Phil 101 Exam 2 Study Guide

How do the examples of breaking promises and wasting your talents fail under the 2nd formulation?

-Breaking Promises - using you as a means to achieve my goal -Wasting your talents - you fail to respect yourself as someone with dignity or intrinsic worth

What do the prefixes teleo and deon mean?

-Teleo: Ends results in purpose -Deon: Following a duty

The three main sources of unhappiness?

1. Groundless ---- Fame, material luxuries(jewelry, designer clothes) (ex: Something you desire but do not necessarily need) 2. Natural, but unnecessary-----Sex, delicious foods 3. Natural But Necessary----Water, food, etc.

Jeremy Bentham offers the hedonic calculus as a way of measuring the quantity of pleasures? What are Bentham's seven categories?

1. Intensity: How intense is the pleasure? the stronger the better 2. certainty: How likely will pleasure occur? what are the odds? more certain, the better. 3.Proximity: How soon will the pleasure occur? the sooner, the better. 4. Duration: How long will pleasure last? longer the better. 5. Purity: How free from pain is the pleasure? the more pleasure unmixed w/ pain, the better. 6. Fruitfulness: How likely will this pleasure lead to other pleasures? the more pleasures will result from the first the better. 7. Extent: How many will the pleasure affect? the more beings who can experience pleasure, the better. *with utilitarianism, everyone counts.

What is Kant's 1st formulation of the Categorical Imperative (universalizability)?

1st formulation of categorical imperative: act on maxim in which you can at same time will that it becomes universal law.

What is the difference between rule utilitarianism and act utilitarianism?

Act Utilitarianism: right action leads to the greatest good for the greatest number (GGGN) Rule Utilitarianism: right action follows best rule. (Best rule leads to GGGn if followed)

How do these two kinds of utilitarianism disagree about harvesting a healthy person's organs to save others?

Act utilitarianism Justified. Rule utilitarianism Unjustified.

What are the two basic aspects of existence and the three criteria for truth?

Aspects of existence: Void and atoms 3 Criteria for Truth: 1) Sensations: provide info of the world; all our knowledge comes from sense; epistemology; 2) Preconceptions: basic concepts formed in our minds as a result of repeated sense-experiences of similar objects; 3) Feelings of Pleasure and Pain: inform us about experiences to be sought/avoided.

What is Epicurus's idea of the greatest happiness?

Ataraxia is the greatest idea of happiness

What does Epicurus claim about the motion of atoms?

Atoms tend to move with equal speed; continuously. Epicurus was an atomist: infinite number of atoms, vary in size and shape, but atoms have weight and natural motion is to move downward in the infinite void. Believed atoms were bodies that could be broken down into smaller parts, uncutable.

What is the relationship between the gods and humans?

Believed that god is immortal and supremely blessed/happy beings; gods give the greatest evils to the wicked and greatest blessings to the good. (take away yearning for immortality)

Is Epicurus's ethical theory teleological or hedonistic?

Epicureanism is a form of hedonism.

How is Epicurus' version of hedonism different from the crude version of hedonism?

Epicurus Version of Hedonism - absence of pain and simple life. what is the right thing to do? Pursue please(good) and avoid pain(evil). he believes in long term pleasure over short term pleasure. Crude Version of Hedonism - less pain and accepts more complicated lifestyles if they are more pleasurable. Unbridle pursuit if pleasure. Eat, drink and be merry. If feels like good, do it.

What does Epicurus recommend regarding the pursuit of wealth and protection from other men?

Epicurus taught to limit our desires. Protection from other men comes from taking on a quiet life withdrawn from the multitude.

What are his recommendations regarding these three kinds of pleasure?

Fulfill Desires • Satisfy Type 1 Desires • Enjoy Type 2 desires in moderation Eliminate Desires • Eliminate Type 3 desires completely • Reduce type two desires

How does Mill respond to the objection that utilitarianism is a godless doctrine?

God wants us to be happy and gave us reason to calculate the greatest happiness (Golden rule)

Is Bentham's ethical theory teleological or hedonistic? What motivates human actions?

He believes in a little of both theories he believes that you should make yourself happy (hedonism) but also should think about the consequences(teleological) of those actions. and that they should be in balance- the 7 categories

What is Kant's 2nd formulation of the Categorical Imperative (respect for persons)?

He provides tests to determine moral rules.

What is the Garden?

He purchased a garden at the edge of Athens where he created a very close-knit philosophical commune. Epicurus funded a school called the "garden" Epicurus and his students discussed philosophy in the garden setting

How does Mill respond to the objection that utilitarianism is a "doctrine worthy of swine"?

