Philosophy Exam 2
What are is eudaimonism focused on
Happiness is the final end
What is the Euthyphro Problem/Dilemma? What are the two horns of the dilemma and why do people try to avoid them?
Is something good because god cammanded it or does he command it because it is good, divine creation problem(independent of God), divine asseity problem, arbitrary whim problem (can make anything good), divine goodness problem (meaningless to say god is good)
What is the first formulation of the categorical imperative
Maxims become universal law
What is the core thesis of divine command theory (DCT)
Rightness and wrongness of actions are dependant on the commands of god
How does Ross qualify the intrinsic value of pleasure
There's some things that prevent pleasure from being good, vicious acts. Child abuse
What method does Ross use to discover these other in trinsic goods
Thought experiments
What does it mean for Kant to act on the basis of inclination
act on a nonrational motive
In regards to our duties, what is more cent ral for Ross: our motives or our actions
action
What is theoretical reason
concerned with rational beliefs
What is a hypothetical imperative
conditinally valid imperitave, take out the trash, make your bed, do x to get y
What is a prima facie duty according to W.D Ross
conditional duty
What is an imperfect duty
has exceptions, dont always have to do it
What is an example of an imperfect duty for Ka
helping others, developing new talents
What are some examples virtuous"means"Aristotle talks about , and what are their respective vices
knowledge and virtue
One problem with Kant's categorical imperative is that it gives 'false negatives'; what does this objection amount to
somethings arent universalizable but theyre not wrong
What is the difference between subjective and objective versions of happiness,and which of these coincides with happiness (eudaimonia)for Aristotle
subjective: like pleasure, not a feeling Objective: reality determines it
What is the Doctrine of the Mean according to Aristotle, and how do vices stray from the mean
virtue is the mean, vices are either too much or too little
According to W.D. Ross, what in addition to pleasure is intrinsically valuable
virtuous disposition and action
One problem with Kant's categorical imperative is that it gives 'false positives'; what does this objection amount to
.makes too many things morally right, somethings are universalizable but not right
What exactly are the two primary characteristics of a final end (i.e., completeness and self-sufficiency) and why does Aristotle think happiness (eudaimonia)has these characteristics
.virtue and fortune, happiness requires complete virtue and complete life
What about other goods that are not captured by Ross' analysis (e.g., aesthetic enjoyment or mutual love)? How does he account for them
Combination of two or more of the four
What is William Alton's solution to the Euthyphro Dilemma
Restricted divine command theory, right wrong and optional depends on god's commands, good and bad depend on god's nature
What are some reasons that thinkers of posited DCT as an ethical theory
The existence of god is necessary for the existence of morality, DCT follows from divine creation, ex/ child sacrifice in the bible
What is the theory of value (i.e., what makes something good, bad, or neutral) for unrestricted DCT?
Unrestricted DCT
What is a proper duty according to Ross
actual duty
Which actions of ours have maxims
all of them except for accidental bodily movements
For whom does the categorical imperative hold? To whom does it apply?
all rational beings
What is a 'law of nature' for Kant a ccording to Fred Feldman
an act is morally right if the maxim is universal
What is the reformulated version of the categorical imperative in Feldman
an action is right if it is universaliable, wrong if it is not, right if it passes the categorical imperitave test
What does Ross say about the reality of the moral order
apart of the fundamental nature of the universe, just as much as math
According to Kant, what is the 'supreme principle of morality'?
categorical imperitive, supreme principle of morality
What are the two types of rational consistency for Kan
conceptual(goal is impossible) and volitional(goal is achievable but willing contrary things at the same time)
What is an example of a perfect duty for Kant
dont ever tell a lie, dont ever commit suicide
What is an example of a duty for Ross?
duties of fidelity, reparation, self improvment
What a telos is according to Aristotle?
end
Why does Aristotle think there is a final end and thus a highest good (i.e., the argument for highest good)
final end is complete and self-sufficient, only happiness is complete and self-sufficient, final end must be happiness
virtue
fixed trait, think,feel,and act, central in the positive evaluation of the moral worth of persons
what is the three part test which Kant uses to determine whether an action is morally right or morally wrong?
formulated maxim, universalize it, look for a contradiction
What is a maxim and what are its two parts
general statement about how things have to be
What is the theory of value for restricted DCT?
good and bad tied into commands, something is good if it conforms to gods nature
What is the only thing that can be regarded as 'good without qualification' for Immanuel Kan
good will
What is the problem of relevant description for Kant's categorical imperative
hyperspecify a maxim even though it's still wrong
How does DCT understand the theory of right conduct? What makes something right, wrong, or optional
if God commanded it, its right, if he forbid it, it's wrong
What is the notion of universalizability in Kantian ethics
imagine a world where everybody follows that maxim
4 features of virtue
intellectual component,2.affective component,3.motivational component,4.behavioral component
According to Ross, how to we come to know our duties? Is it by means of some formal reasoning process like the categorical imperative or by some other means
intuition
What is the relationship between morality and rationality for Kan
maxim is a subjective principle of action, circumstances and action
What are the two types of Aristotelian virtue?
moral virtue and intellectual virtue
For Kant, which sort of imperative expresses genuine moral requirements
morality is just a part of rationality
Acting from what motive gives an act moral worth for Kant
motive of duty
What is a perfect duty
no exceptions, always have to do it
Do aims, ends, or success impart moral worth to an action for Kant
no, he is a nonconsequentialist
Is Kant a consequentialist? If not, what is he
no, he is a nonconsequentialist
What type of normative ethical theory is eudaimonism and how it differs from virtue ethics
nonconsequentalist, teleological theory
What is practical reason?
part of reason that deals with rational action
How do perfect and imperfect duties relate to the two levels of rational consistency?
perfect duties relate to conceptual contradictions, imperfect duties relate to volitional contradictions
Which part of reason (i.e., practical or theoretical) issues hypothetical and categorical imperative
practical, categorical
What is a thing's function according to Aristotle, and how do we go about discovering it (i.e., the Function Argument)
rational activity, takes means in accordance to virtue
How does virtue ethics understand the relationship between right and good
right comes first
What are is virtue ethics focused on
right conduct and intrinsic value
What does Ross' take on the moral order mean for the fact/value and is/ought dichotomie
theyre not there, values are facts
What does it mean for Kant to act out of duty alone?
to act out of respect for the law
What is a categorical imperative
unconditioanlly valid imperitave, not relative to your goals, do x
What characteristics does Aristotle think happiness (eudaimonia)has
virtue and fortune, doing and living well
How does virtue relate to the human function for Aristotle
virtue and reason go together
What does Ross mean by saying that our prima facie duties are 'self-evident'
when you reflect on it and see it you dont need any other proof
Why does Kant think virtues, gifts of fortune, and moderate emotions cannot be good without qualification?
you can misuse them