Phil 213 Intro To Ethics Exam 1 - Gates

Front 1

What is the thesis of Ethical Relativism?

Back 1

There are no universally valid moral principles that everyone should accept.

Front 2

What is objectivism?

Back 2

The claim that there is a set of universal laws.

Front 3

What is conventionalism?

Back 3

The claim that right and wrong is relative to the culture or surroundings.

Front 4

What is Subjectivism?

Back 4

The claim that right and wrong is relative to the individual.

Front 5

What is the relation between tolerance and Moral Relativism?

Back 5

Contradictory. Moral relativism claims that there are no universal laws, but also claims that everyone should be tolerant of each others different laws. That would make tolerance a universal law.

Front 6

What does psychological egoism claim?

Back 6

Self interest is the only thing that motivates humans to do things. All actions are based only on self interest.

It claims that all human action is aimed at avoiding some personal loss or gaining some personal benefit, either in the long term or short term.

Front 7

Why is psychological egoism a rejection of altruism?

Back 7

If we can not all be perfectly altruistic, then it can not be out duty to be altruistic. We can not truly care about others for their own sake.

Front 8

What are the three elements of the "Strongest Desires" argument?

Back 8

1) We act according to our strongest desires.
2) Our strongest desire is our self interest.
3) Therefore, we act according to our strongest desires.

Front 9

What is Shaufer/Landau's objection to the "Strongest Desires" argument?

Back 9

It begs the question. It assumes what it is trying to prove.

Front 10

What is his point about Testimony and Behavior as evidence for Psychological Egoism?

Back 10

They are imperfect, but they are all we really have to use to judge what motivates someone to do something.
Furthermore, they both point to the existence of altruism anyways.

Front 11

What is Ethical Egoism?

Back 11

The claim that right and wrong is dependent upon whether or not it furthers your self interest.

Front 12

What is the difference between Ethical Egoism and Psychological Egoism.

Back 12

Ethical Egoism is a Prescriptive claim - it says what we should do.
Psychological Egoism is a descriptive claim - it says what we do.

Front 13

What is the "best argument" for Ethical Egoism?

Back 13

1) If you are morally required to do something, then there must be a good reason to do it.
2) If there is a good reason to do something, then it must advance your interests.
3) Therefore, if you are morally required to do something, then it must advance your interests.

Front 14

What objection does Landau have with the "best argument"?

Back 14

He says there are still some things that are morally right but do not benefit you are all, like duties of easy rescue for example.

Furthermore, according to EE, the interests of others count for nothing.

Front 15

What is the Normative Objection to the claim that the gospel is ethical egoism is Professor Gate's essay?

Back 15

Ethical Egoism would claim that whether or not act benefits someone else has no bearing on its right or wrongfullness, except insofar as his or her happiness is tied up in our own. That is contrary to the gospel, and is absurd.

Front 16

What is the Motivational Objection to the claim that the gospel is ethical egoism in Professor Gate's essay?

Back 16

Ethical Egoism says that your motivation to do good should be yourself. The gospel says that is should be pure love.

Front 17

What is the connection of happiness and virtue in Aristotle's virtue Ethics?

Back 17

Happiness is an end in itself. Virtues (or living Virtuously) is the path to obtaining happiness.

Furthermore, everyone should seek happiness, but their desires for it must be tethered to virtue.

Front 18

What is an example of a virtue and it's associated vices?

Back 18

The mean is the Virtue: eg) Courage
The two extremes on either side are the associated vices. Extreme courage is foolheartedness, and an extreme lack of courage is cowardice.

Front 19

What point does Plato make about Why the pious is pious?

Back 19

Do the Gods love something because it’s pious or is something pious because the God’s love it? Plato said that it’s pious because it is worthy of the God’s love. It’s not just because they accept it. There is a reason that they accepted it. It’s a form of objectivism.

Front 20

What is akrasia?

Back 20

Moral Weakness

Front 21

What is Socrate's position on akrasia?

