Exam 1 Flashcards
Define utilitarianism
a moral theory that states that actions are morally permissible if and only if they produce at least as much net utility as any other action
Define consequentialism
the morality of an action should be judged by its consequences
Define utility
pleasure and the absence of pain
What are the value and action theories of utilitarianism?
Value Theory
Values pleasure and the absence of pain
Action Theory
Values actions that maximize utility
What is the universibility of utilitarianism?
Everything capable of feeling pleasure and pain for the end of time
Must consider far off future consequences
Describe the meaning of the utility monster
The distribution of the utility is not a factor
If one entity is better at converting resources into happiness than all others, ordinary people should be sacrificed due to the higher amount of net aggregate happiness
How does utilitarianism view non-humans?
Considered on the basis of their ability to experience pleasure and pain
Jeremy Bentham (2)
founder
Advocate of animal rights
Ability to suffer > Ability to reason
Believed we would calculate the units of pleasure/pain produced by a certain action
John Stuart Mill (2)
Member of Parliament, advocated for suffrage and rights for women, supported the death penalty
Quick pain of death is better than a life of hard labor
Higher and Lower Order Happiness
Persistence, meaning, and reflection increase the value of happiness
“Better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a pig satisfied”
Define act utilitarianism
individual actions should be evaluated on the basis of maximizing net utility
Define rule utilitarianism
suggests that we should follow whatever rules would maximize net utility if everyone adhered to them
How does utilitarianism approach getting a flu shot?
Pleasure and the absence of pain allows for temporary increases in pain order to increase net utility later
How does utilitarianism approach chopping up chuck?
Only moral action is to distribute the organs (at least for act utilitarians)
How does utilitarianism approach both versions of the trolly problem?
always change the train
What are the three major issues with utilitarianism?
Calculation objection, demandingness objection, rule worship objection
Describe the calculation objection to utilitarianism
Must determine if an action maximizes total net utility through the end of time (difficult to calculate)
Describe the demandingness objection to utilitarianism (2)
Must Maximize Net Aggregate Happiness
Only the action(s) that maximizes net happiness is the morally correct one
Does not Permit Partiality
Only importance is maximization of net utility
More severe pain for one is preferable than mild pain for many
Describe the rule worship objection to utilitarianism (2)
Utilitarianism seems to occasionally provide the “wrong” answer
No exceptions under rule utilitarianism, even if they would maximize net happiness
Special circumstances, pardoning one person
Define maxim
Maxim - a statement that expresses general truth or rule of conduct
Define categorical imperative
Categorical Imperative - an unconditional moral obligation which is binding in all circumstances and is not dependent on a person’s inclination or purpose
Define end
An “end” - something that has intrinsic value
Define means
A “means” - something that is used to create a certain end; a tool
What are the two tenets of deontology?
principle of universibility and humanity
State the principle of universibility
Act only on that maxim such that you can at the same time will that it become a universal law
State the principle of humanity
Always treat humanity whether yourself or others, as an end and never as a mere means
Emanual Kant
Prussian, sexist, racist
Critic of pure/practical reason
How would deontologists approach chopping up chuck?
cannot, would be using him as a mere means
How would deontologists approach both versions of the trolly problem?
pull the switch only
would be saving lives if the others were there or not, so we are not using them as a mere means
How would deontologists approach slavery?
unable to be universalized
What are some issues with deontology? (4)
Exceptionalist rules - lying cannot be universalized
intrinsic value - only applies to rational beings
marginal person problem - excludes the young, disabled, comatose
golden rule - not everyone wants or likes the same things
Define eudaimonia
the condition of human flourishing or of living well
What is the action theory and value theory of virtue ethics?
Action Theory
The moral choice is what the most virtuous person would choose
Act according to the virtues, emulate the actions of those you consider courageous and temperate until you start doing so automatically
Value Theory
The highest good that can be achieved with mere action is happiness, not pleasure but living well and doing well
What is the doctrine of the golden mean?
Every virtue, except justice, lies somewhere between two vices
How do virtues relate to habits?
Cannot only be virtuous once, but can have moments of vice/weakness
How do virtues relate to circumstances?
To act in according with the virtue is to act in the right way at the right time towards the right objects
Who was the prominent supporter of virtue ethics?
Aristotle
Describe Mill’s Harm Principle
the only reason people should interfere with others is self-protection, or preventing others from being harmed
How did governmental protections develop?
fundamental rights and constitutional checks against antagonistic rulers
self-government was thought not to need protections until it became clear that the majority would rule over the rest
What was the major area in which rights of the individual and the authority of society were discussed?
Major area in which the rights of the individual and the authority of society over than has been questioned is religion, but religious minorities still must ask for permission to differ
What are the two major exceptions to the harm principle?
Cases where the people being interfered with would act “better” when left to themselves
Cases where the attempt at control would have worse effects than those prevented
Differentiate between harms and offense
Harms are imposed upon us, while offenses are not
Some actions could be produce harm if they prevent us from pursuing our goals
What ethic systems are concerned with these kinds of reasons: consequences, rules, virtues, prima facie
Consequences - Utilitarianism
Rules - Deontology
Virtues - Virtue Ethics
Prima facie - medical ethics
What are conclusive and prima facie reasons?
Prima facie
Those that can be outweighed by other considerations
Conclusive
Those that cannot be outweighed by other considerations
What are the four values of medical ethics?
