Ethics

categorical imperative

"Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it would become a universal law."

hypothetical imperative

"if you want to do A, then do B"; using means to an end

How did Aristotle viewed the virtues and be able to describe his "Golden Mean."

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Know the table, "A Comprehensive Look."

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What are "Steps to Developing Virtue."

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What are the categorical imperative procedure and its revision due to human dignity.

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What are the differences between Kant and Ross on the "conflict of moral duties."

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What are the main idea for each of the following: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics?

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What are the most significant aspect of the moral life in virtue theory.

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What are the significance of virtue ethics in each of the historical eras.

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What are the strengths of Kant's categorical imperative.

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What is Mills' view on eudaimonistic utilitarianism.

Eudaimonistic utilitarianism > delineating a higher-order happiness Types of Pleasures Higher-order (intellectual) - culture, scientific knowledge, and creativity Lower-order (sensual) - eating, drinking, exercising, resting, sexual gratification "It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied."

What are the key ideas of the natural law tradition?

Human beings have an essential rational nature established by God, who designed us to live and flourish in prescribed ways. Even without knowledge of God, reason, as the essence of our nature, can discover the laws necessary for human flourishing. The natural laws are universal and unchangeable, and one should use them to judge individual societies and their positive laws.

What is Pojman's argument for objectivism?

Human nature is relatively similar in essential respects, having a common set of basic needs and interests. Moral principles are functions of human needs and interests, instituted by reason to meet the needs and promote the most significant interests of human beings. Some moral principles will meet needs and promote human interests better than other principles Principles that will meet essential human needs and promote the most significant interests in optimal ways are objectively-valid, moral principles. Therefore, because there is a common human nature, there is an objectively-valid set of moral principles, applicable to all humanity (or rational beings).

What are the strengths of utilitarianism.

It is a single principle, applicable to every situation. It gets to the substance of morality. Virtue #1 - clear decision procedure Virtue #2 - morality promotes people, not rules It is well-suited to address the problem of posterity. Overriding duty - to maximize general happiness

Why did Kant emphasizes "good will."

Morality is Valuable in Its Own Right Only "good will" is intrinsically good. "Nothing can possibly be conceived ... which can be called good without qualification, except the Good Will." All other goods can be used for evil purposes. "[various goods], undoubtedly good and desirable ... these gifts of nature may become extremely bad ... if the will which makes use of them, ... which constitutes what is called character, is not good." Even if good will achieves nothing, it still has perfect value. "if with its greatest efforts it should still achieve nothing, and there only remains the Good Will, ...it would still shine by its own light, as a thing which has its whole value in itself."

What is the most significant criticism of utilitarianism

The End Justifies the Means If a moral theory justifies actions that we universally deem impermissible, that moral theory must be rejected. Utilitarianism justifies actions that we universally deem impermissible. Therefore, utilitarianism must be rejected.

What are the four conditions for a morally-permissible act?

The Nature-of-the-Act condition -The act must be morally good or indifferent. The Means-End condition -The bad effect must not be the means by which one achieves the good effect. The Right-Intention condition -The intention must achieve only the good effect, with the bad effect only an unintended side effect. The Proportionality Condition -The good effect must be at least equal in importance to the bad effect.

What is Bentham's view on hedonistic utilitarianism.

The Utility Principle (hedonic aspect) - the only thing that is good in itself is some specific type of state (e.g. pleasure, happiness, welfare)

core morality

a minimally-basic objective set of principles necessary for the good life within a flourishing human community

intuition

a natural faculty that gives an intuitive awareness of morality

utilitarianism

a universal teleological system calling for the maximization of goodness in society, i.e. the greatest good for the greatest number

rule utilitarianism

an act is right, if and only if, it is required by a rule that is itself a member of a set of rules whose acceptance would lead to greater utility for society than any available alternative

act utilitarianism

an act is right, if and only if, it results in as much goodness as any available alternative

enabling virtues

another term for nonmoral virtues; those virtues that make it possible for one to carry out moral duties

absolute principles

moral principles that can never be overridden; they are exceptionless

prima facie duties

moral rules that are binding only initially, on "first appearance," until overridden by a more urgent duty

virtue theory / ethics

morality that involves producing excellent persons who act from spontaneous goodness

utility/hedonist principle

states that the only thing that is good in itself is some specific type of condition (pleasure, happiness, welfare)

consequentialist principle

states that the rightness or wrongness of an act is determined by the goodness or badness of the results that flow from it

principle of autonomy

the ability of each person to arrive at a moral code by reason alone

EXACT definition of "Ethics."

the branch of philosophy that deals with how we ought to live.

ideal moral law

the same set of moral principles to which each person as a fully rational, autonomous legislator would be able to reason through

ethical situationalism

the thesis that objective moral principles are to be applied differently in different contexts

moral objectivism

the thesis that there are objective universal moral principles, valid for all people and all social environments

act intuitionism

the view that each act is a unique occasion which must be decided, whether right or wrong, by consulting our conscience, or our intuition, or by a choice of options, apart from any rules

rule intuitionism

the view that one must decide right and wrong in each situation by consulting moral rules that we receive through intuition

natural law theory

the view that there exists an eternal moral law that can be discovered through reason by looking at the nature of humanity and society

standard moral virtues

those virtues that correspond to specific kinds of moral principles

virtues

trained behavioral dispositions that result in habitual acts of moral goodness

vices

trained behavioral dispositions that result in habitual acts of moral wrongness

remainder rule

when no other rule applies, simply do what your best judgment deems to be the act that will maximize utility