ethics

Foot thinks:

Acting morally is always in our interest

Prescriptive Statements (matching)

statements about what ought to be

Prescriptive statements, also known as normative statements, are meant to express truth claims about the way things are.

false

Rachels thinks there are important moral differences between killing (in itself) and letting die.

false

Singer's argument against standard animal practices tells us that we should not eat meat or use animal products at all.

false

Some statements are neither true nor false.

false

The Sophists, as represented by Glaucon, thought that people are 'conventionally just' by nature.

false

The case of Smith/Jones is meant to show us that active euthanasia is more preferable than passive euthanasia.

false

Aristippus thought the best pleasure is intellectual pleasure.

false

Aristotle thinks happiness is a state of being.

false

Aristotle thinks you cannot be happy without being virtuous in your character.

false

By the end of the dialogue, Socrates offers a clear definition of the essence of piety.

false

Eudaimonia is best translated as "bad demon."

false

Foot disagrees with the idea that motivating reasons can be based on knowledge of what makes for a good human being, not just on desires.

false

For A.J. Ayer, the sentence: "Stealing is wrong!" expresses a verifiable fact.

false

For the following group of statements, select 'True' if you think they comprise an argument, or 'False' if you think they do not: Hitler was a genocidal killer. Not only was he a killer, but he was most likely psychotic. Nevertheless, one has to admit that he was a persuasive and charismatic leader.

false

G. E. Moore thinks we can define 'good'.

false

With which statement would Plato NOT agree?

"The Good" varies according to our individual desires.

According to Nietzsche, noble virtues:

Are embodied and exemplified by the ubermensch Show honor and glory

Hume thinks we esteem:

Natural moral virtue because of sympathy.

Which of the following is not one of the classes in Plato's state?

Proletariat

Nietzsche believed in an Ubermensch who will ultimately surpass all forms of humanity that we have known to date.

true

Match the following definitions on metaethics (from Harman and Foot): A. Claims subjectivism is true, and thus moral judgments have no cognitive content (cannot be true or false) B. Asserts that there are universally or objectively valid moral principles that apply to everyone, i.e. everyone has sufficient reason to follow a universal moral law. C. An approach to ethics that is dominated by a concern with the place of values within the natural world. It thinks we must resolve ethical debates through scientific inquiry. D. Claims moral judgments are expressions of feelings E. Says that moral claims are supposed to track the reactions of a hypothetical impartial observer F. Does not take the main question of ethics to be the naturalistic status of values and obligations. Thinks ethics can be analyzed independently of scientific inquiry. G. Doubts (or denies) there are natural explanations for morality; thus, concludes there is (probably) no morality. H. Denies that there are basic universal moral demands that apply to everyone

D Subjectivism H Relativism B Absolutism A Non-cognitivism G Moral skepticism E Reductivism C Naturalism F Autonomous Ethics

On p. 33 (or in Republic Book I), after receiving push-back from Socrates about his original definition of justice, what does Thrasymachus say justice is (i.e. what is the second definition he offers)?

Justice is the advantage of the established rule

Act-consequentialism

The view that an action is right if and only if (and because) its outcomes would be at least as good as the outcomes of any alternative action that the agent might instead perform. An action is wrong otherwise.

What is Divine Command Theory? (Choose the most complete answer)

The view that an action is right if and only if God commands it.

Moral realists assert:

There are moral facts, in the same way that there are scientific facts

Moral Antirealism

There are no moral facts

Moral Realism

There are no moral facts in the same way that there are scientific facts

One way we might reject Gay-Williams' argument from nature is by showing that not everything that sets us against our natural inclinations is wrong (like brushing our teeth).

True

What are the two conditions that must be met for an argument (i.e. what two claims must a person make to have made an argument)?

factual claim, inferential claim

According to Kant, his ethical theory is a direct response to Mill.

false

Aristippus proposed a method for distinguishing between higher and lower pleasures.

false

G. E. Moore thinks 'good' is definable.

false

Glaucon is a moral antirealist, since he denies we should follow conventional morality.

false

Hume believes that reason can oppose passion.

false

Jarvis-Thomson thinks that abortion is a just, morally-decent thing to do in most cases.

false

Marquis argues that abortion is always immoral.

false

Marquis' argument against abortion would also necessarily mean that contraception is morally-wrong.

false

Mill thought we could divide pleasure based on the qualities of "higher" and "lower" pleasures using whatever method we please.

false

Nietzsche would agree with Glaucon that the first form of morality was a social contract, where all of the weak agreed not to keep hurting each other.

false

Normative ethics is the study of the nature and origins of morality.

false

One of the problems for normative cultural relativism is that it promotes moral progress.

false

Singer believes we share what important interest with animals?

not suffering

What does G.E Moore think we mean by 'good'?

quality which we assert to belong to a. thing, which we say that the thing is good, is incapable of any definition.

