Ethics

Question 1

What are the different concepts of value?

Answer 1

1. value as having worth - gold, diamonds, etc. 2. value as holding in high regard - value someones perspective 3. value as. aknown quality - algebra

Question 2

What are the recurring ethics questions, and what do they seek?

Answer 2

1. figuring out what is worthwhile or valuable “the good” 2. figuring out how to distribute “the good” fairly 3. figuring out what the good life entails. seek answers to what we ought to do and how we ought to live together.

Question 3

What is ethics not?

Answer 3

1) feelings - problem of divided guts, need a more consistent standard 2) religion - lack a shared pov or interpretation in groups 3) law - sets regulations for whats punishable, set a minimum ethical standard, not what one ought to do. societys laws can be corrupt and require objectionable actions. legality does not equal ethics (just bc its was or is legal doesnt mean its right) 4) norms and customs - societal standards for acceptable conduct, internalized list of dos and donts. 5) science - tells us how to do smthn, not if we should

Question 4

What are the 4 major categories of shared values?

Answer 4

1. commitment to smthn greater than oneself. 2. self-respect with humility and personal responsibility 3. respect and caring for other ppl 4. caring for other living things and the enviro

Question 5

What is meta-ethics?

Answer 5

the ethics of ethics, if there are moral facts. so superiority of one ethical code over another.

Question 6

What is normative ethics?

Answer 6

determining how we ought to act

Question 7

What is applied ethics?

Answer 7

what morality requires of us in specific situations, ie solving specific dilemmas.

Question 8

What is research ethics?

Answer 8

guidelines for the responsible conduct of research and mgmt of data.

Question 9

What two things need to precede ethics?

Answer 9

empirical data or facts, and metaphysical understanding, so unpacking concepts. we need the knowledge if an area in order to speak prescriptively about how someone should behave.

Question 10

What is the difference btwn problems and dilemmas?

Answer 10

problems: difficult situations, questions involving doubt and uncertainty. can be answered. dilemmas: commitment to two or more incompatible goals or values, conflict of values occurs, can be managed but not often solved.

Question 11

What are ethical dilemmas?

Answer 11

cases where there is not a ‘good’ answer. tragedies. we seek the best available reasons applied impartially, so the most defensible position and identifying the least bad decision.

Question 12

What are the characteristics of ethical decisions?

Answer 12

1. universal (impartial) 2. motivating (possible) 3. fair

Question 13

What is a moral theory?

Answer 13

try to provide a method of answering the question what makes right acts right? recognize that thinking when in rome, do as the romans do, is not a satisfactory ethical standard.

Question 14

What are the 6 great traditions in ethics?

Answer 14

1. the rights lens - focusing on our intentions 2. the justice lens - focusing on fairness and equity 3. the utilitarian lens - focusing on consequences 4. the common good lens - focusing on promoting community 5. the virtue lens - focusing on acting consistently with ideals 6. the care lens - focusing on centering relationships.

Question 15

How should we do ethical decision making?

Answer 15

engage in reflective equilibrium ot come to a considered judgment, and ask yourself which option; best serves the whole community, treats ppl equally or proportionally, leads me to act as the sort of person i want to be, produces the most good and does the least harm, best respects the rights of all who have a stake.

Question 16

What is the goal of considered judgments?

Answer 16

for them to be aligned with your core beliefs and values and to be a position you can defend as the best option. they are accepted provisionally.

Question 17

What is moral status?

Answer 17

determining who or what has a moral standing or moral considerability. is moral status by degree or yes/no. so do some things have or not have a moral status or do some have more than others by degree.

Question 18

What is consequentialism?

Answer 18

group of theories that evaluate moral acceptability based on the consequences of actions. 1. mohism - ancient chinese philosophy of ethics based on idea that we ought to alleviate harm and promote what is beneficial, everyone will be better off if we all follow a practice of universal, impartial love. 2. utilitarianism - focused on end results. 3. egoism - looking at greatest good for yourself

Question 19

What is teleological?

Answer 19

telos= ends/consequences. the ends can justify the means. methods taken to get good outcome depend on what they produce. no actions/behaviours are inherently right or wrong independent of the good they produce. so if doing smthn bad produces smthn thats more good than doesnt matter.

Question 20

What is deontological?

