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| nothing is either moral or immoral – Machiavelli, characters in Plato’s Republic – Does not account for things like slavery that are obviously wrong |
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| moral knowledge is impossible to know |
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| no absolute standard for ethics – Nozick - Protagoras |
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| • Rachels’s three arguments against ethical relativism |
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• Moral progress is impossible
• All cultures have some values in common
• Just bc people disagree does not mean that they are both right |
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| Think Ayn Rand. Everything is objective |
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| everyone has their own claim to what is right and what is wrong |
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| • Consequentialism/teleological/outcome-based ethics |
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| the consequences of one’s actions are what determine whether it is right or wrong |
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| morality based on rules or duties |
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| moral agents OUGHT to do what is in their best self-interest – Ayn Rand |
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| people can ONLY do what is in their best self-interest – James Rachels |
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| • Divine Command Theory of Ethics |
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| God made the rules, so they should be followed. |
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| framework is good is to be done and evil is to be avoided |
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| • Utilitarianism (hedonistic, eudaimonistic, agathistic, and rule utilitarianism) |
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| maximize pleasure, minimize pain |
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| • Principle of utility criteria |
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| the definition of utilitarianism. Maximize your pleasure, minimize your pain. Defined by Bentham. |
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| based on the “Categorical Imperative” or the concept of duty. Deontological. If one is accomplishing its duty, it is good. Moral absolutes are grounded in reason. Hypothetical imperatives are conditional. |
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| • Categorical imperative (first two formulations) |
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o Maxims should be chosen as though they should hold the universal laws of nature
o Any rational being needs to act with reference to every rational being |
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| virtues are supposed to be done, and vices are to be avoided, focuses on character – Aquinas – Aristotle – it’s not the outcome that matters |
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| • The concept of the mean |
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| – Aristotle’s was of finding a good middle ground to define the virtues. |
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| – Agreeing on a group of morals and giving up personal freedoms for the betterment of the group or organization |
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