Ethics

Question 1

Define Ethics

Answer 1

The study of how to flourish as a human being (morality, happiness)

Question 2

Define Cultural Relativism

Answer 2

Different cultures have opposing underlying moral values, and they are just different no culture is better than another (different circumstances, same morals)

An action is moral or immoral because a culture’s practices or attitudes dictate that it is. (Morals are dependent on culture)

Ex/ red means stop, read means go

Question 3

Define Prescriptive Relativism

Answer 3

The view that it is always immoral for the people in one culture to judge another person’s culture.

Question 4

Define Descriptive Relativism

Answer 4

The view that different cultures sometimes have opposing underlying moral values

Question 5

Define Moral Realism

Answer 5

Contradicts Cultural Relativism

Sometimes, an action is moral or immoral, independent of cultural practices & attitudes. Some practices are objectively better.(Morals are independent of culture)

(ex/slavery is not morally acceptable, just bc a culture’s attitude & practices dictate it is & “schizophrenia is a mental disorder.”)

Question 6

moral statements are like…

Answer 6

“red means stop”

Question 7

Morality depends on the circumstances

Answer 7

Cultural Relativism

Ex/ wrappings infants
C1: wrap infants with a blanket
C2: never wrap infants
Same moral/value: take care of your infants
Different circumstances: the temperature difference btwn both cultures

Ex2/
C1: eat cows
C2: don’t eat cows
Same moral/value: don’t eat grandma
Different circumstances: their beliefs about reincarnation

Question 8

Sometimes different cultures have opposing moral value

Answer 8

Descriptive relativism

Question 9

Different cultural practices & opposing underlying moral values are always just different; neither can ever be morally better than the another

Answer 9

Cultural Relativism

Question 10

It is always morally wrong for anyone in one culture to judge the opposing practices & underlying moral value of a different culture

Answer 10

Prescriptive relativism

Question 11

Argument in favor of Cultural Relativism

Answer 11

No one can produce a objective or universally accepted standard for morality. This is because there is no such standard

No moral standard independent of culture can be justified

Question 12

Moral Realist impartiality response to argument in favor of Cultural Relativism

Answer 12

○ Objective and universally correct morality is that which all impartial
people would agree to
○ Good consequences, rational principles, impartial sympathy

Question 13

Two objections to Cultural Relativism

Answer 13

1. Moral Progress Objection: According to CR, moral progress is impossible but you can change cultural practices (ex/ women’s rights, gay rights, execution)
2. Nazi culture counterexample: According to CR, Nazi soldiers were being morally good but Nazi culture is worse NOT just different.

Question 14

Relative to culture…

Answer 14

does not mean relative to circumstance (ex/stealing milk)

Question 15

Define Divine Command Theory (DCT)

Answer 15

An action is moral or immoral because God said so

Question 16

Divine Command Theory - Plato’s dialogue…

Answer 16

Euthyphro

Question 17

Socrates’ Objection to DCT

Answer 17

DCT is incorrect because it has clause in reverse order from truth

–> Torturing infants for fun is immoral BC God said it is OR (Socrates) God said torturing infants for fun is immoral BC it is immoral

What if God said torturing infants for fun is moral?
According to DCT this would be moral BUT
Socrates says: God would never say that BC it is immoral

Question 18

Who is associated with Cultural Relativism

Answer 18

Ruth Benedict (she was an anthropologist)

Question 19

Define Deontological Ethics

Answer 19

Kant
An action is moral because it follows/conforms to a rational principle (good rule) OR immoral because bc it violates a rational principle

Question 20

Define Utilitarianism

Answer 20

Mill
An action is moral bc it maximizes happiness overall OR immoral bc it does not maximize happiness overall

Question 21

Similarities btwn Mill (Utilitarianism) & Kant (Deontology)

Answer 21

moral realists

Question 22

Differences btwn Mill (Utilitarianism) & Kant (Deontology)

Answer 22

Mill: Consequences determine which action is moral
Kant: Consequences don’t determine which action is moral

Ex/ if you need to torture a child to save 20 ppl
Mill: would torture bc of consequences
Kant: wouldn’t bc it’s not rational

Question 23

3 Cases to Know

Answer 23

Anne Frank: Kant (Tell the truth) Mill (Lie)
Forced Organ Donor: Kant (Don’t kill) Mill (Kill)
Franz Kafka: Kant (keep promises) Mill (break promises)

Question 24

Utilitarians’ calculation method

Answer 24

max happiness overall can be calculated (in theory)
- Twinkie ex
- Another ex/
Action 1: +5 +5 -30 = Total Happiness: -20
Action 2: -5 -5 +30 = Total Happiness: +20

Question 25

Kant’s Categorical Imperative

Answer 25

aka supreme principle of morality
Don’t calculate consequences, just act according to rules/principles that it is rational to want everyone to follow

Ex/ rule 1: keep my promises
rule 2: break my promises
According to categorical imperative rule 1 is rational

Question 26

Define Virtue Ethics

Answer 26

the theory that an action is moral or immoral because that is what a virtuous person would do

Question 27

Aristotle: What is virtue and why should I care about it?

Answer 27

a virtue is a trait or feeling that functions properly; and you should care about having these characteristics bc to functoin properly is to be objectively good

virtuous = functioning properly

Knife ex/
Function: knife
Sharpness (virtue)
Dull (vice)
Cuts well (good knife)
Doesn’t cut well (bad knife)

Question 28

Is virtue relative to culture accoding to Aristotle?

Answer 28

No

Question 29

Adam Smith: We know which traits and feelings are virtuous from

Answer 29

Imparative Sympathy

Question 30

Define sympathy

Answer 30

feeling what somebody else is feeling

Question 31

Who wrote the book “The Theory of Moral Sentiments?”. What is the main point?

Answer 31

Adam Smith
A feeling is virtuous bc any impartial spectator would sympathize with it

Question 32

3 feelings involved in the process of making moral judgements by sympathizing

Answer 32

1. original feeling
2. sympathetic feeling
3. approval –> sentiment of approval

Question 33

Impartial sympathy: When your natural sympathy is not corrupted by other psychological mechansisms such as

Answer 33

1. Faction
2. Fanatisism

Question 35

Virtue Ethics vs Utilitarianims (Mill): Case of saving own kid or 2 strangers

Answer 35

Virtue Ethics: save my own kind (impartial sympathy)
Utilitarianism: save 2 stragers bc it maximizes overall happiness

Question 36

Virtue Ethics vs Detonotlogy (Kant): Case of visiting friend in hospital: how has the more moral motivation?

Answer 36

Virtue Ethics: Go bc you want to and love her
Deontology: rationally right thing to do

Question 37

impartial

Answer 37

Naturally Appropriate Sentiments (Feelings all impartial people sympathize with)

Question 38

Some feelings and actions “shock all our natural [impartial] sentiments.”

Answer 38

Ex. feed your infant vs eat your infant
Ex. friendship vs murderous betrayal
Ex. excessive revenge
Ex. incest

Question 39

Is virtue relative to culture, according to Adam Smith?

Answer 39

No, major aspects of morality are innate, not learned.

Question 41

5 Ethical Theories An action is moral/immoral because …

Answer 41

1. Cultural relativism … a culture’s practices & attitudes dictate so.
   Moral Realism
2. Divine Command Theory … God says so.
3. Utilitarianism … it maximizes happiness overall.
4. Deontological Ethical Theory … it conforms to a rational principle
5. Virtue Ethics … it is what a virtuous person would do
   (according to any impartial person)