Answer 20

deon= duty, obligation, intentions. the ends do not justify the means. it does matter how we get to outcome. actions/behaviours are morally right or wrong independent of the benefits they cause.

Question 21

What does utility mean?

Answer 21

the overall good, presence of pleasure and absence of pain. so an action that creates the most utility is one that maximizes the good and minimizes the bad.

Question 22

What is utilitarian ethics?

Answer 22

goal is net utility. an act/rule is right if and only if there is no other act/rule a person could have done instead to produce more utility. the greatest good for the greatest number of ppl.

Question 23

What is J.S. Mill’s utilitarianism?

Answer 23

thought that some pleasures are better than others. so there was a hierarchy of pleasures where some things were better than others.

Question 24

Why does utilitarianism persist?

Answer 24

simplicity - focused in practical action. impartiality - all humans hold equal moral weight. practicality - gives an answer to what should i do.

Question 25

What are the objections to utilitarian thinking?

Answer 25

1. too difficult and alienating to anticipate and calculate the consequences of each potential action 2. too demanding, requiring excessive sacrifice while not recognizing special obligations 3. equality principles can fail to consider equity and justice 4. can oppose common sense 5. human rights objection - may allow infringing on sacred rights.

Question 26

What does the ethics of means evaluate?

Answer 26

what we intended to happen, not what actually happened. so our intentions behind the action matter.

Question 27

What are three different kinds of duties?

Answer 27

1. duties of fidelity - trustworthiness and promise keeping 2. duties of reparation - to make amends 3. duties of gratitude - to reciprocate or appreciate kind acts

Question 28

What does prima facie duties mean?

Answer 28

at first glance duties. so a core duty we pick over other ones. a duty we believe we have to follow unless it is outweighed by another duty

Question 29

What are the three key ideas in Kant's Deontology?

Answer 29

1. respecting humanity and autonomy 2. the ends do not justify the means, so we must always treat others as a n end, and never as a means to an end only. 3. based on the golden rule, a variation of do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Question 30

What is a maxim?

Answer 30

a general rule, or principle of action.

Question 31

What is the categorical imperative?

Answer 31

term used to describe the backbone of Kant's theory; never treat humanity simply as a means but always at the same time as an ends, and act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should be come a universal law.

Question 32

What are the difficulties with Kants theory?

Answer 32

figuring out the exact maxim and testing for universality is as difficult as applying a utilitarian calculus. actions only have moral worth if they are done out of a sense of duty.

Question 33

According to Kant, the moral worth of an action depends on; a) The moral duties that we have to follow despite other goals we might have b) the consequences of the action (the end, not the means) c) the moral character of the agent who performs the action

Answer 33

a) The moral duties that we have to follow despite other goals we might have

Question 34

Why do utilitarian theories have appeal?

Answer 34

bc of the impartiality and equality principles built into the greatest food for the greatest number.

Question 35

Why do deontological/Kantian theories have appeal?

Answer 35

bc of a focus in rights and not treating ppl as means to an end.

Question 36

Why are utilitarian and deontological theories criticized?

Answer 36

requiring too much of us, failing to recognize the importance of relationships, and being very difficult to calculate when answers are needed.

Question 37

What are virtue theories?

Answer 37

god acts stem from acting as the type of person you want to be. through practice and repetition, character and dispositions develop. living virtuously leads to eudaimonia. so ethics of living the good life. ie a virtuous person will have a flourishing life.

Question 38

What are the 4 ancient virtues held above the rest?

Answer 38

1. justice 2. courage 3. temperance (self-control) 4. wisdom. have to cultivate and master the first three virtues before can be considered wise.

Question 39

Is character caught or taught?

Answer 39

thinking the character is taught, requires practice, and involves repetition. learn our virtues through storytelling to imitate virtuous characters.

Question 40

How does one become virtuous?

Answer 40

by doing virtuous acts consistently. virtue is a goal that can only be assessed at the end of life, so its a goal we can strive toward consistently.

Question 41

What are virtues?

Answer 41

dispositions and habits that enable us to act according to the highest potential of our character. the desired midpoint btwn deficiency and excess (vices).

Question 42

What are the vices for courage?

Answer 42

D; cowardice E; recklessness

Question 43

What are the vices for generosity?

Answer 43

D; stinginess E; extravagance

Question 44

What are the vices for ambition?

Answer 44

D; laziness E; greed

Question 45

What are the vices for modesty?

