Details Title: Ethics Description: Notes for Midterm Total Flash Cards: 55 Created: 01/11/2009 14:28:45		New Users: To study from this flashcard set, or to create your own your own study flash cards, REGISTER HERE. Existing Users: CLICK HERE. Additional Philosophy Flashcards
Cards in this set: Term Moral subjectivism Definition Whatever is right and wrong for the individual is for them to decide; to judge another person's perspective is beyond your reach Term Psychological egoism Definition Self interest motivates human beings Term Ethical egoism Definition You should only do something out of self interest Term Moral nihilism Definition There are no moral principles, if every opinion is equally valid then nothing is valid Term Moral skepticism Definition We will never know what moral truths are, though they may exist Term Reasons for norms: Prudential Moral Correctness Definition Prudential: because its god for you Moral: good for everyone Correctness: because its shows excellence Term Metaphysics Definition Beyond physics Term Metaethics Definition Underlying foundation for all ethical theories Term Relativism Definition Moral truths depends on individual Term Absolutism Definition One correct answer for all things Term Theory of value Definition What is good, why Term Theory of conduct Definition Tells you how to get what's good Term Aquinas Fit Aristotle's ethics under ____ Definition God Term Aquinas 3 Laws _______ laws - god created, governed entire universe _______ laws - normative; what we should do _______ laws - applied to specific acts; ex. must pay taxes Definition eternal natural human Term Aristotle Virtue Definition Finding the mean Term Aristotle Vice Definition Performing an excess or deficiency Term These vices have no mean _______ Definition Adultery, theft, killing Term Aristotle Being just Definition Just actions and just character Term Aristotle Just action Definition Mean between extremes; doing the right thing at the right time towards the right object in the right wing Term Aristotle Attributes of moral virtue Using ________ reason Passion and appetites _______ reason Acquired by _______ Must ________ practice good to be actually be good Not something one is ________ born with You ____ have natural predisposition Definition Practical Obey Habit Practice Born Do Term Aristotle 3 types of commonly thought happy lives Life of _______ Life of _______ Life of _______ Definition Pleasure Politics Contemplation Term Aristotle Types of goods out actions aim at: Instrumental goods Definition goods for the sake of some other good Term Aristotle Types of goods out actions aim at: Infinite regress Definition Instrumental goods would be pointless w/no end Term Aristotle Types of goods out actions aim at: Intrinsic goods Definition Good in and of itself (ex. happiness) Term All end aim at final good, which is _______ Definition Happiness Term Aristotle Inductive method Definition Based upon experience and observation Term Aristotle Deductive method Definition Applying general laws Term Aristotle 4 scientific causes produce progress: _____ cause - shape of form it will take _____ cause - matter it is composed of _____ cause - what makes it develop or grow _____ cause - the end goal/product Definition Formal Material Efficient Final Term Plato thought ethics should be based on _________ of wants Definition Suppression Term Aristotle Believed human being was _______ animal Definition Rational Term Aristotle Bases what is moral on ______ _______ Definition Human nature Term Aristotle Everything in nature has specific _________ Definition Purpose/function Term Entire natural world is __________ Definition Designed (ex. Acorn becomes tree) Term End-driven theories are ________ Definition Teleological Term Hard Universalism Definition Only one truth to any given thing Term Problem with Universalism Definition Too inflexible Term Soft Universalism Definition There are objective universal moral principles across cultures, however, how they will be practiced in each culture is different Term Exs. of Soft Universalism Definition Aristotle, Utilitarian Term Ethical Relativism Definition There are no universal moral principles, they are relative to a culture What is moral simply is what is considered normal Term Problem with ethical relativism Definition If true, ever culture has equally valid moral principles (which is ridiculous) Mother Teresa would be just as moral as Hitler Subcultures - KKK = NAACP(?) Term Kant Deontological ethical theories Definition Duty-based ethics Term Kant Deontological Ethical Theory Ex. Promised money to a friend, has chance to give to orphans afterward Kant - Give to ________ Mill - Give to ________ Definition Kant - friend, otherwise you break your promise/duty Mill - kids Term Good Will (Intentions) Has intrinsic _______ Definition Value Term Good Will (Intentions) Does intelligence have intrinsic value? Definition No, may be used for value Term Good Will (Intentions) Ex. kid stumbles into pool, people jump in, break kids neck, he lives but is paralyzed Mill Kant Definition Mill - result of good will is irrelevant Kant - intention was good Term Good will Ex. Person who has good intentions but never but does anything with them Kant Mill Definition Kant - Unclear if you can be good w/o doing good (thought it seems likes he’s saying ‘yes’) Mill - You have to practice it Term Kant Act must be from duty and not simply conform to duty Ex. Social worker helps other because it makes her feel good. Scrooge hates people BUT helps someone because it’s the right thing to do According to Kant, who is the moral one? Definition Scrooge, the Social Worker is acting “like” a good person but is NOT one. Actions must not be based on inclinations (wanting to), they must be done because it is our duty, whether we want to or not Term Kant Moral worth of an act is determined by _______ Definition Motive Term Kant Imperatives Hypothetical . . . Definition • Act to achieve another end – instrumental value  Ex. go the gym 6 days/week • For health or aesthetics (two ends) • Entirely subjective & contingent, individualized • Morally neutral Term Kant Imperatives Categorical . . . Definition • Act for the action itself; it has intrinsic value • Necessary, universal, absolute, and unconditional • Categorical Imperative  Act only as if you will that your maxim is universal law  Do it only if you want everyone else to do it too • Ex. Should you speed to get to work? o Only if you want everyone else to do it too? o If yes = it is moral to do it o If no = it is immoral to do it Term Kant Examples of things that cannot be Categorical Imperatives, explain them Suicide Definition • Person hates life, wants to kill self to stop misery, based upon self-love • Emotion of self-love is to essentially promote survival, not death • CONTRADICTION ^ o Self-love to save self v self love to save self o Irrational, therefore it cannot be a categorical imperative Term Kant Examples of things that cannot be Categorical Imperatives, explain them Guy promises to repay money, knowing he can't Definition • You promise but have no intention of keeping it • If EVERYBODY did it there would be no such thing as promises Term Kant Examples of things that cannot be Categorical Imperatives, explain them Lazy guy Definition • He is talented, but wastes his ability doing nothing • Kant – no one with reason and ability could desire to really do nothing Term Kant Examples of things that cannot be categorical imperatives Rich guy Definition • Wishes to keep what’s his and leave others alone • However, if he became poor he’d want help Term Kant • 2nd way to interpret Categorical Imperative Definition  Treat others as ends in themselves and never as means only • Don’t use people • Treat others with respect