Metaethics

study of the nature and origins of morality

Singer's argument applies a consequentialist theory to the issue of animal treatment.

true

The Socratic Method is a type of dialectic: it is the refining of a concept by asking questions and critiquing answers to those questions.

true

The main form of the objection to both Consequentialism and Deontology is that they both recommend going against common sense morality in at least some cases.

true

The practical imperative says to treat others as ends, never solely as means.

true

Unlike consequentialists, deontologists like Kant and the Stoics think that the only thing with intrinsic value is one's own will.

true

Moral skepticism

The belief that humans cannot discover or know moral truth

Gay-Williams thinks that natural instincts are a guide for determining whether an action is right or wrong.

True

"All synthetic propositions are empirical hypotheses" is equivalent to saying that moral values, if they are to be true/false, must be verified in experience.

true

A. J. Ayer thinks that all synthetic propositions are empirical hypotheses (i.e. hypotheses about possible a posteriori experience).

true

What is Socrates' reason for thinking that piety is loved by the gods because it is pious?

'Piety' is like the concept 'carried'. We say a thing is 'carried' if it is being carried by someone; we do not say it is being carried by someone because it is 'carried'.

Select which of the following is not true of Epicurus and/or his philosophy:

(A. He was radically egalitarian. B. He believed that although people have lots of different desires, not all things are desirable. C. A major objection is that his philosophy is a 'doctrine of swine' and/or, it's also logically inconsistent D. Though he does not distinguish between 'types' of pleasure, he believed the best pleasure was ataraxia) None of the above

Ayer (in fact, by the end of his essay) claims:

(A. We have moral disagreements. B. Ethical judgments are completely meaningless. C. Ethical judgments are empirical hypotheses.) None of the above

Match the following terms to their definitions: A. The view that an action is right if and only if (and because) its outcomes would be at least as good as the outcomes of any alternative action that the agent might instead perform. An action is wrong otherwise. B. Conjoins consequentialism with the view that the only thing with intrinsic value is human happiness/pleasure. C. The worth something has in itself D. None of the Above

A -> Act-consequentialism C-> Intrinsic value B-> Utilitarianism D-> Ethical Hedonism

Ethical Caring

A feminist moral theory that takes the caring relation, such as that between a mother and her child, as its fundamental relation/criterion of goodness

Absolutism

A form of government, usually hereditary monarchy, in which the ruler has no legal limits on his or her power.

Descriptive Statements (matching)

A statement about what is ...the case and/or how people actually tend to behave

What are premises (in the context of philosophy)?

A statement or group of statements offered in support of a conclusion Reasons/evidence given in the course of an argument

According to Jarvis-Thomson, a pro-lifer probably thinks abortion is unjust killing (violates the fetus's negative right to life). Thus, the pro-lifer must show that abortion is unjust killing.

true

According to Marquis, why is it wrong to kill us?

Because it deprives the victim of a future like ours

Select which of the following is not true of Aristippus and/or his philosophy:

Believed the best pleasure was ataraxia

According to Ross, we determine our actual duty:

By weighing our prima facie duties against one another through 'considered reflection'

According to Plato, the spirited part of the soul needs the virtue of courage.

true

Match the following concepts with their definitions: A. Asserts that every person, regardless of what that person may say, always acts according to what he or she thinks is in his or her own interests B. Asserts that every person ought to act in his or her own interests. C. A thing is only good as a means to some other good end D. A thing is good for its own sake

C Instrumental good select D Final good select A Psychological egoism B Ethical egoism

Virtue Theories:

Claim that morality is primarily about becoming a certain type of person Claim that an action is right if and only if (and because) it is what a virtuous agent (acting in character) would not avoid doing in the circumstances under consideration Have the problem of explaining how we know who the virtuous agent is

Deontological moral theories:

Claim that morality is primarily about intentionally doing one's duty according to some rational criterion Are about intentions, not consequences Seem to have problems when one's duty conflicts with the choice that would seem to maximize intrinsic value (as in the case of the crazed axe-murderer)

According to Foot, non-cognitivism:

Claims subjectivism is true and moral judgments are not true or false.

