Ethical Thought

Question 1

Divine Command Theory

Answer 1

morality is commanded by God
right and wrong are objective truths based on God’s will - not influenced by human feelings
moral goodness is achieved by complying with God’s command

Question 2

Robert Adams: Modified Divine Command theory

Answer 2

it seems possible that God could command people to do terrible things
we have to assume that God is not only omnipotent but also benevolent
only the commands of a loving God would be moral

Question 3

The Euthyphro Dilemma - Divine Command Theory

Answer 3

Plato: is something good because God commands it or does God command it because it is good?
the first option = literally anything God commands would be right - cannot be benevolent
the second option = God is restricted in what he can command - cannot be omnipotent

Question 4

The Arbitrariness Problem - Divine Command Theory

Answer 4

Leibniz: God would be equally praiseworthy whatever he commands “destroys all the love of God and his glory”
there needs to be a justification for actions - good and bad depends on nothing but God’s whims

Question 5

The Pluralism Problem - Divine Command Theory

Answer 5

it is impossible to know which God’s or religion’s commands should be followed - some religions contradict each other
blind men and the elephant analogy

Question 6

Virtue Theory

Answer 6

looking at what makes a good person
the goal of a moral life is the development and application of the virtues
Aristotle’s end goal - eudaimonia
in order to achieve our end goal, we must practice

Question 7

The Moral Virtues

Answer 7

a person who possesses the moral virtues has the right character to do good things and flourish
these are developed through habit and we can follow the examples of virtuous people
each virtues falls between the vices of excess & deficiency

Question 8

Courage (vices) - moral virtues

Answer 8

excess = rashness/foolhardiness
deficiency = cowardice

Question 9

Right Ambition (vices) - moral virtues

Answer 9

deficiency = wrong ambition
excess = over ambitious

Question 10

Good Temper (vices) - moral virtues

Answer 10

deficiency = bad temper/harsh/mean
excess = too forgiving/spiritless

Question 11

The Intellectual Virtues

Answer 11

developed through instruction
not related to moral actions but are still needed for humans to flourish
most important = prudence
primary - knowledge & skills
secondary- pulling it all together (using primary)

Question 12

Prudence/Practical Wisdom (phronesis) - primary intellectual virtues

Answer 12

ability to make a balanced, thoughtful decision

Question 13

Wisdom (Sophia) - primary intellectual virtues

Answer 13

the finished form of all the virtues - having all of the virtues

Question 14

Resourcefulness (eboulia) - secondary intellectual virtues

Answer 14

being able to find out the information you need

Question 15

Doctrine of the Mean - virtue theory

Answer 15

controlling our emotional responses so that we behave with dignity
depends on the situation - soldier faced with overwhelming odds that be right to run away with fear but a soldier on the opposite would be a coward
Aristotle - ‘feel them to an intermediate’
through practice the mean response will become our natural one

Question 16

Issue with the Doctrine of the Mean - virtue theory

Answer 16

leads to a blind, uniformed response to all situations - HOWEVER Aristotle emphasises intellectual virtues as well - a virtuous person will act according to the mean

Question 17

Cardinal Virtues

Answer 17

Prudence
Justice
Temperance
Fortitude

Question 18

Theological Virtues

Answer 18

Faith
Hope
Love/Charity

Question 19

Ethical Egoism

Answer 19

normative ethic - tells moral agents how they should act
a moral agent should act in their own self interest
relativist & consequentialist
humans live to maximise pleasure - supports our natural psychological state

Question 20

Contrast with altruism - ethical egoism

Answer 20

altruism - moral agents have an obligation to help others ‘living for the sake of others’
ethical egoism - focusing on their own self interest - only obligation an ethical egoist has is to themselves

Question 21

Max Stirner - ethical egoism

Answer 21

all forms of social authority serve the interests of particular individuals
self interest should be the root cause of an individual’s every action
‘I am everything to myself and I do everything on my account’
‘for me you are nothing but my food’
we are too influenced by society around us
NOT about greed or monetary gain

Question 22

Spooks - Stirner

Answer 22

imaginary mental concepts which limit our freedom

Question 23

Union of egoists

Answer 23

a society made up of free individuals who have rejected restrictions on themselves
equality of all members, mutual self interest

Question 24

Ayn Rand - rational egoism

Answer 24

both altruism and selfishness are bad as they do not consider the middle ground
the needs of society should be balanced with the needs of others
links to Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia

Question 25

Challenges to ethical egoism

Answer 25

destruction of community ethos - ignores the community needs
social injustice - an individual’s pursuit of their own self interest could lead to others suffering
a form of bigotry - divides people and a union of egoists would encourage this