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24 Cards in this Set
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Utilitarianism |
The idea that the moral worth of an action is solely determined by its contribution to overall utility in maximizing happiness or pleasure as summed among all people. It is, then, the total utility of individuals which is important here, the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people |
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Act utilitarianism |
Focuses on the effects of individual actions |
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Rule utilitarianism |
A form of utilitarianism that says an action is right as it conforms to a rule that leads to the greatest good, or that the rightness or wrongness of a particular action is the function of the correctness of the rule of which it is an instance |
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Natural Rights |
17th century English philosopher John Locke discussed natural rights in his work, identifying them as being "life, liberty, and estate (property)", and argued that such fundamental rights could not be surrendered in the social contract |
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Natural Law Theory |
The moral standards that govern human behavior are, in some sense, objectively derived from the nature of human beings and the nature of the world |
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Higher & Lower Pleasures |
Mill distinguishes higher and lower pleasures in his essay on "Urilitarianism." Presumably higher pleasures are generally more intellectual pleasures and lower pleasures are more sensual. Says the highest good is what produces the most pleasure |
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Motive |
Kant "Theory of Motive" explains what the truly moral motive is. Goodwill is the only consistent motive that can measure virtue and good character |
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Virtue |
Behavior showing high mora standard, particular moral excellence, beneficial quality |
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Duty |
Kant's "Theory of Duty" evaluates what makes an act right or wrong and how we judge the morality of our actions. Discovering the defining characteristic of moral judgments is important in order to make virtuous decisions uniformly in our every day life. There are situations when people act in such a way that reflects good moral character, however they are actually doing the wrong thing |
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Hypothetical Imperative |
Originally introduced in the philosophical writings of Immanuel Kant, is a commandment of reason that applies only conditionally |
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Universalizability |
The categorical imperative asks whether the maxim of your actions could become one that everyone could act upon in similar circumstances |
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Nutritive/sentient/rational soul |
Something like the nutritive soul is found in animals and human beings, but animal souls are called sensitive souls and human souls are called rational souls. Animals and humans possess a nutritive faculty which means power or capacity |
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Will |
The will generally is that faculty of the mind which selects, at the moment of decision, the strongest desire from among the various desires present. Will does not refer to any particular desire, but rather to the capacity to act decisively on one's desires |
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Dignity |
Everyone has the right to satisfy basic needs, such as food, security, shelter and education. Dignity gives an individual a sense of value and worth. Everyone is entitled to human dignity |
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Virtue ethics |
Currently one of the three major approaches in normative ethics. It may, initially, be identified as the one that emphasizes the virtues, or moral character, in contrast to the approach which emphasizes duties or rules(deontology)or that which emphasizes the consequences of actions(consequentialism) |
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From duty |
Performing the action because it is my duty, irrespective of whether or not I am inclined to do it, or of whether or not it is in my interests (has genuine moral worth) |
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According to duty |
Whilst I do perform the action that duty commands, I don't do it for that reason. Rather I do it because I am inclined to-it pleases me or is in my interests |
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Absolutism |
The ethical believe that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged, and that certain actions are right or wrong, regardless of the context of the act |
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Maxim |
The maxim of an action is often referred to as the agents intention. In Kantian ethics, the categorical imperative provides a test on maxims for determining whether the actions they referred you are right, wrong, or permissible |
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Perfect duties |
Kant also calls these "strict or rigorous (inflexible)" duties. These are duties, such as the duty not to commit suicide and the duty not to make a lying promise, which admit of no exceptions |
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Imperfect duties |
Kant also calls these "laxer (meritorious)" duties. These are duties, such as the duty to help people in need, which do admit of exceptions. They are still duties, but you have some choice about how to fill them |
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Prima Facie duty |
A duty that is binding (obligatory) other things equal, that is, unless it is overridden or trumped by another duty or duties. Another way of putting it is that where there is a prima facie duty to do something, there is at least a fairly strong presumption in favor of doing it |
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Hedonism |
The ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life |
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Eudaimonia |
A Greek word commonly translated as happiness or welfare; however, "human flourishing" has been proposed as a more accurate translation |
