philosophy ethics test

Question 1

define ethics

Answer 1

the study of morality

• determines which things are morally good and what actions are morally right
• principles of right and wrong behaviour

Question 2

define morality

Answer 2

• standards that an individual or group has about what is right or wrong good or evil
• set of values and principles that guide someones choices

Question 3

define moral

Answer 3

that which is goof the way we ought to behave

Question 4

define immoral

Answer 4

that which is bad the way we ought to not behave

Question 5

define amoral

Answer 5

those actions which are neither good or bad not but are morally neutral

Question 6

what are the 4 basic moral principles

Answer 6

1. do good avoid evil
2. do unto others as you would have done onto you
3. does the end justify the means
4. follow what natures intendeds

Question 7

do good and avoid evil

Answer 7

• most basic principle
• first articulated by Aristotle
• agreed by most religions
• all moral principles comes from this

Question 8

do unto others as you would have done onto you

Answer 8

• commonly referred to as golden rule
• all religions share this belief
• treat others how you want to be treated

Question 9

Follow what nature intendeds

Answer 9

• make decisions that respect the nature of things
• follow what is natural for human beings and the rest creation

Question 10

who is Lawerence kholberg? what his theory?

Answer 10

Lawerence kholberg (1927-1987)

• he conclued there are 6 stages of moral reasonings

Question 11

what are the three levels to kholbergs theory

Answer 11

1. pre conventional (childhood) morality
2. conventional (adolescent) morality
3. post conventional (adult) morality

Question 12

stage 1 of khohlbergs - punishment and obedience “reward, punishment”

Answer 12

• based actions on consequences
• avoidance of punishment or a gaining a rewards motivates

“I am not going to run a red light because I will get a ticket”

Question 13

stage 2 of kholbergs theory - personal usefulness “me first”

Answer 13

• what is right is only what satisfies one self
• the needs of others only matter if they affect MY needs

“ill scratch your back if you scratch mine”

” I am not going to run the red light because I need to use the car”

Question 14

stage 3 - conforming to the will of the group “peer pressure”

Answer 14

• what is moral is what ever pleases and gets approval from the group
• conforms to the standard or norm
• right and wrong depends on what pleases or displeases others

” I am not going to run a red light because my friends expect me to stop and they want to feel safe in my car”

Question 15

stages 4 - law and order “its your duty” stage

Answer 15

• one sees obedience to make rules as necessary to maintain order
• individuals do not think for themselves
• right behaviour consist of doing ones duty and respecting authority
• legally right = moral right

” I am not going to run a red light because its the law and I respected the law

Question 16

stage 5 - social contract the “what society stands for”

Answer 16

• right action is described in terms of general values that have been out upon the whole society (charters of rights and freedoms)
• societies standards of behaviour
• laws are justified based on general principles but one may work to change the law for society

Question 17

stage 6 - personal conscience “its the principle of the thing”

Answer 17

• decisions are based upon universal justice equality respect and dignity
• choices are grounded in genuine moral interests willing to risk punishment for what is right
• willing to accept disproval of others

“sometimes I may chose to run a red light for greater purpose I will admit to breaking the law and accept my punishment”

Question 18

what are the consequetlist (teleological) theories

Answer 18

• egoism
• hedonism
• utilitarianism

Question 19

what are the non consequentialism theories (deontological)

Answer 19

• divine command theory
• natural law ethics
• categorical imperative

Question 20

what’s another word for consequenlist and where does it come from?

Answer 20

teleological
- comes from greek word “telos” for end

Question 21

what’s another word non consequentialist and where does it come from

Answer 21

deontological
- comes from greek word “deon” for duty

Question 22

Egoism

Answer 22

• believe that when deciding morality we should consider the good and bad consequences for ourselves
• believes that we act morally when it promotes our long term interest

short term suffering - long terms pleasure

Question 23

problems w egoism

Answer 23

• conflicting interests
• is moral point of view realistic? no one can be impartial
• underestimates moral point of view

Question 24

hedonism

Answer 24

• only pleasure is only worthy having its own sake
• short term benefits - long terms suffering

Question 25

utilitarianism

Answer 25

* promotes the greatest good for the greatest amount of people* created by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) expanded by John Stuart mill - reconizes basic human motivation to seek pleasure & avoid pain

Question 26

two sections of utliltarism

Answer 26

act - the end justifies the mean - claims that the right action is the one that produce the most pleasure for majority rule utilitarian - moral rules should be created for the majority - should implement and follow the rules that produce Thebes long term consequences problem - we can't always predict in advance the results each principles will produce in the long term

Question 27

Natural law ethics - St Thomas aquinas

Answer 27

- aquinas was an Italian philosopher (ethics and metaphysics) - argues that human nature is created from natural tendencies - what is morally right - natural law is hard wired into humans - the laws that governs it are the laws that God imposed on it and are found within it

Question 28

what are our natural inclinations as humans

Answer 28

- live / survive - love / family - freedom - knowledge and education - order / peace - justice - community - safety

Question 29

divine command theory

Answer 29

- morality is objective and universal (golden rule) - we have a duty - the ultimate goal is to do the right thing because it is the right thing, not because we seek reward or punishment - the standard against which all moral decisions are measure Moral argument If God does not exist, objective moral values and duties do not exist Objective moral values and duties do exist, therefore God exists

Question 30

Kant Catergorical imperative

Answer 30

- created immune Kant (1724-1804) - German philosopher and englightment thinker " two things fill the mind with ever are increasing wonder and awe.. the starry heavens above and the moral law within" - kant believend morality is rooted in reason - ethical law can be discovered autonomously by the individual - duty to follow two maxims

Question 31

kants POV on morality

Answer 31

Kants categorical imperative two maxims 1. the principles of universilizabiltiy 2. the principle of humanity every individual has a duty - everything is divided int two maxims

Question 32

Kants first maxims - the principles of universibility

Answer 32

- believing that what you are doing is right for everyone - if your allowed to do it should everyone else be

Question 33

kants second maxim - the principle of humanity

Answer 33

- never treat someone as a end to a mean - treat everyone with divinity and respect not for your own benefit

Question 34

what is virtue ethics

Answer 34

- focuses not on rules of conduct but on the development of character traits

Question 35

Aristotle & virus ethics | poo

Answer 35

- created by artistorle - had four thesis 1. humans are happy if they perform their humans "functions" 2. the function of humans is to act in accordance to reason 3. reasons control our emotions allowing us to act virtuously 4. training produced the habit of acting virtuously and this produces virtuous character - every humans end purpose in life is to achieve happiness

Question 36

recall --> destiny achieved

Answer 36

- Aristotle argues that we act well when we seek the midpoint between excess and deficient - acquiring virtues helps us use our reason well in our lives - to achieve the mean in our feelings and actions we must avoid both excess and deficency

Question 37

ethical absolutism

Answer 37

there is no excess the thing is wrong completely - what is moral duty for me must also be for you

Question 38

ethical relativism

Answer 38

there is no morality that all societies follow each person should follow the morality of his or her society

Question 39

cultural relativism

Answer 39

one culture may think something is right and another may not