Teleology (matching)

Concentrates on the ends or goals of our actions

Utilitarianism

Conjoins consequentialism with the view that the only thing with intrinsic value is human happiness/pleasure.

Who said "reason is the slave of the passions"?

David Hume

Applied Ethics:

Deals with the practical application of the content of moral theories It takes rules dictated by a normative theory and attempts to prescribe the right outcome for particular cases based on that theory

What is the "naturalistic fallacy"?

Defining good by "naming those other properties" "belonging to all things which are good" (i.e. defining good as pleasure, or satisfied desire, etc.). A fallacy G. E. Moore thinks other philosophers have committed in trying to define 'good'

The Stoic dichotomy of control

Divides the world into things you can and cannot control At bottom, says the only thing you can control is your will Is meant to be a practical way to get you to do your duty

Which of the following is not a way that the Stoics used to determine their duties:

Do what the categorical imperative says

What does Aristotle think happiness is?

Eudaimonia An activity that accords with virtue

Descriptive statements are meant to express truth claims about the way things ought to be.

False

Why was Socrates killed by the Athenians?

For being impious For corrupting the youth

What does Moore think we mean by 'good'?Moore thinks that we mean 'good' to be how we feel about something.

Good is good Undefineable It is a simple concept

What does Aristotle think eudaimonia is?

Happiness An activity that accords with virtue

The second premise of the conventional argument against active euthanasia states: it is never permissible to take any direct action designed to kill the patient. How does Rachels argue against this premise?

He considers the cases of incurable throat cancer and severely-impaired babies.

Singer would agree with which of the following:

If it is permissible to use animals for harmful medical research, then it is permissible to use newborn children for harmful medical research.

"[T]he grounds of a moral judgment do not reach all the way to it":

If it were true, noncognitivism is correct. It means that moral judgments have a factual component that is capable of being true/false, and an irrational component that ultimately makes them neither true nor false.

A. J. Ayer and G. E. Moore both agree:

If radical subjectivism is true, then there are no moral disagreements

Identify the hidden premise that would make the following argument deductively valid: 1) Euthanasia is for the weak. 2) Therefore, euthanasia is wrong.

If something is for the weak, then it is wrong.

What's the problem with Rule-Consequentialism?

If we are trying to maximize the total intrinsic value, it actually collapses into Act-Consequentialism

The Euthyphro Dilemma:

Implies that if we think the moral law is good (simply) because God wills it, then we have no reason to think the moral law is good in itself - it gains its goodness because God wills it. Implies that if we think God gives us a moral law because it is good, then (presumably) we should be able to figure it out without reference to God by figuring out what is good.

Subjectivism

Is a type of antirealism that doubts the objectivity of moral statements. Is a type of antirealism that doubts the existence of moral facts.

Ethics

Is a word coming from the Greek word 'ethos', meaning "custom" May be defined as the thoughtful analysis and evaluation of the standards and principles by which we issue moral judgments in terms of moral values Has the aim of providing systematic explanations and well-grounded arguments regarding ethical questions

According to Kant, a good will:

Is the only thing that can be called 'good' without qualification Chooses an action from a sense of duty Determines its duty according to reason, i.e. the categorical imperative

Metaethics:

Is the study of the nature of morality and its origins Has two major groups: those who believe in moral facts (realists), and those who don't (antirealists)

According to Kant, morality:

Is universal and necessary Is the relation of every action to that legislation through which alone a realm of ends is possible Is about duty

What is the case of the violinist meant to show?

It is wrong to assume that a person's right to life is stronger and more stringent than a person's right to decide what will happen in and to his/her body

Which of the following is NOT a reason Gay-Williams gives for why euthanasia is immoral:

It would be wrong to have the sort of social program that eliminates those who are too 'ill' to function normally any longer.

What is Aristotle's reason for thinking the way he does about the 'good' of humankind?

It's what common sense says

Which of the following is NOT a reason offered by Marquis for why abortion is immoral?

Killing is wrong because it violates the right-to-life of the fetus.

According to Baier:

Men typically care about justice, women typically care about the caring relation

Which of the following are statements?

No one is here.

What is Euthyphro's first answer to the question?

Piety is prosecuting the wrongdoer who has committed murder; impiety means not prosecuting him.

What is Euthyphro's second answer to the question?

