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46 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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4 senses of moral responsibility
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1. praiseworthy - after the fact sense
2. obligation = morally mandatory 3. Conscientious = sincerely trying to do right thing, even if you fail 4. Accountable = provide justification for actions taken |
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Legal Responsibility
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whatever the law requires of us
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Example where moral responsibility overrides legal responsibility
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Le Messurier was the structural engineer who designed a skyscraper in NYC to be built over top of a St. Lutheran church. After it was built, a student posed a question to Le Messurier that made him review his design; could the building withstand diagonal winds? After review he realized that the joints were not welded as he originally proposed. Further research into this issue yielded answers that the building may fail every 16 years. Even though Le Messurier’s original design fulfilled his legal responsibility to the public, he felt morally obligated to correct the building.
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Subjectivism
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claims individual agents justify all verbal principles by virtue of personal acceptance.
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Problem with subjectivism
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An argument of this view is it seems to contradict one of the primary purposes of reality which is to resolve conflict. This view ultimately promotes sociopaths in society. For example, “I think killing 40-year old men is right; therefore all 40-year old men should be killed”. Even though this person believes that, doesn’t mean it’s the morally correct stance.
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Conventionalism
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Conventionalism is the view that all moral principles are justified by virtue of their cultural acceptance.
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Problems with conventionalism
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This appears to be a useless framework, because we cannot morally critique other groups. It also insinuates that moral reform is criminal. So for example, conventionalists would think Martin Luther King Jr. is a criminal because he spoke out against racism in the United States.
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Utilitarianism
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Utilitarianism is the view that we ought always to produce the most good for the most people, giving equal consideration to everyone affected.
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“scapegoat” or “ends justify the means”
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The major objection to utilitarianism. An example of this is the following: more good is promoted by keeping the public ignorant about a hidden fault in a car than to inform them about the serious dangers it could impose. Keeping the public in the dark seems unfair, but the overall good is promoted so according to utilitarianism it is the right action to take.
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Consequentialist Principle
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the rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the goodness or badness that results from it.
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Hedonic Principle
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the only thing good in itself is some specific type of state (example: pleasure, happiness, etc.)
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Act-Utilitarianism
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view that a particular action is right iff it’s likely to produce the most good for the most people.
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Problems with act-utilitarianism
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(1) Too demanding
(2) Can’t foresee all consequences (3) Gives unintuitive results |
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Rule-Utilitarianism
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claims that a particular action is right iff the action is required by a rule that itself a member of a set of rules whose acceptance would lead to the most good for the most people (modified view of act-utilitarianism).
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Problems with Rule-utilitarianism
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(1) Permits actions we know to be immoral
Example: stealing old computer that is scheduled for replacement might benefit you significantly and cause only miniscule harm to your employer; however; surely stealing is wrong. (2) “The Ends justifying the Means Objection” or “The Scapegoat” Example: more good is promoted by keeping the public ignorant about serious dangers by not informing them about a hidden fault in a car or building. |
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Theories of Good
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Intrinsic Good – goods considers just by themselves
Example: Marrying someone because you love them Instrumental Good – good things that provide instruments for gaining happiness. Example: Marrying someone because their parents are rich |
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Types of pleasures
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Higher Order Pleasure – scientific knowledge, deep friendship, creativity... things that take time
Lower Order Pleasure – eating, drinking, sex... quick things |
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Rational Desires
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those we can affirm after fully examining them in the light of all relevant information about the world and our deepest needs.
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Liberty Rights – “negative rights"
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right to exercise freedom and they place duties on other people not to interfere with one’s freedom
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Welfare Rights – “positive rights”
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right to benefits of a decent life, when one cannot earn those benefits and when the community has them available
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Rights Ethics: Version 1
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Theory conceives human rights as intimately related to communities of people. Gives positive spin on welfare rights.
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Rights Ethics: Version 2
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Libertarians believe only liberty rights exist and there are no welfare rights. John Locke was the 1st philosopher to undertake this theory.
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Duty Ethics
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Theory says that right actions are those required by duties to respect the liberty and autonomy (self-determination) of individuals.
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categorical imperatives
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"do X"
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hypothetical imperatives
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“If you want X, do Y”
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Problems with Categorical Imperatives:
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Seems to refuse us to do things that common sense permits.
Example: everyone should flush the toilet; however, everyone should not flush the toilet at 7 AM Seems to justify acts we judge as horrendous. Example: I hate Jews. Therefore, I propose I should kill anyone who is a Jew. Universally, the maxim I would follow is to always kill Jews. |
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Prima Facie Duties
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duties at first glance which sometimes have permissible or obligatory exceptions
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Virtue Ethics
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View that focus on being rather than doing
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Virtues
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morally desirable quality
Example: As an engineer, you are a hard worker |
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Vices
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morally undesirably quality
Example: Waiting until night before to cram for a test |
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Nichomachean Ethics (Aristotle)
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A good virtuous person was the result of a good (virtuous) society.
A Golden Mean – evaluate a virtue in terms of excess and deficiency. Courage and honesty are both virtues because there are two extremes associated with each. Example: courage in excess = suicidal, courage in deficiency = cowardly. Honesty in excess=TMI, honesty in deficiency=liar |
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Problems with Virtue Ethics
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The Epistemological Problem: “circular reasoning”
Example: Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Why did it want to get to the other side? Because it wanted to cross the road. The Relativist Problem Example: Sarah Palin and Tim Tebow; Depending on the person, views of these individuals can be polar opposites. The Application Problem – too vague to actually apply |
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predominant egoism
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the strongest desire for most people is self-seeking most of the time
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psychological egoism
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all people are always and only motivated by what they believe is good for them.
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unfalsifiable dogma
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something that cannot be refuted regardless of the evidence.
Example: conspiracy theory (the world is flat) |
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self-interest
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our long term and enlightened well being
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altruism
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caring about others for their sake
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3 reasons to adopt ethical egoism
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1. altruism is degrading to oneself
2. world would be a better place due to Laissez Faire reasoning (government hands off) 3. psychological egoism 3. 3. |
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divine command theory
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an action is right only if its commanded by God
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euthyprho dilemma
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does God command what is good because it is good or are good acts good simply because God commands them
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preventive ethics
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ethical action aimed at preventing moral harm and avoiding ethical dilemmas
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cautious optimism
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the confidence and hope from sound technology must be accompanied by sober realism on possible dangers.
Example: invention of tnt |
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normative values
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what ought to be.. what is desirable
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descriptive values
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what is the case
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moral autonomy
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thinking rationally about ethical issues on the basis of moral concern
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silo-mentality
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occurs when lack of communication between departments of a company producing same product
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