ethics final exam

Bentham on moral psychology

all acts are motivated only by a desire for pleasure/or to avoid pain. i.e there inso such thing as a good will

Bentham on moral universe

all beings that experience pleasure and part are apart of the moral universe

kant on the moral universe

all rational agents (being with free will) ar apart of the moral universe

What does Kent mean by "rational being"?

alone they have the faculty of acting according to the conception of laws. (have a will) and can only be rational beings. now that which serves the will as the objective ground of its self- determination is the end, and if this is assigned by reason alone, it must hold for all rational beings.

ends-in-themselves

beings with absolute value , a value that does not depend on whether or not someone else values them.

Kent on fundamental moral principle

categorical imperative; act the way you would have other act; never use use any persons as mere means to an end

hypothetical imperatives

conditional imperatives. they are commands that tell one what to do IF the person desires a particular outcome. **never absolute a person does not have to follow them off they dont wants to. "If you want to be healthy then, you should eat eat plenty of veggies"

Kant's ethical theory is usually considered an example of what kind of ethical thinking (deontological or teleological)?

deontological

kant on end and means

ends do not justify the means; its always wrong to treat people merely as a means toward an end.

Bentham on ends and means

ends may justify the mean. it may be permissible to treat a person merely as a mean toward an end if doing so promotes a greater amount of happiness overall

FKE- Formulation of the kingdom of ends

every rational being must act so as if he were by hi maxims in every case a legislating ember in the universal kingdom of ends. **act as if your maxims were going to become laws in a. kingdom compromised of all being that have absolute worth.

What does Kant think is the strongest of natural desires?

fear of death

Kant on free will

free will is a fundamental fact upon which all of morality rest

Bentham on free will

free will is irrelevant, i.e. it doesn't matter to his theory whether or not human have free will.

kant on political freedom

freedom is fundamental value, because only freely chosen moral acts have unqualified value

Bentham on political freedom

freedom is valuable only insofar s fait promotes happiness

What are qualified goods? Why is their good qualified?

gifts of nature are qualified goods. Things that are used for good. Gifts of nature that can also be used for bad and mischievous things. They qualify as good because they have the capacity to be bad.

Bentham on happiness

happiness is valuable in itself

Kant on happiness

happiness is valuable insofar as it promotes freedom. i.e insofar as it makes freely chosen moral acts easier

What are the words on Kants tombstone?

"Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing awe and admiration the more frequently and continuously reflection is occupied with them: the starred heaven above and the moral law within."

categorical imperatives

"moral commands" that tell you what you must do regardless of whether or not you want the certain outcome. is the ultimate , unconditional, command; the most fundamental more principle from which hall other moral principles must be deduced. "ultimate" "absolute" "unconditional" *** "do this"

What exactly is a "metaphysics of morals"?

"that part of moral reasoning that does not depend on experience." word "metaphysics," of course, we have learned before: it refers to philosophical speculation about the nature of reality beyond what the sciences can tell us. But here its use is slightly different. When Kant refers to a metaphysics of morals,what he is referring to is the non-empirical part of morality;that is, that part of moral judgment that is not based on experience.

According to Kant, what are the two things that fill the mind with wonder the more one contemplates them?

"the starred heavens above and the moral law within." * the beauty of the stars at night and the moral law within ourselves.

What, basically, is Kants argument for each duties?

1. unfortunate man wants to commit suicide. then thinks if it should be a universal law. his maxim is : from self-love i adopt it as a principle to shorten my life when its longer duration is likely to bring more evil than satisfaction.- that maxim cannot exist as a universal law of nature, it would be inconsistent with the supreme principle of all duty. 2. the maxim: when i think myself in want of money, i will borrow money and promise to repay it although i know that i never can do so.- for supossing this to be a universal law would be a contradiction.the promise itself would become impossible. 3. man has a talent that with the help of culture could make him useful, but his is content in his ways. his maxim is neglecting his natural gift. - he cannot possibly will that this should be a universal law, be as a rational being he wills that his faculties be developed since they serve him and have been given him, for all sorts of purposed. 4. a man who wishes to not contribute anything to his welfare or to his assistance in distress. -if this were a universal law the human race might very well subsist and betrays and cheats the rights of men. It is impossible that such a principle should have the the universal validity of a law of nature

What is THE Categorical Imperative (first formulation)

Act as if the maxim of your action were to become by your will a universal law of nature

FUL: Formula of Universal Law

Act only on those maxims whereby thou canst at the same time will that it should became a universal law. **only act according to the rule which you could choose that everyone would follow.