Piety is what is pleasing to the gods; impiety is what is not pleasing to the gods.

Deontology (matching)

Primarily concerned with duties and intentions for action, not consequences. _______________________^ Claims that morality is primarily about intentionally doing one's duty according to some rational criterion

Egoism

Proposes morality is or ought to be based on the interests of the individual human self

The idea that all people seek pleasure in all they do is the doctrine of:

Psychological hedonism

In your own words, define both:1) Moral realism2) Moral antirealism Moral realism is the belief that there are facts like scientific facts that can prove or disprove something. Moral antirealism is the belief that there are no facts that can prove or disprove something, it is like a gut feeling.

Realism: the belief in moral facts Antirealism: the belief that there are no moral facts

Hedonism

Says one ought to and in fact does what brings one the most pleasure

The Greatest Happiness Principle:

Says we ought to act always to promote the greatest happiness for the greatest number

To show that abortion is NOT always unjust killing, what does Jarvis-Thomson do?

She argues that it would not be unjust to kill people-seeds growing in your house, especially if you took proper precautions against the implantation of those people-seeds.

Which of the following are all premise indicators?

Since, given that, because

In his argument for relativism, Harman claims:

Some people who act immorally after proper reflection must not have a sufficient reason to act morally. Some people act immorally after proper reflection. There are at least some people who have no sufficient reason to follow alleged moral absolutes.

Which of the following is the correct definition of active euthanasia?

Taking direct action to kill a terminally ill patient

Altruistic Hedonism

Taught by Mill; says we ought to pursue everyone's pleasure, not only our own.

If a deductive argument has true premises and a false conclusion, then we know:

The argument is invalid and unsound

What does Jarvis-Thomson grant to the pro-lifer at the beginning of her defense of abortion?

The fetus is a person at the moment of conception.

Over the course of history, moral realists have not been able to provide an uncontroversial basis for moral beliefs. That is, they have not been able to prove that moral facts are true, clear, objective and unmoving. This is known as:

The grounding problem

What is a conclusion (in the context of philosophy)?

The statement that a person giving an argument wants the audience to accept.

In your own words, define 'metaethics': Metaethics is the study of morals, it is how we can be told what is right or wrong.

The study of the nature and origins of morality

Non-cognitivism

The theory that claims that moral judgements express non-cognitive attitudes. Moral judgements do not make claims about reality and are not true or false (they are not fact-stating).

Virtue Ethics (matching)

The view that an action is right if and only if (and because) it is what an agent (acting with excellence of character) would not avoid doing in the circumstances under consideration. or Centers on the agent & attaches significance to a person's character & traits.

Which of the following is not true of Mill's method for distinguishing types/qualities of pleasure (for this question, assume pleasure A is 'higher' than pleasure B):

This is a trick question; Mill makes no distinction because he is a type of hedonist

Your friend claims that there is only one, absolute, moral rule: seek power at all costs. Who would agree without qualification? (There is only one option):

Thrasymachus

Moore thinks the task of Ethicists is:

To analyze and distinguish moral concepts so that we're clear what we're talking about To enquire into what is good To define 'the good'

In On the Genealogy of Morality, Nietzsche's primary concern is with the question(s) of:

Under what conditions humankind invented moral value judgments. What value moral judgments actually have.

The Principle of Equal Consideration:

Used by Peter Singer to explain what we mean when we say all people are equal Is this: "like interests deserve equal consideration"

Aristotle thinks the following about moral virtue:

Virtue is a mean between two behavioral extremes Virtue accords with a rational principle and also has an affective dimension Virtue is a state, not an action

For Plato:

Virtue is an excellence of function.

In your own words, describe the difference between a virtuous, continent, incontinent, and vicious person: A virtuous person is someone who is morally good and follows social norms. They are put to the highest standard and feel as if they should be put on a pedestale. A continent person is someone who is happy with them self and what they are doing. A incontinent person is someone who has the need for pleasure and victory. A vicious person is someone who lives for the thrill of doing something social wrong.

Virtuous: knows the 'right' thing to do, feels like doing it, and in fact does it. Continent: knows the 'right' thing to do and does it, even though he/she does not feel like doing so. Incontinent: knows the 'right' thing to do but does not do it because he/she does not feel like doing so. Vicious person: does not know the 'right' thing to do and does not do the right thing because he/she does not feel like doing so.