Back 21

It doesn't exist. People will not knowingly choose something that is bad for them. If they choose something that is wrong, it is only out of ignorance.

Front 22

What is Aristotle's response to Socrates' position on akrasia?

Back 22

He agreed that a form of ignorance is the cause of bad choices, but he pointed out the existence of two types of knowledge. Passive Knowledge and Active Knowledge.

Front 23

When our passions have overcome our knowledge, that is an example of active or passive knowledge?

Back 23

Passive Knowledge.

Front 24

What is the Literal version (LR) of the Golden Rule?

Back 24

Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

Front 25

What is Gensler's version of the Golden Rule? (GR)

Back 25

Treat others as your would consent to be treated in the same situation.

Front 26

What are the three features of the GR formulation?

Back 26

1) Same situation clause
2) present attitude toward hypothetical situation
3) a don't combine form

Front 27

What is the difference between acting according to duty and acting from duty?

Back 27

Acting ACCORDING TO duty: doing whats right.

Acting FROM Duty: doing what is right for the right reasons.

Front 28

What is indirect inclination?

Back 28

Doing the right thing out of self interest (fear of bing punished etc)

Front 29

What is direct inclination?

Back 29

Doing the right thing because you want to. (out of love for someone, you enjoy it)

Front 30

What is against inclination?

Back 30

Doing what is right, even though you are inclined to do the opposite. (helping an enemy etc)

Front 31

What is the FUL?

Back 31

Act only on the maxims that one can at the same time will to become universal laws.

Front 32

What is a contradiction in conception for the FUL?

Back 32

When allowing this law to become universal would stop you from being able to do it.

Front 33

What is a contradiction in will for the FUL?

Back 33

When allowing this law to become universal is possible, but you would not will it.

Front 34

What is FHE?

Back 34

Treat humanity always as an end and never merely as a means.

Front 35

What is the difference between a perfect and imperfect duty?

Back 35

Perfect duties are very specific, and usually "do not" concepts, such as, Do not kill people.

Imperfect duties are vague, openended and usually positive, such as, "Better yourself."

Front 36

What are the two obligatory ends?

Back 36

Self perfection
The Happiness of others.

Front 37

What is one of the objections that people raise against Kant's notion of acting FROM duty?

Back 37

People question if acting from duty really adds anything to an action done with right sentiments.

Front 38

What is Baron's three part response to this objection?

Back 38

Acting from duty 1) adds a sense of obligation, 2) commitment, and 3) shows that good sentiment is not a sufficient condition.

Front 39

What is the Greatest Happiness Principle in Utilitarianism?

Back 39

Actions are right in proportion to the amount of happiness they bring, and wrong in the proportion of happiness that they take away.

Front 40

What does Mill say about right conduct and impartiality?

Back 40

When judging if something is a right action or not, utilitarians must be completely impartial to whether an action adds or takes away from their own happiness or that of someone else's. It is the same.

Front 41

What does Mill say about lying?

Back 41

It is still wrong in utilitarianism because in the long run it will not promote happiness. It degrades your moral fiber and will result in negative outcomes. There may be some very special situations where lying may be morally permissible if it is done not for the benefit of the person doing it, but for someone else, like withholding the news of a tragic event from someone who is already very ill.

Front 42

What are the 3 characteristics of a prima facie duty?

Back 42

1) non-absolute
2) Self evident
3) Always have a good reason to do it

Front 43

What are the 7 Prima facie duties that Ross points out?

Back 43

Fidelity
Reparations
Gratitude
Justice
Beneficence
Self-Improvement
Non-maleficence

Front 44

What is an actual duty?

Back 44

Whatever your duty is, you are morally bound to do it.

Front 45

What does Ross mean when he says the Prima Facia duties are self evident?

Back 45

He means that their goodness does not depend on the outcome. (eg: If you have an obligation to one person that prevents your from helping someone that you have no obligation to even more, then you should probably still help the person your had an obligation to.