Ethics Final Exam

Front 1

Explain Plato's 3 parts of the soul

Back 1

*Sprit: Like a guard dog. Follows those with power and bullies those without it. Values honor and loyalty.
*Appetite: the monster. Our desires for pleasure like food, sex, drink, etc.
*Reason: The true you. Keeps the spirit and monster in check.

Front 2

Explain 2 reasons Plato give for why we should be good

Back 2

*To avoid punishment in this life or the next
*To ultimately get what we want.

Front 3

T/F Aristotle's "Prime Mover" is a god who created The Forms and who created all of nature.

Back 3

False. Aristotle doesn't believe in the forms.

Front 4

T/F For Aristotle the world in which we live is to be understood in terms of its various natural functions and their proper goals.

Back 4

True

Front 5

For Aristotle, the end towards which all things move is its ________

Back 5

Telos

Front 6

T/F For Aristotle, pleasure is one of the main ideas making up the main ingredients of the good life.

Back 6

True

Front 7

Explain Plat's theory of "The Forms"

Back 7

The forms are nonphysical, physical objects from another realm that are reflected onto Earth like shadows.

Front 8

Give the 3 reasons Plato gives for believing in the Forms

Back 8

(1) Universals: We all have some idea of beauty which means it must be an unchanging thing in another realm.
(2) Perfection: We all know what it is even though we've never seen it. It must exist somewhere else where we once existed.
(3) True Knowledge: It is impossible to have true knowledge here because everything is in flux. However, since knowledge exists, true knowledge must also exist in some place where things never change. This is in the realm of the forms.

Front 9

Aquinas argues that one attribute of God is that he possesses a goodness which pertains to the nature of his being, rather than having to do with obedience to moral law. We can refer to this goodness as _______________

Back 9

Metaphysical

Front 10

For Aquinas we should try to live in accordance with nature because

Back 10

God created nature and God's will can be found in nature. He goes into specifics with his Natural Law Theory. God is perfect and we can see his commands in nature.

Front 11

Explain and give an example of the "doctrine of double effect"

Back 11

It states that the good, intended effect (preserving ones own life) is distinguished from the bad, unintended effect (the death of one's assailant). Basically, killing for self defense is OK as long as it wasn't the original goal.

Front 12

Explain the arguments Aquinas gives for belief in God.

Back 12

All matter must come from somewhere. Also, all energy must come from somewhere. God is the explanation. However, this answer/explination leads to a problem. If everything needs an explanation, then so does God. Where did he come from?

Front 13

T/F William James aruges that we should never hold or defend a belief on ground other than its truth and the evidence we have to support that truth no matter what out feelings may tell us.

Back 13

False

Front 14

Hobbes argues that prior to our agreement to live in society we can imagine living in what he refers to as a(an)

Back 14

State of Nature.

Front 15

Explain the 3 ways that Hobbes argues conflict occurs among individuals prior to the establishment of society.

Back 15

(1) Competition: This will start b/c of a lack of resources
(2) Anticipation of conflict b/c of a lack of resources
(3) Ambition: Some people just want to have power and rule everything/everyone

Front 16

Explain the primary difference between Hobbes and John Locke concerning their theory of The State o Nature. Explain what difference this difference makes.

Back 16

Hobbes believes that morality arises out of our agreement to give up some of our rights in order for protection (building a society). Locke believes that there is morality in the state of nature. This difference leads to Locke believing we should overthrow sciety if it can't provide things we could find in nature like life, liberty, health, etc. while Hobbes believes returning to the state of nature is suicide.

Front 17

Explain the rose of rationality/reason in the ethical theory of Plato

Back 17

A rational person contemplate the forms and will realize that goodness if the highest of all the forms. As a result a rational person will strive to be good. Reason keeps the monster and the spirit in check.

Front 18

Explain the rose of rationality/reason in the ethical theory of Aristotle

Back 18

we use our reason to contemplate the Gods and nature so we can fulfill our function

Front 19

Explain the rose of rationality/reason in the ethical theory of Aquinas

Back 19

We use our reason to observe nature and find Gods will within it.

Front 20

Explain the rose of rationality/reason in the ethical theory of Hobbes

Back 20

We use rationality to make an agreement that will get us out of the state of nature.

