Chapter #4 (Ethics) Flashcards
What is Ethics?
The study of how we should act, both towards ourselves and to others; and also the study of what things, character traits, or types of persons are good, and what kinds are bad
What are the reasons to study ethics?
To establish universal truth, to help make moral/ethical decisions, and to “live the good life”
What is the Categorical Imperative
A concept created by Immanuel Kant. We experience the principles of morality as Categorical Imperatives – things we are compelled to do regardless of our personal interests
Jeremy Benthum’s Idea on Utilitarian Philosophy
Good = Pleasure Evil = Pain
The only good reason for doing anything is to increase the amount of pleasure or reduce the amount of pain, we should try to make as many people as possible as happy as possible Whenever we face a tough moral dilemma, we can reduce it to a simple problem of addition and subtraction
All sources of pleasure are equal regardless of social class or ability
Aristotle’s ideas of virtue ethics
Focuses on the kind of person one is, rather than what one does In other words: morality is more about why I do something rather than what I do.
The purpose of human life is eudaimonia well-being or “happiness”. We achieve happiness when we do something well and acquire moral virtue by doing virtuous things until they are habitual
What is Ethical Relativism
the idea that what makes an act right or wrong depends on the society to which one belongs and/or is culturally constructed
What is Ethical skepticism?
Denies that we can have any certainty about questions of the right and the good
What are the two Distinctions of Utilitarianism?
ACT UTILITARIANISM
Everyone should always seek to produce the greatest happiness for the greatest number and should use this rule for every act we perform
RULE UTILITARIANISM
Governments should use this rule in creating general laws
They should treat individuals fairly according to existing laws – like cases should be handled in a like manner
What is the Golden Mean?
Courage lies between recklessness and cowardice
excess in all forms is morally corrupting meaning the golden mean is in between.
