when we are born, our mind is like a blank slate (tabula rasa).