Autonomy - Rational individuals should be allowed to make choices for themselves
Justice - Distributive justice, or spreading resources in the best way
Beneficence - Do the most good you can
Non-maleficence - Avoiding causing undue harm
What are descriptive and normative claims?
Descriptive
Describes a state of the world without making any judgement of value
Normative
Includes some kind of value judgement
How do naturalists view health?
Naturalist Viewpoint
Health is a descriptive claim, with illness being the description of having a malfunction
Outside the statistical center
How do normavatists view health?
Normavatist Viewpoint
Health and illness are defined by things we judge as good and bad, can judge things as bad but not illnesses
What was Sparrow’s thesis?
We should consider whether to have public funding for the development of cochlear implants as well as a requirement for parents to implant such devices (presented both sides)
What are some reasons why deafness would not be considered a disability? (5)
Can still communicate with others (ASL) View themselves as a minority group Some would not choose to hear Some parents want deaf children Disadvantages are due to culture and can be mutable
Why would deafness be considered a culture?
Different from other disabilities - shared history, unique language, distinctive art
Requirements are deafness, sign language, shared life experiences
What is the normavatist view of deafness?
Normavatists - we all have things we cannot do, health judged by good/bad, compensation for lost abilities
What is the liberal model of culture?
Liberal Model of Culture - Culture is instrumentally valuable, through an increase in the number opportunities and self-respect
What is the communitarian model of culture?
Communitarian Model of Culture - Culture is instrumentally valuable when it allows you to live one of the good lives
What are the ethics of imperfect cochlear implants?
Imperfect cochlear implants would not allow child to participate fully in either culture - bad
How would a bionic ear be viewed by the liberal model of culture?
Supported by liberal model - increased opportunities in hearing society
How would a bionic ear be viewed by the communitarian model of culture?
Conditional in communitarian model - depends if parents view deaf culture as a valuable life
How would government funding of a bionic ear be viewed by the communitarian model of culture?
Not supported by communitarian model - supporting the destruction of a culture
How would government funding of a bionic ear be viewed by medical ethics?
Not supported by medical ethics - duty to non-maleficence is higher than to beneficence
What was Dr. Chatterjee’s thesis?
Support, personal autonomy
What was Professor Farahany’s thesis?
Support, students should be able to choose to change their brains and we as a society should pursue the gradual improvement of our brains
What was Eric Rancine’s thesis?
Against, moral acceptability and moral praiseworthiness
What was Nichole Vincent’s thesis?
Against, increase in competition
How did Dr. Chatterjee view the inequality issue?
issues of payment are separate from use, subsidize if needed
What logical fallacy did Dr. Chatterjee identify?
Logical Fallacy of Proving Too Much (banning ACT prep courses)
An argument that reaches a conclusion which contradicts things known to be true, or contradicts the premises in that argument
Proves false conclusions
What ethical system did Dr. Chatterjee cite?
Medical Ethics - Autonomy
How did Dr. Chatterjee feel about side effects?
Dismissed biggest side effect concern (cardiovascular)
How did Professor Farahany use medical ethics, utilitarianism, and the liberal model of culture to support her argument?
Medical Ethics - Autonomy
Utilitarian/Consequentialist - changing brains is a social good we should pursue
Liberal Model - smart drugs increase opportunities
What did Professor Farahany think was an advantage in allowing smart drugs in schools (opposed to workplace)? How did she view competition?
Developing critical thinking skills in a safe environment
Competition is a value people can choose to maximize or not
What ethical system did Eric Rancine use? What was his general stance?
Virtue Ethics / Praiseworthiness
When we don’t know the consequences, as a precaution, we should not permit their use
What did Nichole Vincent assume?
Assumes perfect, ideal, safe, and effective
How did Nichole Vincent use the communitarian model of culture and Kant’s principle of universalization to support her argument?
Communitarian Model - some ways of living are more valuable
Kant’s Principle of Universalization - relative success will not change
What is the advantage of the naturalist view of health on the smart drug debate?
Easy to distinguish between enhancement and treatment, otherwise difficult
What is Roache’s thesis?
Smart drugs should not be banned on the basis of cheating
How did Roache begin their argument?
Moral approval in cases with large consequences
School has small consequences, so we must discuss fairness
What does Roache ignore in their argument?
smart drugs can still make an uneven playing field worse
What does Roache state is the basis of arguments against smart drugs? (3)
basis of arguments against require that there be an even playing field, that we value such a thing, and that enhancers destroy it
What does Roache assume?
Assumes safe, accessible, non-addictive
Some people choosing not to use means there is still a question of fairness
What are positional goods?
Positional goods - those whose value depends on others not having them
Includes participation trophies, line of sight, comparative grading systems
What is Enck’s thesis?
Students should be permitted to use cognitive enhancers if their reasons for using these enhancements are reflective of ideals of human excellence
What ethical system does Enck use to support his argument? (2)
Virtue Ethics
Seeking understanding and seeking accurate beliefs
What does Enck ignore? (2)
does not tackle enforcement, does not address the motivation for students to lie
Enck mentions students named Teresa, Edith, Oliver, Vincent, Mark, and Vivian. Describe their motivations for using smart drugs.
Teresa - cognitive disorder, taking for treatment purposes
Edith - passion for philosophy, devote more time
Oliver - poor study habits
Vincent - Buddhism’s tenants challenge his belief system
Mark - passing the course
Vivian - self-improvement despite time constraints
