CMB2000/L08 Ethical Reasoning

Question 1

Define moral absolutism/dogmatism.

Answer 1

‘Knowing’ that something is right or wrong

Question 2

Define moral relativism.

Answer 2

The statement that X is right or wrong is synonymous with the statement that an agent approves or disapproves of X

Question 3

Define Pyrrhonian moral scepticism.

Answer 3

Believing that something is right or wrong

Question 4

Give 3 tools of the ethics trade.

Answer 4

Logic
Analogies/thought experiments
Avoiding slippery slope arguments

Question 5

What is a formal ethical theory?

Answer 5

About the sorts of abstract principles and values that should matter

Question 6

What is a material ethical theory/axiology?

Answer 6

About the concrete things/entities that should matter

Question 7

Give the 4 principles of formal ethical theories.

Answer 7

Autonomy
Beneficence
Non-maleficence
Justice

Question 8

Give 3 more formal ethical theories.

Answer 8

Consequentialism
Deontology
Virtue ethics
Care ethics

Question 9

Describe the connection between axiologies and ontologies. (2)

Answer 9

Questions of which things deserve moral consideration
How much moral significance should be attributed to them

Question 10

Which answers may stem from different axiologies? (5)

Answer 10

Strong speciesism
Weak speciesism
Animal egalitarianism
Radical biocentrism
Ecocentrism

Question 11

Which 2 ontologies have dominated Western philosophy?

Answer 11

Mechanistic materialism
Dualism

Question 12

Define mechanistic materialism. (2)

Answer 12

The ontology that reality is composed of things that act in a machine-like fashion
All components carry out programmed functions with mathematical precision determined by: the Great Builder or aimless forces e.g., gravity

Question 13

Define dualism.

Answer 13

The view that reality is composed of two fundamentally distinct things
Things with minds and things without minds

Question 14

Define panexperientialism.

Answer 14

The belief that all matter is capable of experience

Question 15

Describe how panexperientialism has levels.

Answer 15

DIfferent matter has different levels of agency/subjectivity
Collections of these can either be aggregates or true/compound individuals

Question 16

Define consequentialism and how it contrasts deontology.

Answer 16

Consequentialism states that an action is morally right if it produces good consequences
Deontology states that an action is inherently morally right or wrong regardless of outcome (based upon a set of rules)