He said it was degrading b/c a beast's pleasures do not satisfy a human being's conception of happiness. Animals achieve lower pleasures while only humans can experience higher pleasures b/c we have reason.

What does Epicurus say about those who complain that it would be better for men never to have been born?

He says that men that complain should just kill themselves if they say that they wish they were never born #suicide

How does Kant view the moral worth of persons as opposed to things/animals?

He views human's moral worth as more worthy as opposed to other things or animals

What is a person made of and what happens when a person dies?

Humans composed of atoms. Soul is made of very fine atoms in the body. Humans have free will because of spontaneous movement of atoms. When you are dead you are simply gone. No sensations.

How is Epicurus a materialist?

Like Democritus, Epicurus was a materialist (everything is made of matter, is physical).

How does he determine that higher pleasures are more important to happiness than lower pleasures?

Mill says that higher pleasures (mental pleasures) are more permanent, safer, and less costly.

How does Mill reply to the objection that happiness in this life is unattainable, and is it possible to have a life that is "worthy of the name of happiness"?

Mills definition of happiness is moments of rapture spread out over a life, so in that way life can be worthy of the name happiness

Is one's own death a bad thing?

No because we cannot feel our own death.

Does Bentham think that our happiness is any more important than the happiness of others?

No, the more people the better. Benthem: Greatest Happiness Principle -> greatest good for the greatest number of people

In his letter to Menoeceus, at what age does Epicurus advise people to seek wisdom?

Non-specific age for when people should seek wisdom, both young and old, you should do it in your lifetime.

If so, under what conditions? (Kant's 2nd Formulation)

Obtain Informed Consent: -Offer Information (No Deception) -Seek Permission (No Coercion) -Be aware of their Goals/Ends -Promote Rationality and Autonomy

In the majority of young persons the capacity for nobler feelings speedily dies away. What are the two causes that make it unfavorable for young persons to keep their higher capacity in exercise?

Occupations and Society

What are some sources of unhappiness for people?

Prime sources of Unhappiness: groundless, extravagant pleasures. Prime Sources = unable to fulfill desires.

What is the difference between teleological versus deontological ethical theories?

Teleological: Consequentialist Deontological: Ethical egoism

In Epicurus's sayings ("Principal Doctrines"), how does Epicurus describe the wise or just man?

The just man is most free from disturbance (unnecessary desire) The unjust man not free from disturbance (unnecessary desire) The Wise Man is directed by reason.

In On Liberty, what is Mill's Harm Principle (also known as the Liberty Principle)? What reason can justify the restriction of individual liberty?

The only good reason to restrict individual liberty is to prevent harm to others...(this is the answer to both parts)

How does Mill respond to the objection that there isn't enough time to calculate the consequences of our prospective actions?

There has been ample time, the whole past duration of the human species. They have been learning by experience.

Does the wise man believe that his life and actions are controlled by fate or chance?

There is no fate. There are things that happen by necessity, some by chance, some by action. The wise man does his best to make his life successful.

What does Mill say about the sacrifices of heroes and martyrs who do without happiness?

They would be wasted if they did not increase sum of happiness.

What does Mill suggest are the main constituents of the satisfied life?

Tranquility and Excitement

What is "ataraxia"?

Tranquility peace of mind and body. Freedom from bodily pain and troubled mind.

What are the three categories of pleasures for Epicurus?

Type one: -Natural: Body enjoys without training or effort -Necessary: Body must have, unfulfilled leads to great pain easy to satisfy • example professor said that all you need for food is bread and water. Type Two: -Natural: Body enjoys without training or effort -Unnecessary: Body can do without. No great loss/pain. No easy way to satisfy. • example tasty food and sex Type Three: groundless -Unnatural: Not rooted in nature, but instilled by society and false beliefs, often destructive. -Unnecessary: Body can do without no great loss/pain not easy to satisfy. • example material items like cars, clothes, video games.

What sorts of fears do unjust men face?

Unjust Men fear: death and pain

For Bentham, what does "utility" mean and what is the "principle of utility"?

Utility: property of an object, whereby it tends to produce benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or happiness.. and to prevent pain, mischief, evil, or unhappiness. Principe of utility: approves or disapproves of actions

According to Kant's 2nd formulation are you ever allowed to use a person merely as a means to your end?

Yes

Are sympathy and love good motives?

right intentions: from desire to do one's duty, for sake of principle, out of respect for moral law.

What does Kant identify to be the only good without qualification?

to have a "good will" means to be a rational being who consistently does her duty, has right intention

What should motivate us if our actions are to be morally worthy?

wrong intentions: desire for reward, fear of punishment, reputation, fame, desire for happiness, love or sympathy.