Front 21

Explain the ethical theory of Thrasymachus. Does either Aquinas or Hobbes give Thrasymachus a reason to abandon his (Thrasymachus') theory?

Back 21

Thrasymachus believes that ethics is a foods game. What is "right" is only what the people with power want. THose who follow the rules, even when there is no one watching, are either fools or victims. Hobbes says he must be good otherwise society has the right to punish him.

Front 22

For David Hume ______________ determine human interest and goals.
(a) desire, sentiment, or the passions
(b) Reason and rationality

Back 22

(a) Desire, sentiment, or the passions

Front 23

For Hume, moral virtues are qualities of the human mind that are universally approved by __________
(a) a process of pure reason
(b) impartial observers

Back 23

(b) Impartial observers

Front 24

For Hume, the conventions of communities are rooted in _______________ and community decisions
(a) The individuals mind
(b) Historical traditions

Back 24

(b) Historical traditions

Front 25

For hume, ___________ are perceptions and can be studied like other perceptions
(a) absolute truth
(b) passions

Back 25

(b) passions

Front 26

Hume regards persons as motivated by
(a) a variety of passions both generous and ungenerous
(b) a singular passion of self-interest
(c) a singular taste for what is unachievable
(d) none of the above

Back 26

(a) a variety of passions both generous and ungenerous

Front 27

For Hume virtue is ____________
(a) a fusion of 2 analytically distinct components
(b) a mental health quality in the person contemplated
(c) a perception by those who contemplate the person
(d) all of the above

Back 27

(d) all of the above

Front 28

T/F For Hume, moral rules are merely the formulation of what an individual feels.

Back 28

False

Front 29

T/F For hume, morality rests on its historical development in cultures and moral rules derive their acceptability and correctness from human agreement.

Back 29

True

Front 30

T/F Hume things that persons never universally have the same moral sentiments and therefore could not universally reach the same moral judgments even in unbiased and placed in similar circumstances.

Back 30

False

Front 31

For Immanuel Kant only __________ acts can have ethical import
(a) voluntary
(b) non-voluntary

Back 31

(a) voluntary

Front 32

Unlike Hume, Kant argued that for an act to be moral you must will to do the right thing just because
(a) your passions determine it
(b) it is the right thing

Back 32

(b) it is the right thing

Front 33

Kant saw us as creature with the capacity to resist desire, with the freedom to do so, and with the capacity to determine our lies solely by _______________
(a) natural law
(b) rational considerations

Back 33

(b) rational considerations

Front 34

For Kant an action may be said to be morally right not b/c of the ends or the purpose which it may attain but from our duty to _________ which determined the action
(a) a god and nature
(b) the principle or maxim

Back 34

(b) the principle or maxim

Front 35

Besides being a rational creature with a willingness to obey the moral law Kant argues that we must also have
(a) faith
(b) passion for life

Back 35

(a) faith

Front 36

For Kant "Nothing in the world - indeed nothing even beyond the world - can possibly be conceived which could be called good without qualification except
(a) a faith in god
(b) a good will

Back 36

(b) a good will

Front 37

Kant's 1st categorical imperative states that "I should never act in such a way that I could not also will that my maxim should be
(a) sympathetic to others"
(b) a universal law"

Back 37

(b) a universal law"

Front 38

T/F Kant's idea of the rational will implies the existence of an unknowable self and an unknowable will. Kant refers to our unknowable self (our true self) as the noumenal self and the noumenal will

Back 38

True

Front 39

__________, as a branch of ethical theory, asserts that actions are right or wrong according to their consequences, rather than b/c of any intrinsic feature they may possess.
(a) consequentialism
(b) Nihilism

Back 39

(a) consequentialism

Front 40

John Stuart Mill argued for two different foundations of utilitarianism, which were
(a) Normative and psychological
(b) descriptive and external
(c) cognitive and non-cognitive
(d) universal and internal

Back 40

(a) normative and psychological

Front 41

The Principle of _____________ holds that "Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness."

