DEFINITIONS Flashcards
what is empeiria?
means experience, human knowledge is based predominantly on experiences of the senses
what is techne?
concept that refers to making or doing
what is sophistry?
subtle deceptive reasoning or argumentation, a fallacious argument
definition of philosophy
the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence
what is rhetoric?
art of persuasion, speaking or writing effectively
what is virtue ethics?
treats virtue and character as the primary subjects of ethics, defines good actions as ones that display embody virtuous character traits (ex. courage)
what is consequentialism?
the doctrine that the morality of an action is to be judged solely by its consequences, the judgement about the rightness or wrongness of a conduct
what is deontology?
the study of nature of duty and obligation, determine whether an action itself is right or wrong under a series of rules and principles
what are intrinsic goods?
good in the virtue of what it is, good in the value of itself
what are extrinsic goods?
good in the virtue of the relations in which it stands to things outside of itself
what are groundless pleasures?
experiences or sources of enjoyment that cannot be justified or supported by any rational, moral, or logical grounds.
what are natural desires?
necessary desires, ex. desire for food, shelter, etc., easy to satisfy, difficult to eliminate, bring great pleasure when satisfied
what is the consequentialist theory of morality?
whether something is good or bad it depends on its outcomes
what is the non-consequentialist theory of morality?
moral rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by its inherent characteristics or principles, rather than the outcomes or consequences it produces.
what is moral relativism?
used to describe several philosophical positions concerned with the differences in moral judgements across different peoples and cultures
what is absolutism?
political system in which one ruler or leader has complete power and authority over a country
what is objectivism?
man as a heroic being, human knowledge and values are objective, they exist and are determined by the nature of reality, to be discovered by one’s mind, and are not created by the thoughts one has
what are hypothetical imperatives?
Kant, rule of conduct that is understood to apply to an individual if they desire a certain end and have chosen to act on that desire
what are categorical imperatives?
central in deontology, way of evaluating motivations for action
what is happiness?
existence, nature, and attainment of happiness, can be understood as the moral goal of life
what are positive rights?
rights that provide something that people need to secure their well being
what are negative rights?
rights that protect some form of human freedom or liberty. ex. right to privacy
what is the harm principle?
person’s liberty justifiably restricted to prevent harm to others caused by that person
what is the principle of paternalism?
person’s liberty justifiably restricted to prevent harm to self caused by that person
what is the principle of legal moralism?
person’s liberty justifiably restricted to prevent that person’s immoral behaviour
what is the offence principle?
person’s liberty justifiably restricted to prevent offence to others caused by that person
what is moral absolutism?
there is always one right answer to any ethical question
