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Ethics
Ethics in Philosophy
53
Philosophy
Undergraduate 2
11/11/2012

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Term
Moral Point of View
Definition
to suscribe to normative judgments about actions, principles, and motives; to universalize judgments concerning morally relevant similar situations; to formulate ethical views in a free, impartial, and enlightened way
Term
Synderesis Rule
Definition
Promote the good and avoid evil
Term
Utilitarianism
Definition
An action is right iff it promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people
Term
The Utility Principle
Definition
We ought to act so as to promote the greatest balance of good over evil (proportionalism)
Term
The Pleasure Principle
Definition
good is pleasure and evil is pain
Term
The Benevolence Principle
Definition
happiness is to be distributed as widely and as equally as possible among all people
Term
Hedonic Calculus
Definition
Jeremy Bentham's formula to calculate pleasure; 1 hedon is one unit of pleasure; includes intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent
Term
Propinquity
Definition
how close is the pleasure?
Term
Fecundity
Definition
does it promote further pleasures?
Term
Motive
Definition
the attitude towards an action
Term
Intention
Definition
what a person wills to do through an action
Term
Act Utilitarianism
Definition
concerned with particular acts in situations to fulfill the utility principle
Term
Rule Utilitarianism
Definition
concerned with general rules to apply to all actions that fulfill the utility principle
Term
Incommensurable
Definition
a criticism of Utilitarianism; there is really no standard to measure pleasure; there is no kilo or gram to measure it with
Term
Naturalistic Fallacy
Definition
criticism of Utilitarianism; just because things are the way that they are does not mean that this is the way they ought to be
Term
Deontology
Definition
the ethical view that certain acts or virtues are right in and of themselves; completely separate from consequences
Term
Altruism
Definition
The right is identical with the good; an action is right because it is good
Term
Divine Command Theory
Definition
moral principles are governed by God's command and are discovered by an examination of his verbal revelation
Term
Voluntarism
Definition
criticism of DCM; says that morality is based on the will of God or God's will, which does not account for evil
Term
Moral Realism
Definition
criticism of DCM; denies that moral claims have truth value in and of themselves
Term
Essentialism
Definition
morality is based not on the will, but the nature of God
Term
Natural Law Theory
Definition
All humans have a built in capacity to distinguish right from wrong; moral principles are discovered intuitively or through reason and reflection on human nature or human good
Term
Teleological View of Creation
Definition
every natural kind that exists in the universe has a nature or essence that holds the purpose of fulfilling said nature according to their function
Term
Natural Law (Aquinas)
Definition
laws of nature aid to govern morality
Term
Eternal law (Aquinas)
Definition
laws that are immutable govern morality; greatest form of law
Term
Divine Law (Aquinas)
Definition
God's law governs morality
Term
Human Law (Aquinas)
Definition
Man's law aids to govern morality; part of natural law
Term
The Good Will
Definition
The Kantian idea "to do right for no other reason than it is right"
Term
The Categorical Imperative
Definition
act according to that maxim by which you can at the same time, will it to be a universal law"
Term
Prima Facie Duties
Definition
comes into play when moral duties are in conflict; absolutes are then absolutes in normal situations; you are exempt with contacted with a stronger obligation
Term
Virtue Ethics
Definition
Morality is based off of who you are; good character is moral
Term
Virtue
Definition
a trained behavioral disposition or habit to live in a good or righteous manner; a character trait (faithfulness, integrity, courage, etc.)
Term
Prudence
Definition
practical wisdom
Term
Temperance
Definition
control of the passions appropriately
Term
Fortitude
Definition
courage to overcome obstacles
Term
The Cardinal Virtues
Definition
Moral:
1. Prudence
2. Temperance
3. Fortitude
4. Justice
Theological:
1. Faith
2. Hope
3. Love
Term
Eudaimonia
Definition
literally "good spirit"; means living well or the good life and is achieved by functioning properly (teleos) and living in excellence (arete)
Term
Cultural Relativism
Definition
ethics and morals are based off of culture
Term
Plurality Argument
Definition
We need a little bit of each type of theory to make a complete ethical theory; starts with virtue first, then deontological, then utilitarianism
Term
Moral Subjectivism
Definition
The idea that morals depend on the individual
Term
Bentham's View of Pleasure
Definition
"a satisfied pig is greater than an unsatisfied human"; always looking for the greatest quantity of pleasure
Term
Mill's View of Pleasure
Definition
quality over quantity; "an unsatisfied socrates is better than a satisfied pig."
Term
Bentham's Four External Motivations
Definition
Natural Law, Civil Law, Public Opinion, and God
Term
Mill's Internal Motivation
Definition
Adds a fifth to Bentham's: Conscience; must be acquired and cultivated
Term
Mill's View of Motive
Definition
Motive has nothing to do with an act being morally right, only intention matters
Term
Problems with Utilitarianism
Definition
1. Hedonic Calculus is impractical
2. Is happiness an appropriate goal for morality
3. Guilty of Naturalistic Fallacy
4. Can you really ignore motives?
5. Can we really know what the consequences of our actions lead to?
6. Minority suffers for the majority
7. Do persons or truth have value?
Term
Consequentialism v. Deontology
Definition
rule keeping brings out the best results v. the best results come from rule keeping
Term
Natural Law
Definition
ethics begin in metaphysics; every natural kind has a nature or essence and the purpose of all things is to fulfill said nature; God designed things with a specific function in mind; nature obeys law by necessity but humans have choice through practical reason; actions that promote human nature are good and ones that devalue it are bad
Term
Evolution Problem
Definition
Idea that natural law cannot be because we are not made with purpose, we are just a production of history
Term
Problems with Kantian Ethics
Definition
Kant is an unbending absolutist and allows no exceptions; absolute rejection of consequence and emotion; problems with universalization
Term
Nicomachaen Ethics
Definition
1. What is the aim for every activity? Achieving the good
2. What is the chief good for man? something he desires for his own sake; eudaimonia
3. How does one achieve eudaimonia? By functioning properly (teleos) and living in excellence (arete)
4. How does one consistently "function excellently"? by living a life controlled and dominated by virtues
Term
How are virtues learned?
Definition
by modeling ideal saints and heroes; what would _____ do?
Term
How are virtues acquired?
Definition
through training and practice; they are like habits
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