Epicurus:

Was radically egalitarian Believed that although people have lots of different desires, not all things are desirable Differentiated between pleasures, thinking that the best pleasure is tranquility

Aristippus:

Was the founder of Cyrenaic Hedonism (dude was from Cyrene, after all...) Thought pleasure ought to be pursued ("let's get high!")

"Reason is a slave of the passions" means:

We act because of feelings, not reasons Morality is based on sentiment

Prima Facie Duties

We have these "at first glance".

What is the main question of Plato's "Euthyphro"?

What is piety and what is impiety?

Which of the following is not one of the parts of the soul described by Plato?

Will

Which of the following is the correct definition of passive euthanasia?

Withholding treatment for a terminally ill patient and allowing that patient to die

According to Kant, the categorical imperative implies:

You have a duty to keep your promises You have a duty not to commit suicide

Autonomous Ethics

a moral system based on the concept of the independence of moral principles and demands from any conditions, interests, and goals external to morality as such.

Naturalism

a style and theory of representation based on the accurate depiction of detail.

Divine Command Theory

a theory asserting that the morally right action is the one that God commands or Says an action is right if God wills that action.

Consequentialism

an ethical system that determines the level of goodness or evil from the effect or result of an act

Reductivism

the attempt to explain complex correlations and causations using a single independent variable; oversimplification

Subjectivism

the doctrine that knowledge is merely subjective and that there is no external or objective truth.

Relativism

the doctrine that knowledge, truth, and morality exist in relation to culture, society, or historical context, and are not absolute.

Emotivism

the view that moral utterances are neither true nor false but are expressions of emotions or attitudes

Objectivism

the view that some moral principles are valid for everyone

According to Singer's rationale, if a person says it is wrong to eat humans because they are rational creatures, that person must also admit it might be right to eat humans who have rational capacities that are on the same level as animals (e.g. if you think eating animals is okay because they aren't rational, then you ought to think it might be okay to eat the mentally disabled or infants).

true

According to our notes on Rachels, we usually think it is wrong to kill someone intentionally (except for self-defense or in war), whereas we usually think it is acceptable to let someone die of natural causes (except when we know we can save them without sacrificing anything too important ourselves). Active euthanasia relies upon killing; passive euthanasia relies upon letting die. Therefore we (usually) think active euthanasia is wrong

true

According to the Powerpoint, the Euthyphro dilemma implies that we should use our own reason to figure out what is in our best interest, morally.

true

According to the Stoics, one reason for doing your duty is because it will help you be happy (you'll never be disappointed!)

true

Aristotle says you need a little luck to be happy.

true

Aristotle thinks our best bet for happiness is to cultivate virtue.

true

Cultural relativism -- the view that moral codes vary according to culture -- is a type of moral realism.

true

Ethics is the thoughtful analysis and evaluation of the standards and principles by which we issue judgments in terms of moral values.

true

G. E. Moore thinks "the good" is definable.

true

Harman thinks people tend to be absolutists because they think Ethics is autonomous.

true

Hume thinks that if morality were based on the real relations of ideas (reasons), then animal and oak tree activity would be considered moral and/or immoral.

true

Hume thinks we maintain objectivity in moral discussions by taking the perspective of a judicious spectator.

true

In "On the Genealogy of Morality", Nietzsche assumes from the get-go that there is no God and morality is a manifestation of the will to power, rather than a manifestation of reason or sentiment.

true

In the Allegory of the Cave, a prisoner escapes the cave and ascends to the outside world.

true

It is true that Socrates offers a dilemma: "Do the gods love piety because it is pious, or is it pious because they love it?". Tell me: is it True or False that, by the end of the dialogue, Socrates chooses a side in this dilemma?

true

Moral absolutism -- the view that moral facts cannot change between cultures because they are universal -- is a type of moral realism.

true

Nietzsche thinks 'slave morality' is motivated by and born out of 'ressentiment'

true

Nietzsche thinks conventional morality harms "higher men".

true

One of Baier's critiques of 'male' moral theorizing is that it wrongly assumes that we have absolute freedom in determining our relationships.

true

One of the positive implications of the valuable-future view of killing is that it can explain why killing infants is wrong, even if an infant does not meet all of the qualifications of personhood.

true

Peter Singer uses the "Principle of Equal Consideration" as a basis for his argument that we should change our standard animal practices.

true

Ross thinks 'the right' is a different concept than 'the good' -- i.e. they sometimes come apart.

true

Rule-Consequentialism ultimately reduces to Act-Consequentialism.

true