ethics Flashcards
Benthams ethical theory
- what motivates humans
- principle of utility
- hedonic calculus
Jeremy Bentham
- teleological, normative ethical theorist
- his theory was Act utilitarian
- he was a hedonist
utilitarianism
teleologically, naturalistic, normative ethical theory that argues the best result is the one that brings the most happiness to the most people
motivation of human beings
pain and pleasure are what we base our actions and morals on, and pleasure is the same as goodness
principle of utility
an action should be done if it maximises the happiness for the most amount of people
the hedonic calculus
Intensity Duration Certainty Remoteness (propinquity) Fruitfulness (fecundity) Purity Extent
act based ethics
deontological
end based ethics
teleological
person based ethics
virtue
normative absolutism
- morals are fixed regardless of the context
- treats people with equality
normative relativism
- nothing can be defined as right or wrong
- variety in culture effects ethics
rule utilitarian
adopts general rules about the kinds of actions that tend to produce happiness to make decision making easier
Mill
- the harm principle
- we should be able to do whatever we want as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else
- free speech is offensive but not a harm
Roger Crisp
- offered the life of Joseph Hayden or an Oyster
- but the oysters life is infinite
- oysters life becomes worthy and pleasurable over time
Robert Nozick
- experience machine
- would you plug into alternate reality to only live a life of pleasures
- proves pleasure isn’t the ultimate motivation
Mills pleasures
higher pleasures - intellectual, social, culture, science
lower pleasures - eating, drinking, sex, resting
Kant
an absolutist, deontologist, ethical realist
phenomenal realm
- physical world
- empirical knowledge
- heteronomy
- consequential
- changing
- instrumental
noumenal realm
- metaphysical
- reason
- autonomy
- intrinsic
- unchanging
hypothetical imperative
focuses on the outcome and is used when making a decision not to do with morals
categorical imperative
goes beyond consequences and intentions, based on moral decisions
beattitudo
flourishing/closeness to God
Aquinas
- believed in the world having a teleos given by God
- this was to live according to its own nature
- for humans this was reason
eternal law
- absolute part of natural law
- remains the same, no mater what the situation
- God plants it in every rational soul
divine law
- commands and teachings found in the Bible
- God sent information about eternal law through this
- he teaches humans how to live
natural law
- allows humans to receive eternal law through reason
- marks humans from animals
human law
- our response to messages from God
- customs and practices of society
- only a law if its good and in life with divine and natural
the key precept
is the synderesis rule which is do good and avoid evil
5 primary precepts
- worship God
- live in an ordered society
- reproduce
- educate
- preserve life
primary precepts
are things that are good and absolute and describe flourishing
apparent good
something only appears to be good and has a good aspect to it
Joseph Fletcher
- theology professor
- 1960’s
- situation ethics
- emphasised agape
3 ethical positikns
legalistic, situation, antinomianism
4 principles of agape
pragmatism
relativism
positivism
personalism
secondary precepts
are rules derived from the primary precepts using practical reason
situation ethics in the bible
the good Samaritan
situation ethics
is based on agape love which is the ultimate aim
4 principles of agape:
pragmatism, relativism, positivism, personalism
6 propositions
- only love is intrinsically good
- love is the ruling factor
- love and justice are the same
- love is an attitude, not a feeling
- only the end justifies the means
- love has no laws
personhood
the extent to which a life has some quality
autonomy for euthanasia
- we have the right to choose the time and manner of our death
- we have choice over our bodies in life, so we should in death
voluntary euthanasia
usually when a person is paralysed or terminally ill they make the choice to have their life ended
non voluntary euthanasia
is when someone cannot communicate their wishes and are in a unchangeable state
slippery slope
when a moral law is broken, others will be
passive euthanasia
treatment is withdrawn or given to hasten death
James Rachels
letting die is crueler than actively killing
QALY assessment
- assess pain, mobility psychological state
- ability of drugs to improve state
- compare available treatments
- compare costs (£30,000 over is not effective)
sanctity of life
humans were made in the image of god so we don’t have the right to end our lives
natural law view on euthanasia
- goes against our teleos from God
- we are sacred and should be protected
- we were each created for a unique purpose
factors affecting doctrine of double effect
- if the act is good in itself
- good isn’t attained by bad means
- bad not intended
- proportional reason for bad effect
