Who's Who Flashcards
(23 cards)
Aquinas, St. Thomas
(1225-1274)
Italian
Theory
Moral/Natural Law
Concepts
Natural laws are “self evident”
“An unjust law is no law at all”
Wrote Summa Theologica
Human law
Aristotle
(384-322 B.C.)
Greek
Theory
Greek Tradition
Concepts
Promoted virtue ethics
Argued that happiness is the ultimate good
Nicomachean ethics
Virtues of character, ethics, leads to the right emotions that, in turn, lead to good actions
Virtue is a “mean” between under- and over-responding
Best human life is devoted to understanding science and philosophy without necessarily applying them
Jeremy Bentham
(1748-1832)
English
Theory
Consequential ethics
Utilitarianism
Concepts
A founder of utilitarianism
Principle of utility
Epictetus
(55-135 A.D)
Greek
Theory
Moral Law
Stoicism
Concepts
To lead a virtous, happy life in midst of uncertainty, “do what is in accordance with nature”
Universal brotherhood
Epicurus
(341-270 BC)
Greek
Theory
Consequential ethics
Hedonism
Epicureanism
Concepts
Ethics based on please
Hedonism with moderation
Carol Gilligan
(1936- )
American
Theory
Feminist Ethics
Concepts
Believes traditional ethics are Male-oriented
Thomas Hobbes
(1588-1679)
English
Theory
Moral law
Social contract
Concepts
Wrote Levianthan
State of nature
Right of nature
Law of nature
Social order exists to protect our lives; we give up individual rights for communal safety
David Hume
(1711-1776)
English
Theory
Moral law
Social contract
Concepts
Rationality is slave to passions
Morality not based on reason , but on how we feel about certain actions
Morality based onsympathy or feeling for fellow humans
Naturalistic fallacy; “what is” vs “what ought to be” ; just because things are a certain way, does not mean they are right
Communitarianism: needs of community out weigh needs of individual
Thomas Jefferson
(1743-1804)
American
Theory
Moral law
Social contract
Concepts
Wrote Declaration of Indepenence
Heavily influenced by Locke
Immanuel Kant
(1724-1804)
German
Theory
Moral law
Kantism
Concepts
Most powerful proponent of duty
Happiness is not the ultimate good, and that motive is the only way to measure moral actions
Motivation based on duty is moral
All other motives lack moral significance
Absolute rules
Hypothetical imperative
Categorical imperatives
Martin Luther King Jr.
(1939-1968)
American
Theory
Moral law
Concepts
Right of justice ovverrides possibility of violence
Letter from Birmingham jail- “An unjust law is no law at all”-from Aquinas
John Locke
(1632-1704)
English
Theory
Moral law
Social contract
Concepts
Social contract and civil law
Social order exists to protect “life, liberty and property”
John Stuart Mill
(1806-1873)
English
Theory
Consequential ethics
Utilitarianism
Concepts
A strong propnent of utility
Greatest happiess principle
Harm principle
Nel Noddings
(1929- )
American
Theory
Moral law
Concepts
Ethical vs. natural caring
Robert Nozick
(1938-2002)
American
Theory
Moral law
Concepts
Opposes the right to tax labor (income)
Challenged Rawls’ belief that exchange of wealth should benefit the least wealthy
Plato
(428-347 B.C)
Greek
Theory
Greek tradition
Concepts
Student and admirer of socrates
Much written work survives, The dialogues: primary character is often Socrates
Republic: Contrasts life of self-interest; contends that people may know virtue but still not act on it
The “ideal city”; presented through the chracter of Socrates
The types of citizens: Rulers of philosopher kings (reason)-wise, virtuous leaders
Workers (appetite or desire)
Guardians or millitary (spirit)
Plato used he “ideal city” to represent the ideal balanced structure fo the human body and soul
Apology: Socrates defense at his trial, refuses to renounce his mission of questioning conduct out of fear of the “mob”
Fundamental virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice
Ayn Rand
(1905-1982)
American
Theory
Consequential Egoism
Concepts
Wrote Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged
Values and actions based on reason
Strongly opposed views of Kant
John Rawls
(1921- )
American
Theory
Moral law
Social contract
Concepts
Wrote A Theory of Justice
Veil of ignorance
Original position
Concern for fairness to the underclass
Jean Jacques Rousseau
(1712-1778)
Swiss/French
Theory
Moral law
Social Contract
Concepts
Freedom cannot survive without some level of equality
Josiah Royce
(1855-1916)
American
Theory
Moral law
Kantism
Concepts
Deontological (Non-consequential)
Highest duty is loyalty
Adam Smith
(1723-1790)
English
Theory
Consequential ethics
Egoism
Concepts
Wrote Wealth of Nations
Common good is best advanced by pursiut of self-interest
Basics of Western capitalism
Socrates
(470-399 B.C.)
Athenian Greek
Theory
Greek Tradition
Concepts
First major “moral or ethical philosopher” focused on “how man should behave” rather than “what is the world made of?”
The Socratic Methid- everything is open to question
Ultimate human good is happiness
If a person knows that a virtous souls is necessary to happiness then that person will make virtuous choices
Better to suffer injustice than to inflict it
Harm to the body does not harm the soul
People act virtously because it is good for the sould, which leads to happiness
People act virtuously because it is good for the souldm which leads to happiness
People who dont act virtuously, dont know that such action is bad for the sould and leads to unhappiness
Teach virtue to wrongdoers, dont punish
“unity of virtues”
Thucydides
(460-400 B.C)
Greek
Theory
Greek Tradition
Concepts
Historian
“Might makes right”- Morals are meaningless to those with power