Back 41

Greatest Happiness/ Utility

Front 42

As between his or her own happiness and that of others, utilitarianism requires one to be
(a) self-promoting
(b) self-interested
(c) self-defining
(d) strictly impartial

Back 42

(d) strictly impartial

Front 43

A utilitarian such as Jeremy Bentham or J.S. Mills who conceives of utility entirely in terms of happiness is
(a) An Egoist
(b) A Pluralist
(c) a hedonist
(d) None of the above

Back 43

(c) a hedonist

Front 44

________ maintains that rules have a central position in morality and can't be compromised by the utilitarian demands of a particular situation
(a) an act utilitarian
(b) a rule utilitarian
(c) a principle utilitarian
(d) a universal utilitarian

Back 44

(b) a rule utilitarian

Front 45

All utilitarians tend to agree that the point of morality is
(a) to maximize the will of God through good acts
(b) to construct a system, which allows individuals to act w/out regard to the concerns of others
(c) to define those obligation which "the good" demands of each individual
(d) to promote human welfare by minimizing harms and maximizing benefits

Back 45

(d) to promote human welfare by minimizing harms and maximizing benefits

Front 46

Nietzsche argues that what is good is whatever
(a) augments the feeling of power
(b) allows us to do science

Back 46

(a) augments the feeling of power

Front 47

For Nietzsche what is good is the "will to power...power itself". This will to power can be thought of as a will to give meaning to a meaningless existence or for our purpose a will to
(a) be one with nature
(b) understand

Back 47

(b) understand

Front 48

Nietzsche seems to believe that what we really want in life is not pleasure but some sense of
(a) absolute truth
(b) meaning

Back 48

(b) meaning

Front 49

For Nietzsche all great problems demand great
(a) denial
(b) love

Back 49

(b) love

Front 50

T/F For Nietzsche it is faith in god which can save us from evil

Back 50

False

Front 51

T/F For Nietzsche happiness and the reduction of pain in life is the chief purpose of ethical theory

Back 51

False

Front 52

T/F Nietzsche does not reject morality but instead argues that one should challenge morality in order for the spirit of god to be re-born.

Back 52

False

Front 53

Nietzsche has argued that we should reject both the ideas of
(a) art and god
(b) free will and non-free will

Back 53

(b) free will and non-free will

Front 54

King seems to argue that we can't operate ethically when we separate "means" from "ends". Explain kings position on this pt. How does Kings position compare/contrast w/ the ethical theories of Kant and Mill.

Back 54

*King -> Using immoral means for moral ends is bad. Also, using moral means to preserve immoral ends is wrong.
*Mill -> ends matter not motivation
*Kant -> means matter. Categorical imperative. Motivations if means are rational.

Front 55

King -> the myth concerning time

Back 55

There is a misconception of time, from the strangely rational notion that there is something in the flow of time that will cure all ills. Actually, time is neutral, it can be use for good or evil. Actually, it seems evil people have used time more effectively.

Front 56

King -> why do christians have a moral responsibility to disobey some laws. Explain difference btwn just and unjust laws

Back 56

We have not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. We also have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
*A just law is a man-made code that squares w/ the moral law or the law of God.
*An unjust law law is out of harmony w/ moral law.
*Any law tht uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality it unjust.

Front 57

Explain Kings idea of a sacrificial spirit

Back 57

W/out a sacrificial spirit, it all boils down to meaninglessness. The church loses authenticity, forfeits its loyalty and becomes a social club. Part of who we are as christians. If we lose it, we lose our identity as christians.

Front 58

Explain Kings idea of "creation of tension"

Back 58

Creation of tension is what causes growth. This is a christian virtue. This allows for a critical analysis of society.

Front 59

What are the 4 christian virtues?

Back 59

(1)Carrying forward the gospel of freedom.
(2) Creation of Tension
(3) Extremism (for love)
(4) Sacrificial Spirit

Front 60

In his letter, King admits to two "honest confessions". Describe them.

Back 60

*1st disappointment = the white moderate: time myth (ppl who are more devoted to order than justice). False idea of extremism being bad (we are extremists already but what kind will we be, should be extremists for love).
*2nd disappointment is with the church. Church leaders encouraging follows to obey unjust laws. Church has lost sacrificial spirit. Church defends the status quo. COMPLACENCY