Why does Kant think that true stories of heroes are the most important part of moral education?

Because in these stories the reality of a good will is most clearly revealed.

What sorts of beings does Kant consider "things"?

Beings whose existence depends not on our will but on nature's, have nevertheless, if they are irrational beings, only a relative value as means, and are therefore called things

What are the two types of qualified goods Kant mentions?

Gifts of Nature: things we are born with (intelligence) Gifts of Fortune: things we earn/are given in life (power)

Bentham on animals

In principle, humans are not more valuable than animals ,because both are capable of suffering.

Whose statement of the Categorical Imperative does Dr. Reilly refer to as most eloquent?

Mahatma Gandhi: "you must be the chat you want to see in the world"

What does Kant think makes a person worthy of happiness?

Power, riches, honor, and even health, and the general well-being and contentment with one's condition. A good will, will appear to constitute the indispensable conditions even being worth of happiness.

FH- formulation of humanity

So act as to treat humanity, whether in thine own person or in that of any other, in every case as an end withal, never as means only. ** treat every rational being as beings with absolute value, never as a thing that only has relative value.

Which formulation does Kant usually use when discussing moral dilemmas?

The Formula of Humanity

What does Kant call the "complete expression" of the moral law?

The Formula of the Kingdom of Ends

How does Kant interpret the command, in Scripture, to love our neighbors, and even our enemies

We don't have to love (as in affection) our neighbors and enemies because that love cannot be controlled but we do have to care enough for them to help if they need it For love, as an affection, cannot be commanded, but beneficence for dutys sake may; even thug we are not impelled to it by any inclination- nay, are even repelled by a natural and unconquerable aversion. This is practical love and not pathological- a love which is seated in the will, and not in the propensions of sense- in principles of action and not of tender sympathy; and it is this love alone which can be commanded

What is akrasia?

Weakness of will. the problem of knowing what we should do but being unable to get yourself to do it.

What is the difference between a good will and a will motivated by practical concerns?

a good will is done based solely on the fact that it is the right thing to do, and a motivated one is based on the idea that they will get something out of it

Does the value of a good will depend on its effects

a good will is good not because of what it performs or effects, not by its aptness for the attainment of some proposed end, but simply by virtue of the volition; that is, it is good in itself and considered by itself is to be esteemed much higher than all that can be brought about by it in favor of any inclination, nay even of the sum total of all inclinations

What is the one unqualified good? Why?

a good will, because a good will is what is necessary to direct these other qualified goods towards good ends

universal law

a law that everyone will follow.

What is the Problem of the Masochist?

a person who enjoys pain; in particular they enjoy having pain inflicted on them. typically a sexual fetish.

What, basically, does the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative mean?

act the way you would have others act.

kent on moral psychology

acts motivated by desire to do goo are possible; i.e there such a thing as good will.

means-to-an-end

if the object or action will help a person to achieve a desired end.

Kant on animals

in principle unless animals are rational agents, humans are more valuable than animals. human shave absolute value, animals do not.

maxim

is a rule of behavior. gives advise, tells us how to live our lives. kant: is a formulation of your intentions as a rule. morally acceptable? ***of the action is the statement of that intended asa rule.

imperative

is a statement that tells you what you must to do. "command"

What are the points of Kant's story of the man summoned by the king? and what does he think the story shows about human nature?

is that our capacity for doing the right thing can never overpower our fear of death. He thinks this is what puts us part from animals: our compacityb for a good will, to think about right and. wrong and to act on the basis of reasons rather than instincts or emotion.

