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25 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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what is the structure of an argument? of a moral argument? |
-a set of claims that support another claim. -consists of premises (claims that will support conclusion) -consists of a conclusion (claim that is supported by premises.) *argument can be good or bad. *claim can be true or false. sound argument: valid argument with true premises |
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what is the nature of ethical theories? what questions do they attempt to answer?
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-ethical theory provides a systematic account of the nature of the good and norms to guide one in matters concerning right and wrong actions. (draw upon reason and observation of the world)
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describe and contrast the different ideas about where moral truths come from. |
intuitionism: result from intuition. emotivism: maintains we show approval by saying something is good. relativism: relative to culture and society. |
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what is the difference between intrinsic and instrumental value? how are these concepts significant in moral philosophy? |
intrinsic value: things that have value in themselves, for their own sake. intrinsic goods are happiness and pleasure. instrumental value: things that are useful as instruments or tools, as a means to an end. fame, fortune, education, freedom, are instrumental goods.
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What is Plato's criticism of Divine Command Theory? |
Plato questioned whether something is good because the gods will it or the gods will it because it is good. -good bc gods will it: morally arbitrary -gods will it bc it is good: will of gods is superfluous to its goodness |
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What are the different sorts of pluralism and ethical relativism? |
religious pluralism: looking for common ground among different religions. value pluralism: argues that there are multiple and conflicting goods in the world that cannot be reduced. moral pluralism: the idea that there is a variety of equally valid moral principles and there is conflict between them. ethical relativism: the observation that there are different ideas about ethics/values. |
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Learn Bentham's and Mill's arguments for the principle of utility.
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Bentham believed the same principles guided both social and personal morality. Mill sought to dispel the misconception that morality has nothing to do with usefulness or utility or that morality is opposed to pleasure.
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What is the principle of utility? |
the rightness of an action or policy depends on the tendency to which it either promotes or diminishes happiness in all interested parties. Mill: "actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness." |
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What is the difference between Act and Rule Utilitarianism? |
Act: "we out to consider the consequences of each act separately" Rule: "we ought to consider the consequences of the act performed as a general practice." (What if everyone lied like that?) |
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Describe the Trolley Problem and explain precisely why it is a problem for Utilitarianism?
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facing a situation in which you must inflict minor harm in order to prevent greater harm from occurring. -problematic for utilitarianism bc you must ALWAYS do what would result in preventing the most harm regardless of what the case is and of personal feeling. (kill 1 to save 5) |
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What is Mill's argument in favor of the cultivation of virtue? |
? |
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What arguments does Kant use to justify Categorical Imperative? |
-moral obligation is real and strictly binding. -as rational beings, we must not will contradictory things. -moral equality. -spirit of impartiality.
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Define Categorical Imperative. |
the basic moral principle by which we determine what we out and ought not to do. |
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What are the three formulations of the Categorical Imperative?
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universalized maxims: act only on that maxim that you can will as universal law. humanity: always treat humanity, never simply as a means but always at the same time as an end. (give them value) autonomy: act so your will can regard itself as making universal law through its actions. |
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What does it mean, according to Kant, to act from duty?
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to act in virtue of good will alone. |
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What is the difference between a perfect and imperfect duty?
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perfect duty: necessary duties; not to act by mixims that cannot without contradiction be conceived as a universal law. imperfect duty: meritorious duties; not to act by maxims that as a universal law would lead to a contradiction of the will. |
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What is natural law theory?
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a theory of ethics that holds that there are moral laws found in nature and discernable by the use of reason. |
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what is the state of nature in Locke's philosophy?
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life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. |
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What is Locke's argument for the principle of non-harm?
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? |
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Define virtue ethics.
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asks how we ought to be. it is concerned with those traits of character, habits, tendencies, and dispositions that make a person good. |
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Why, according to Aristotle, must there be an ultimate end or aim of human life?
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there is an order to nature...a principle of order within them that directed them to their goal...their mature final form. good things fulfill some type of purpose or end or goal. |
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What is the difference between virtue ethics and modern ethics? (deontology; utilitarianism)
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modern ethics, deontology, focuses on the duties. whereas virtue ethics, utilitarianism focuses on the consequences. |
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Explain Nel Noddings' challenge to traditional views of ethics. |
emphasizes the importance of caring relationships. we all have a desire to be cared for and the ability to care. |
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According to Annette Baier, what three biases of traditional liberal ethics does feminism call into question? |
1. relationships between equals are the norm. 2. free association is the norm of relationships. 3. authority of intellect over the passions. |
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Explain the doctrine of the mean. |
? |