Answer 45

D; undue humility E; arrogance

Question 46

What are the vices for friendliness?

Answer 46

D; surliness E; flattery

Question 47

What are the objections to virtue ethics?

Answer 47

everything in moderation, including moderation (so having balance). how we specify each virtue matters. requires conceptual clarification and unpacking.

Question 48

What are fairness and justice theories of ethics?

Answer 48

focus is on making fair decisions. how to make morally acceptable and impartial decisions. Solution is the original position; under the theoretical veil of ignorance decisions can be made bc dont know own circumstances.

Question 49

What are the two principles set under a veil of ignorance?

Answer 49

1. equal right to basic liberties 2. restrict inequalities to ppl most in need who would benefit from unequal treatment

Question 50

What are common good theories?

Answer 50

ethical lenses that recognize the importance of community and relationships of societies and individuals. affiliated with the social contract theory.

Question 51

What is the social contract theory?

Answer 51

we should willingly forgo some freedoms in exchange for protection of rights, and humans will choose to give up some rights to gain the benefits of political order.

Question 52

What is care ethics?

Answer 52

personal relations theory. looking at common good. says that we cant ignore specific circumstances and be impartial with our decisions bc we have loved ones we care about more than others. recognizes the vulnerability of children and older adults and our special obligations to them.

Question 53

What is feminist ethics?

Answer 53

personal relations theory. start with acceptance that nobody is truly self-made. addresses dilemmas in the private sphere. so we cannot ignore our personal relations, highlights how gender operates in our moral decision making. more of a way of doing ethics

Question 54

What is ubuntu?

Answer 54

communal relations theory. recognizing our duties to each other as ppl. i am bc we are, and you are bc we are. invested in each others needs and happiness. how can one person be happy if everyone else is sad.

Question 55

What is all my relations?

Answer 55

communal relations theory. part of many indig worldviews. includes relationships in and beyond he human world. so our decisions dont just impact humans but the environment around us. focused on respect and reciprocity.

Question 56

What is the seven generations teachings?

Answer 56

acknowledges obligations to recognize both our ancestors and our descendants. so looking at how our decisions impact the 7 gens after us, and if our decisions honour the 7 gens before us

Question 57

What is retroactive evaluation?

Answer 57

asking if you have made a good decision.

Question 58

What are we doing when were doigng ethics?

Answer 58

evaluating whether we or someone else made a morally acceptable choice. determining what we or someone else ought to do. looking for a rule we can apply. evaluating rightness and wrongness on a case-by-case basis.

Question 59

What is rule ethics?

Answer 59

rule book. rule following. problems when rules conflict or rules are too broad or narrow.

Question 60

What is situational ethics?

Answer 60

case by case reasoning. based in unique situations that arise. recognize rules are insensitive to changing contexts. recognizes the uniqueness of diff situations.

Question 61

What is pragmatism?

Answer 61

response to theories of ethics. making good practical decisions. situational type analysis that thinks context is NB. what is useful and works defines what is true. concerns that it will lead to relativism bc just bc. smthns practical doesnt mean its right.

Question 62

What are moral cues and examples?

Answer 62

help us recognize philosophical issues and determine when a defensible analysis is needed not just a decision. ie. human rights, rules, cheating, fairness, autonomy, paternalism, risk, harm, privacy, consent and coercion

Question 63

What are the functions of rules?

Answer 63

1. require, permit, and forbid specific acts 2. regularize behaviour 3. formalize a system of mutual expectations and norms.

Question 64

What are the two views of rules?

Answer 64

1. formalism; rigid, rule based approach. 2 .ethos; fluid norms based approach

Question 65

What is formalism?

Answer 65

decision making according to rules. primacy of rules in evaluating actions. so strict adherence to rules.

Question 66

What in the anti-formalist position?

Answer 66

acting ethically involves more than adherence to the rules.

Question 67

What is ethos?

Answer 67

spirit of the group. set of shared norms for interpreting the rules. so its the diff ways that rules are interpreted. includes social context and unwritten rules. distinguishes btwn permissible behaviour, impermissible but acceptable behaviour, and impermissible and unacceptable behaviour.

Question 68

What is the difference btwn letter and spirit?

Answer 68

letter; what the rules state explicitly spirit; reasons why the rule maker made the rule (intention behind the rule)