What does it mean to say that something has absolute worth?

it has value in itself apart from whether or not somebody needs/desires it. ***an intrinsic value that does not depend on someone else valuing it.

What was the point of the Jewish proverb and the act of charity?

it is said that the true act of charity is done anonymously, as if even God were not watching. one will still be doing the right thing, of course, but he motivation behind is not truly good-or at least not purely good. unless one is doing it solely because one wants to help, without concerns for punishment.

What does it mean to say that something is an end in itself?

it is something which has value in itself, apart from whether or not someone wants to make use of it. It is something more than just a tool, more than just an object that a person may use for his or her own purposes.

What is the point of George Washington and the cherry tree?

its purpose is to illustrate a point about the nature of goodness and the character of GW. " treating his father with respect even though he feared the possibility of punishment. He did the right thing because it was the right thing to do.

Relative Value

its value is relative to to the needs and desires of different people.

Bentham on morality and science

morality itself cane turned into a science

kant on morality and science

morality must be shown to be possible despite science

Bentham on motives

motives are irrelevant. all that matters is how people act

What is the Formula of Humanity?

one must always treat a rational being as ends in themselves, never merely as means to an end. we must treat people (including ourselves) as beings that have absolute worth; which to say we are not permitted to treat them as objects

kant on motives

only acts motived by a good will is truly good

What does Kant think is meant when we refer to "human dignity"?

our capacity for moral thought and judgment--which reveals that we are something more than just animals, that our choices are not just governed by emotion and instinct, that we have free-will, and thus take part in the continuing process of creation

Bentham on fundamental moral principle

principle of Utility; act the way that will make everyone you affect happy as happy as possible

What sorts of beings does Kant consider "ends in themselves"?

rational beings (agents)

What sorts of beings does Kant think have absolute value? Why does he think they have this value?

rational beings(human beings, have absolute worth. they have value in themselves, precisely because they are rational beings) rational beings alone have the faculty of acting according to the conception of laws, that is according to principles, i.e. have a will.

What does Kant think is necessary in order for there to be an objective moral law?

something that has absolute worth

What four examples of duties does Kant discuss in the FPMM?

suicide lying promises duty to help others improve yourself

Absolute value

that its value does not depend on whether not or some else wants/ needs it. its value independently of the needs and desires of others.

Kant on Rights

the concepts of rights is an expression of absolute value possessed by all persons

Bentham on rights

the concepts on natural rights is a "nonsense on stilts", however legal rights are convenient fictions valuable insofar as they promote happiness

What is the difference between the first formulation of the categorical imperative and the Golden Rule?

the golden rule states: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. that rule only offers guidance for our treatment tot others. the FUL prescribes duties towards ourselves.

What does Kant mean when he says we should not treat rational beings merely as means?

the simple matter of the fact is that none of us can live without using other human beings for our own purpose. everyone of us makes use of other people everyday of our lives. to trat somone as "merely as means" would be not respecting that persons right to choose for him/herself on whether or not hey want to save you. taking away someones freedom to choose.

What does it mean to say that something is a means to an end?

the word "end' is similar to purpose or goal. so an end is something a person values and wants to obtain or achieve. If that object or action will help a person achieve a desired end. **if the person/object/action will help a pelsonto achieve a desired end.

What does Kant see as the proper relationship between duty and happiness

to secure one's own happiness is a duty, at least indirectly, for discontent with one's condition, under a pressure of many anxieties and amidst unsatisfied wants, might easily become a great temptation to transgression of dutybut all men have already the strongest and most intimate inclination to happiness, because it is just in this idea that all inclinations are combined into one totalone should promote their happiness not from inclination but from duty, and by this would his conduct first acquire true moral wort

What does it mean to say that something has relative worth?

value that depends on the needs or desires of individuals. ***something that its value is relative to the needs and desires of different individuals

Would Kant consider Data (in Star Trek) a person? On what basis would he decide?

yes, because he would have considered him a rational agent because he wouldn't act on emotion and instinct.