Philosophy
A realist can say "X is wrong even if you enjoyed it". Why can't an individual moral relativist say the same thing? Short Answer
A realist means exactly what its saying. An individual moral relativist means is "I dislike it". They would be saying "You dislike X even if you enjoyed it." This is contradicting.
Define Consequentialism
Actions are right/wrong based on consequences(GOOD=GOOD CONSEQUENCES, BAD=BAD CONSEQUENCES)
Realism and ethical subjectivism are positions within cognitivism?
Cognitivism: When I say "lying is wrong", I am making a proposition. Realism: I am making a statement about lying. Ethical Subjectivism: I am making a statement about myself.
Individual Relativism: Cultural Relativism:
Cultural relativism: moral standards are relative to cultures or societies; an act is morally acceptable just because it is allowed by the guiding ideals of the society in which it is performed, and is immoral just because it is forbidden by those ideals. Individual Relativism: Morals standards are relative to the individual;think there are right and wrong answers in ethics, but that those answers are always relative to each person's values. There is no superior moral code to measure the accuracy of each persons outlook.
Epicurus on Gods and on death
Death: "So long as we exist, death is not with us; but when death comes, then we do not exist." Gods: Epicurus does believe in the gods, but he does not believe they have any interest in human affairs
Why didn't Epicurus fear death? Short Answer
Epicurus said "when I'm alive death isn't here", therefore I shouldn't worry about death. Fearing death also doesn't bring doesn't bring pleasure, it brings pain which goes against what Epicurus believes.
Error theory requires that -all- moral claims are false.
Error theory requires that -all- moral claims are false.
Ethical subjectivism, error theory, and Expressivism are all anti-realist theories.
Ethical subjectivism, error theory, and Expressivism are all anti-realist theories.
As a hedonist, Epicurus must be in favor of pursuing fame, power, and wealth.
False
Autonomy refers to the extent to which we are happy. True/False
False
Epicurus was terrified of death. True/False
False
Error theorists do not think moral claims can be true or false. True/False
False
Ethical subjectivism is not a type of moral relativism. True/False
False
Ideal observers are not taken to be perfectly rational. True/False
False
Nihil comes from the latin word meaning "value". True/False
False
Objective morality has to include moral absolutes. True/False
False
Objective morality is inherently intolerant. True/False
False
Prescriptivists think the phrase "Torture is wrong" translates to "Boo torture". True/False
False
Psychological hedonism is a moral theory. True/False
False
The hedonists we looked at believe in multiple intrinsic goods. True/False
False
Define Cognitivism
Formulated into a proposition or a statement
Ideal observers
Ideal observers are taken to be unbiased individuals, who are more knowledgeable and behave more rationally; moral progress is possible to a limited extent; moral disagreement is possible to some extent (as we can disagree what ideal observers would agree to)
Define Absolitism
If something is wrong, it's always wrong (CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T MATTER)
What is the difference between Individual relativism and emotivism? Short Answer
Individual Relativism: exact statement, cognitivism, true/false Emotivism: emotion, non-cognitvism, means Boo!
Describe both intrinsic and instrumental goods. Short Answer
Instrumental goods are stepping stones to reach your intrinsic value. Intrinsic is the deepest value. Hedonists believe happiness is the only intrinsic value.
Is moral progress possible under individual relativism? Explain your answer.
It is impossible because your opinion just changed, it didn't get better or worse.
Define Metaethics
Meaning of terms good and evil
Metaethics: Normative ethics: Applied ethics:
Metaethics: study of the origin and meaning of ethical concepts, most abstract of these three categories, concerned with language(when we say phrases what do we really mean) Normative ethics: search for a criteria to differentiate right from wrong, looks for a general theory to tell us how we ought to live Applied ethics: tries to solve moral dilemmas for us, highly practical field. we all engage in applied ethics to some level we do this without really thinking
Moral Nihilism: Error theory Expressivism
Moral Nihilism: morality is a type of make-believe Error theory:holds that people intend to make factual claims about morality, but that all such claims are in error. Expressivism: holds that moral claims cannot be either correct or in error, because they merely express our emotions rather than attempt to make factual claims.
Natural verses vain desires
Natural desires: Food, rest, etc.. Vain desires: Fame, fortune, etc. According to Epicurus we should be moderate in our natural desires, and absent as far as possible of our vain desires. Vain desires cause more pain than they are worth.
Define Non-cognitivism
Not a proposition or a statement (command or BOO/ew)
Define Subjective
Only true if I think they are true, OPINION
Define Psychological Hedonism
Pleasure SEEKERS, pain AVOIDERS
Define Hedonistic egoism
Pleasure=only good Pain=only bad
Psychological hedonism: Egoistic hedonism:
Psychological hedonism: not a moral theory, description of human values and human activity, the idea that pleasure and pain guide all of our behaviors Egoistic hedonism: Hedonism is the idea that pleasure is good and pain is bad. In fact, pleasure is the ONLY good, and pain is the ONLY evil
Realism only requires that one or more moral claims be true.
