Ethics- Bentham And Kant Flashcards
Act Utilitarianism
Bentham’s account of Utilitarianism : in any situation , one should choose the action that maximises utility
Autonomy
The state of being self-governed/self-ruled/free from external control or influences
Categorical imperative
An absolute / categorical (undeniable) , unconditional , moral command , for example DO NOT MURDER
Maxim
A general guideline or principle of action
Noumenal (realm)
Reality as it ‘really’ is , experienced by the synthetic a priori
Ontology
A branch of metaphysics that deals with the nature of existence/being
‘Ought implies can’
Kant’s view that the force of the moral ‘ought’- the Categorical Imperative that we ‘ought’ to do our moral duty - implies that we can do our moral duty
Phenomenal (realm)
The world of phenomena - the world as experienced through the senses , governed by the laws of cause and effect
Postulate
A presupposition or assumption which you must have accepted in order to make sense of your moral choices. In Kant’s ethics , the three postulated of practical reason are : God , freedom and immortality, and these underpin Kant’s doctrine of the summum bonum
Prima facie duties
W.D Ross’s amendment to Kantian ethics, that we have prima facie (on the face of it ) duties , for example, to parents , children and the innocent ; and that in cases where categorical imperatives conflict , one of these duties can take priority over another : so with the mad axe - murderer , the duty to save an innocent life overrides the duty to tell the truth
Summum bonum
The highest / supreme good ; the culmination of Kant’s ethics where virtue meets its appropriate reward of perfect happiness
Synthetic a priori
These propositions ( such as the Categorical Imperative) provide new information that is necessarily true. Moral judgements are a priori because we do not know them by sense experience . They have necessary force - the compulsion of the moral ‘ought’ . They are synthetic because we cannot establish what we ought to do by arguing about analytic definitions
Universalisability
The main formulation of the Categorical Imperatice : Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law
Utility
That property in any object , whereby it tends to produce benefit , advantage , pleasure , good or happiness ; or to prevent mischief , pain, evil , unhappiness to the party whose interest is considered ( an individual or the wider community)
Volition
Exercise of the will
What does Bentham says rules us ?
“Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters , pain and pleasure … They govern us in all we do , in all we say , in all we think”
What shoes that Bentham made no attempt to claim that some pleasures are superior to others ?
“Prejudices apart , the game of push-pin is of equal value with the arts and sciences of music and poetry”
What does Bentham say that shows he thought everyone was equal ?
“Each person is to count for one and no one for more than one”
What does Kant say about the good will ?
“The autonomy of the will is the sole principle of all moral laws and of the duties confirming to them…”
What does Kant say about the good will being the only thing you can trust ?
“There is no possibility of thinking of anything at all in the world , or even out of it , which can be regarded as good without qualification, except a good will…”
John Stuart Mill on the direct link between Utilitarianism and Christianity
“In the golden rule of Jesus of Nazareth , we read the complete spirit of the ethics of utility . To do as you would be done by and to love your neighbour as yourself…”
