Exam 2 Flashcards
(32 cards)
Ethics
moral principles that govern a person’s or group’s behavior
Moral Intuitions
Our birth given intuitions about what is morally right and wrong.
Moral Principles
Rules that have been developed to help guide us in our moral decisions.
Ethical Theory
Jigaboo John
Ethical Objectivism
The view that ethical truth exists independent of individual beliefs, judgments, and opinions. The ethical objectivist holds that at least some moral principles (e.g., slavery is wrong, or we ought to act to maximize happiness) are true for all people at all times.
Ethical Relativism
The view that no ethical truth exists. The ethical relativist denies that there are any objective moral values or principles.
Ethical Subjectivism (problems?)
The view that moral claims must be assessed in relation to an individual. Rather than saying eating meat is wrong, one ought to say “eating meat is wrong for me.”
Cultural Relativism (problems?)
The view that moral claims must be assessed in relation to a particular culture. Rather than saying female circumcision is wrong, one ought to say “Female circumcision is wrong in the United States.”
Divine Command Theory (problems?)
An action is morally right if the action is in harmony with God’s commands, or God’s will.
Problems:
1. Gods will is either arbitrary or unnecessary.
Utilitarianism (three features of utilitarianism, problems?)
An action is morally right if the action’s consequences maximize the utility, or pleasure/happiness, of all potentially affected by the action.
- Three essential features of utilitarianism:
i. Utility: usually pleasure or happiness.
ii. Consequences: only consequences (not intentions) are morally relevant.
iii. Strict Egalitarianism: everyone counts for one and only one. The happiness of any one person is equally important as the happiness of another.
Problems:
- No supererogatory
- No special relationships, everyone is equal
- No rights
- No Promises
Quantitative Utilitarianism
All pleasures and pains are commensurable, that is, they can be added together in a single hedonic calculus.
Qualitative Utilitarianism
Not all pleasures and pains are commensurable, or can be added together in a single hedonic calculus. Instead some pleasures are qualitatively different from others.
Hedonic Calculus
Calculations of pleasures (hedons) and pains (dolors).
Obligatory Actions
Actions that are morally required.
Supererogatory Actions
Actions that are praiseworthy, but not morally required because they go above and beyond what morally requires.
Deontology (role of good will)
An action is morally right if the motive behind the action is such that every rational agent could have acted on the motive as well.
Categorical Imperative (both versions and what follows from it)
Kant’s Categorical Imperative:
i. Act only in accordance with that maxim that you can at the same time will that it be a universal law.
ii. Treat humanity whether in yourself or in another person always as an end and never as a means only.
Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics (problems?)
Theory that emphasize the role of character and virtue in moral philosophy rather than either doing one’s duty or acting in order to bring about good consequences.
Problems:
1. Virtue ethics does not aid much with making decisions.
2. It is hard to define eudamonia
3. Virtue is hard to define.
Golden Mean
The ‘golden mean’ is the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency
Virtue
conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.
Vice
Vice deficiency = coward
Vice excess = cocky, rash
Ergon
The function of something. The function of a knife is to cut well.
Eudamonia
The good composed of all goods; an ability which suffices for living well; perfection in respect of virtue; resources sufficient for a living creature.
Virtuous
Uses practical reason informed by emotional insights to actively evaluate his specific circumstances and act in accordance with virtue.