Realism only requires that one or more moral claims be true.
Translate "stealing is wrong" as understood by: Realist Ethical Subjectivist: Emotivist: Prescriptivist:
Realist: "stealing is wrong" Ethical Subjectivist:????? Emotivist: Boo stealing! Prescriptivist: "don't steal"
Define Applied Ethics
Solving moral dilemas, is it right or wrong
Sound arguments: Validity: True premises:
Sound arguments: try and figure out if the author is making any assumption explicitly state that as one of the premises Validity: refers to whether or not the reasons(premises) actually support the conclusion or not True premises: to test this assume all of the premises are true and if it is possible that the premises are true and the conclusion is false then the argument is not in valid form
Non-cognitivism
Statements like "lying is wrong" do not express some proposition about the world, but is merely an expression of my personal feelings or telling people what to do. Under this view moral claims cannot be true or false.
Define Ethics
Study of morality
Hedonism versus the Lobotomy example, the "soma drug" example and the "experience machine"
They all are essentially the same argument
An example of paternalism is someone limiting your liberty against your will but for your own good. True/False
True
Autonomy can only be instrumentally valuable if hedonism is true. True/False
True
Culture relativism is a type of moral relativism. True/False
True
Epicurus thinks every decision we make is motivated by gaining pleasure or avoiding pain. True/False
True
Error theorists and expressivists are both types of nihilists. True/False
True
Expressivists do not think moral claims can be true or false. True/False
True
Given egoistic hedonism the pleasure of a villain is equivalent to the pleasure of a virtuous man. True/False
True
Hedonism is the idea that only pleasure is good and only pain is bad. True/False
True
Hedonists believe happiness is intrinsically valuable. True/False
True
Ideal observers are taken to be as knowledgeable as possible (they are not ignorant in any way). True/False
True
If a claim is objectively true, it is true regardless of what anyone else thinks or believes. True/False
True
In the absence of ideal observers, moral disagreement is impossible among individual moral relativists. True/False
True
In the absence of ideal observers, moral progress is impossible among individual moral relativists. True/False
True
Many people appeal to ideal observers to make moral relativism more plausible. True/False
True
Metaethics is the study of what we mean when we say something is right or wrong. True/False
True
Objectivity is to facts as subjectivity is to opinions. True/False
True
Psychological hedonism is the idea that all of our decisions are guided by pleasure and pain. True/False
True
The Greek word "Hèdonè" means "pleasure". True/False
True
The Paradox is Hedonism shows us that people who pursue happiness the most are the least likely to find it. True/False
True
The argument from disagreement is the most popular argument against moral objectivity. True/False
True
W.D. Ross came up with the two worlds argument. True/False
True
Define Objective
True or false whether I believe it or not, FACT
The two conditions for an argument to be sound are: (TWO)
Validity and True Premises.
Three types of normative ethical theories?
Virtue ethics, consequentialism, deontology
Virtue ethics: Consequentialism: Deontology:
Virtue ethics: we ought to possess certain character traits(virtues), we ought to act in ways that exhibit these virtues(sometimes that will bring about negative consequences or go against the rules our society has) Consequentialism: we ought to act in such a way that brings about a certain type of consequence, the ends justify the means Deontology: we ought to act in accordance with a certain principle or set of principles, the ends do not justify the means
Define Realism
What they say is what they mean
Define Normative Ethics
Why? What is something that makes it wrong versus right (CRITERIA)
In what what way does individual moral relativism not allow for moral disagreement?
because each person's moral standard is equally accurate and true, think there are right and wrong answers in ethics, but that those answers are always relative to each person's values. There is no superior moral code to measure the accuracy of each persons outlook.
What does it mean to have a self-refuting argument?
ideas or statements whose falsehood is a logical consequence of the act or situation of holding them to be true.
Define Nihilism
means "nothing";extreme skepticism maintaining that NOTHING IN THE WORLD HAS A REAL EXISTENCE.
If individual relativism is true, are my views more valuable than a brainwashed, ignorant, or prejudice person?
no, each person's moral standard is equally accurate and true
How many intrinsic goods do hedonists have?
one, happiness
Hedonsim:
pleasure=good pain=bad
The idiots veto
the idea "any individual has the power to block a fact from the realm of objectivity or knowledge, merely by persistently refusing to agree with it, and resisting all efforts to educate him."
Ethical subjectivism comes in what two flavors?
the idea that moral claims express propositions about US. It Comes in two flavors, Which are individual and cultural relativism
Moral absolutism
the idea that something like "lying is always wrong". If it was immoral for Bob to lie and moral for James to lie, they think morality has changed and can't be objective
Paradox of Hedonism
those who try hard to make themselves happier almost never succeed