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USC Phil 140g Final Exam review Fall 2011
S. Finlay, Contemporary and Moral Social Issues
36
Philosophy
Undergraduate 1
12/08/2011

Additional Philosophy Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Retributivism
Definition
Usually a deontological way of thinking. Suffering of offenders is deserved, hence the punishment can be intrinsically good regardless of the consequences.
Term
Principle of Lex Talionis
Definition
This means that a harm should be equal to the offense. Sometimes people say "an eye for an eye." Essentially someone who kills another deserves to be killed.
Term
Proportional equivalency
Definition
A harm should be in proportion to the crime committed, not necesarily exactly the same. 
Term
Pornography vs. Erotica
Definition

Pornography: depiction of women in positions of sexualized subordination (according to C. MacKinnon)


Erotica: sexually stimulating material without subordination

Term
Harm principle
Definition
The law should prohibit practices that harm others (but remember, this harm must be serious enough to justify limiting others' freedoms)
Term
Legal paternalism
Definition
Law should prohibit us from harming ourselves.
Term
Offense principle
Definition
Law should prohibit obscenity (that causes serious offense)
Term

Is free speech an absolute right? 

Libertarian vs. J.S. Mill

Definition

Libertarian: Species of liberty rights which are absolute. (But liberties can conflict, can't they?)


J.S. Mill: Free speech is necessary to promote truth over error in the marketplace of ideas.

Either the i. opinion is right, and silencing it would deprive society of knowing it or ii. opinion is wrong and silencing it would deprive society of seeing it refuted.

Term
Euthanasia
Definition
Bringing about a person's death for their own good.
Term

Passive euthanasia

(Also compare ordinary from extraordinary)

Definition

To withhold treatment and essentially let a person die from natural causes.

 

Ordinary: to withhold basic needs to keep person alive (food, water)

Extraordinary: to withhold extreme measures like organ donation, high risk medications

Term
Active euthanasia
Definition
To do something to bring about death artifically
Term
Mercy Killing vs. physician assisted suicide
Definition

Mercy Killing: someone commits the act to kill another person

 

Physician assisted suicide: doctor sets up situation but the person himself takes the final action. The person is committing suicide.  

Term
Euthanasia by means of consent: voluntary, nonvoluntary, involuntary
Definition

Voluntary: They agree to die.

Nonvoluntary: They lack the capacity of consenting so someone else chooses for them.

Involuntary: Others choose to end the person's life against their wishes.

Term
Needless suffering principle 
Definition
Suffering should not be prolonged needlessly
Term
Intuitive thought
Definition
This is the moral difference between acting intending some result and merely acting with the expectation of that result.
Term
Principle of Double Effect
Definition

It is morally okay to bring about an expected but unintended side effect that would be wrong to bring about intentionally. 

 

A patient is in serious pain, the doctor administers an extremely high risk of painkillers to reduce the pain. The dose is so fatal it kills the patient. This result was expected but by no means intended.

Term
Pacifism (and weak Pacifism)
Definition

Pacifism: Engaging in war is never morally justified.

-Killing people is always wrong.

-War kills people.

-War is wrong. 

Weak Pacifism:

-It is always wrong to kill innocent people.

-War kills innocent people.

-War is wrong.

 

 

Term
Militarism
Definition

Engaging in war is sometimes morally justified.

-A state has the best interests of its citizens and only its citizens in mind. 

-Therefore, states aren't subject to the moral constraints concerning non-citizens.

-Engaging in war is sometimes in citizens' best interest. 

-War is okay. 

 

->But you inherit moral constraints of entire community.

->But they enter a social contract and have to agree to what is best for the entire community. Self-defense fod good of community>individual's wishes against violence.

Term
Just war theory (weak militarism)
Definition

War is okay if (i) it is waged for a just cause and (ii) it is waged by a just mean


Just cause: self-defense, protection of rights, defense of another state, perhaps?

Just means: Any means? (In a state of war, any use of violence against the enemy is legitamite).

Term
Proportionality constraint (under just cause)
Definition
Probability and seriousness of threat must be high enough to enter war.
Term
Last resort constraint (under just cause)
Definition
Cause only justified if all other solutions have been exhausted.
Term
Terrorism
Definition
Violence aimed at innocent people with the goal of achieving political ends through fear
Term
Kantian argument about sexual morality
Definition

Human dignity consists in rational freedom from animal nature.


-Sex involves treating human diginity as a means to satisfying desires of animal desires. 

-Sex disrespects human dignity.

-Morality demands respect for dignity.

-Thus, abstinence is our only option. 

Term
Discrimination
Definition

Can be classified by:

1. differences on which it is based (race, sex, age, etc.)

2. purposes for which it is applied (admission, friends, employment)


Discrimination is treating things differently.

Term
Affirmative Action
Definition

Action untertaken to increase proportions of people from particular under-represented groups (quotas preference, making efforts to attract certain people)


Pro: Provides role models, social integration, break social stereotypes, provide availability 

Con: Underserving people getting advantage, bad for self-esteem, creates social resentment

Term

Animal rights objection from common sense

Definition

-They're just animals!

-But this kind of thinking was applied to Jews, women, marginalized

-But they are structured differently


How do we justify moral discrimination against animals?

A. Genetics: they are not us. But what about aliens that are smarter?

B. Lack of rationality: But what about marginalized humans?

C. Inability to make contracts: "


Term
Principle of equality
Definition
It is unjust to treat people differently unless there is a relevant different between them.
Term
Biological essentialism (part of traditional view)
Definition
Women and men are naturally different
Term
Natural inequality
Definition

Men are superior, women are inferior

 

Men are rational, impartial, dominant, public figures

Women are slaves to their passions, partial, submissive, emotional

Term
Women's inferior sense (Kohlberg and Freud)
Definition

Moral maturity consists in: objectivity, impartiality, the ability to weigh righs and the ability to abstract general features from sitautions 

 

But women are subjective, partial, compromise and uninterested in principles

Term
Feminist/liberal critique
Definition
We must distinguish the gender from sex. Genders are socially constructed (thinking men are masculine and women are feminine). Men and women share a common human nature as autonomous rational agents.
Term
Counter-critique
Definition
Men and women have natural differences but women are not necessarily inferior. Women are better at nurturing, empathizing, building community, resolving disagreements peacefully
Term
Gilligan/Noddings: Women have different moral perspectives
Definition

Care perspective: feminine, compassionate, care, value of personal relationships

 

Justice perspective: masculine, based on fairness and objectivity

Term
Liberal feminism
Definition
Justice requires that we achieve general equality for women as autonomous rational agents. This has not been accomplished as it means more than merely equal rights. It also means equal opportunity and equal treatment.
Term
Radical feminism
Definition
Women cannot be equal until they are freed from feminine ideals, revolutionary social change is needed to eliminate masculine/feminine sexuality and traditional motherhood and family.
Term
Conservatism
Definition
Traditional gender roles ought to be preserved.
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