Ethics III and IV Flashcards
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
Meta-ethical definition of good = utility
It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
What motivates us (meta-ethics)
Two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
Determined by aggregate pleasures, no matter what they are
Pushpin is equal to poetry
Utilitarianism
J.S. Mill, Utilitarianism
Higher and lower pleasures
[better to be] Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisified
Utilitarianism
Jeremy Bentham
Rights
Nonsense upon stilts
Utilitarianism
Plato, Gorgias
Meta-ethics of Utilitarianism
Bad pleasure
Utilitarianism
J.S. Mill
Rule Utilitarianism & Hedonic Calculus response
Can seldom apply it truly except through the secondary principles
Meta-Ethics
F.H. Bradley, Ethical Studies
Ethical theory based on ‘geist’
To be moral is to live in accordance with the moral traidition of one’s country
Meta-Ethics
G.E. Moore, Principa Ethica
Intuitionism - good = non-natural
Good is good and that is the end of the matter
Meta-Ethics
G.E. Moore, Principa Ethica
Good = indefinable
A simple and indefinable quality
Meta-Ethics
A.J. Ayer, Language Truth and Logic
Ethical statements x3
Ethical statements are unverifiable and thus meaningless
Pure expressions of feeling
Pseudo concepts
Meta-Ethics
James Rachel
Against Emotivism
Moral judgements appeal to reason
Meta-Ethics
Mel Thompson
Against emotivism
You cannot reduce morality to a set of cheers and boos
Meta-Ethics
David Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature
When you feel that soemthing is vice…
Find a sentiment of disapproval which arises in you
Business Ethics
Milton Friedman
Businesses are not moral agents
Only people can have moral responsibilities
Business Ethics
Milton Friedman
Shareholder Model
There is one and only one social responsiblilty of business… to increase its profits [while staying in the rules of the game]
Business Ethics
Immanuel Kant
Utilitarianism
Serpentine Morality
Business Ethics
Crane and Matten, Business Ethics
Utilitarianism
Comes close to what we know as cost-benefit analysis
Business Ethics
National Centre for Policy Analysis
Businesses are by nature ethical
Better a lousy job than no job at all
Business Ethics
R.C. Solomon (and Better Business Bureau)
Good Ethics is Good Business
An ethical business is more likely to prosper
Business Ethics
Nicholas
Support for Kant
can never be merely an instrument valued just for their usefulness
Business Ethics
Milton Friedman
CSR
Hypocritical window dressing
Business Ethics
Edward Freeman
Stakeholder model
Should create value for customers, suppliers, employees, communities and financiers
Euthanasia
Joseph Fletcher, Situation Ethics
Bible
Editorial collection of scattered sayings
[Only offers] Paradigms or suggestions
Euthanasia
CCC
Views on euthanasia x2
[Active euthanasia] morally unacceptable
[Passive] can be legitimate
Euthanasia
1 Samuel 31
Suicide not condemned unequivocally
[Saul and his armour bearer fall on their swords in battle]
Euthanasia
Matthew 27:3-5
Suicide not condemnded unequivocally
[Judas Iscariot hangs himself]
Euthanasia
Exodus 20:13
Strong sanctity of life
Thou shalt not murder
Euthanasia
1 Corinthians 6:19
Strong sanctity of life
Your body is a temple of the holy spirit and was given to you by God
Euthanasia
Evangelum Vitae
Result of Euthanasia
Culture of death
Euthanasia
David Hume, Of Suicide
Suicide is acceptable
[Life can be] worse than annihilation
Such is our natural horror of death that small motives will never be able to reconcile us to it
