Exam 1 study guide

Question 1

definition of ethics

Answer 1

paying attention to something beyond ourselves

Question 2

normative vs descriptive statements

Answer 2

Descriptive: a claim, makes an assertion
Normative: a suggestion that sates a value

Question 3

where does philosophy come from?

Answer 3

it comes from the greek “love of wisom”

phil = love; sophia = wisdom

Question 4

flying by instinct

Answer 4

Is when you decide to not think about anything at all to avoid feelings. “You go with the flow”.

Question 5

offhand self-justification

Answer 5

Thinking as little as possible. Being ignorant of what someone says because you are closed minded.

Question 6

dogmatism

Answer 6

When someone is so committed to their own ethical beliefs they refuse to listen or consider other ideas.

Question 7

psychological egoism

Answer 7

Egoism is when you are only concerned with yourself in every action that you take; the view that everyone is selfish

Question 8

relativism

Answer 8

The thought of everyone’s opinions are as good as the next

Question 9

critical thinking skills in chapter 9

Answer 9

What is at stake?
Get the facts
Interpret the Data
Generalize, compare, define

Question 10

Martin Buber (1898-1965)

Answer 10

1) we go over the surface of the world
2) But we have an innate longing for relationships
3) When we meet a person we are stopped short
4) We acknowledge the value of the other

Question 11

Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995)

Answer 11

French Phenomenologist
Prisoner of Nazi concentration camp in WW2
Argues that the face of another demands respect
. the face is naked, always changing
. we dont look at specifics (eye color), we look at depth
. its hard to do wrong in front of the face of another

Question 12

Kantianism (Immanuel Kant) 1724-1804 (Ethics of the person) Chapter 5

Answer 12

German Philosopher

Question 13

Maxim =

Answer 13

rule

Question 14

Categorical Imperative

Answer 14

an obligation that applies to us regardless of our other goals or situaiton

Question 15

What is the Test of the CI?

Answer 15

We take a maim and ask “if everyone follows the same rule, where there be a conflict in achieving our goal?”

Question 16

What are two formulations of the CI?

Answer 16

There are two formulations:

1) act in only a way that everyone can act (if they can’t than we should not do it)
2) treat humanity as always a means and never an end (ask “will this action only treat someone as an mean to get what I want?”)

Question 17

What are the key ideas in Kant?

Answer 17

1) we should not make an exception for ourselves (we should hold everyone to the same standard)
2) We must use reason to make decisions
3) value is placed on persons because they are ends in themselves

Question 18

John Rawls- A theory of justice- Ethics of the person (Chapter 5)

Answer 18

Equal Liberty Principle: One principle of justice

Difference Principle: Allowing for the minority to rise up in any situation

Question 19

Thought Experiment: Original Position:

Answer 19

a group of people that make up our society. Diverse in talents, social and economic advantage, intelligence, ambitions, values, convictions, commitments etc.

Question 20

Thought Experiment: “Veil of Ignorance”

Answer 20

behind the veil, every person is ignorant of the details of his/hers life (race, sex, class, natural abilities, social and economic position etc.)

Question 21

What is a consequential theory?

Answer 21

When the ending result/outcome is the most important; what matters the most is that the ending result leaves everyone happy

Question 22

Everything must be judged based on this principle. How do we do this?

Answer 22

Principle of utility (act in a way that is beneficial to others)
. based on the ending result (consequential ism)

Question 23

Objections to utilitarianism:

Answer 23

1) Problem of the future (the unknown)
2) Willing to sacrifice the minority (f the pleasure of the majority is greater than the minority than they are out of luck)
3) The measurement problem (there is no way to measure pleasure objectively)
4) Swine objection (if utilitarians are only concerned with the quantity and not quality than on an individual level the life of a human may be no better than an animal)

Question 24

What are Mill’s higher and lower pleasures?

Answer 24

Lower Pleasure: bodily pleasures such as sex, food, drink etc.
Higher Pleasure: come from the unique physiological faculties of humans (pleasure of intellect, emotion, imagination or moral sentiments) that tend to be self-sustaining and can not be over indulged (unique to humans)
A competent judge is the only one that can judge because they have experience with both pleasures

Question 25

Virtue of Ethics Ch 8

Answer 25

A person who has acquired the proper set of dispositions will do what is right when faced with a situation involving a moral choice

Question 26

What is hedonistic?

Answer 26

the thought that everyone is motivated by happiness and pleasure (life should be simple and we should just avoid pain) (modern day theory: hedonistic people are just selfish and only care about their own pleasure)

Question 27

Steps from hedonism to utilitarianism:

Answer 27

1) Happiness is our only goal
2) So we should maximize pleasure/happiness and minimize suffering
3) We are most happy when everyone is happy; so we should seek the greatest happiness for the greatest number

Question 28

What is the greek view of virtue?

Answer 28

Justice and Temperance (humility, patience and chasity)