Exam Notes Flashcards
Describe Aristotles ethics.
Humans find happiness in community and through goals/aim.
Highest capacity of humans is to be rational.
Doctrine of the mean = moderation.
Being rational helps develop character (good or bad). Character helps us develop habits which help us develop virtues/vices.
We become virtuous by continuously doing the right thing.
What is Aristotle’s ethics called?
Teleological ethics
What is Aristotle’s view on the 4 ethical scenarios/reactions?
The scream = aim is to help the person in need, must think rationally to determine if it’s better to call for help or give it.
The beggar = doctrine of the mean, don’t be cheap or excessive but generous.
The obligation = don’t be blindly obedient but obey reasonable requests.
The intolerable = it’s unreasonable to tolerate injustices. We must develop virtues to continue being just.
How does Aristotle define the Good Life?
Everyone seeks happiness.
We must act intelligently rather than on desires.
Don’t find THE good but A good
A good = real, THE good = God
Develop good character by acting virtuously to control passions through reasoning.
Name Kants Ethics.
Deontological ethics
Describe Kants ethics.
Good will = thé will to do our duty for no other reason than that it is our duty.
An act is good when done for our DUTY.
Actions are done based on duty not desires.
- DUTY is determined by
PRINCIPLES/MAXIMS.
God, freedom and immortality help achieve the supreme good.
Don’t treat others as a means to an end.
Don’t lie, it removed others freedom by withholding info.
How would Kant react to the ethical principles?
The Scream = we have a DUTY to respond to them. Maximes
The Beggar = the person is not a means but an end, universal maxim.
The Obligation = obligated to fulfill our duties and maxims.
The intolerable = we respond to injustices based on maxims
- (most injustices formed due to
treating others like a means to
an end)
How does Kant view the Good Life?
Happiness lies in people and within ourselves.
- we must act autonomously
Good will is of higher value than intelligible goods.
-intelligible goods < GOOD WILL
Moral acts are entirely selfless we must not enjoy the act.
What was the name of Levinas ethics?
Relational ethics
Describe Levinas ethics.
The search for THE Good = the search for God.
Main question = where is the good?
Everything is a unique expression of the Good and traces of God.
Traces of god = finite, god = infinite
The Face of the Other calls me to respond and be responsible.
The face is the most naked part of the body & the eyes penetrate all masks.
Goodness = responsibility for the Other.
How would Levinas react to the ethical experiences?
The Scream = we are responsible for the Other and must help them.
The Beggar = we are called to respond to the Other and in doing so recognize our own humility and goodness.
The Obligation = we are liberated (by the Face) when we fulfill our obligations to the Other.
The Intolerable = summoned to act to end injustices. The Face helps recognize the injustices.
How does Levinas define the Good Life?
Caring for others/The Other.
Goodness = responsibility for The Other.
The Other frees us.
How does Plato define the good life?
Don’t find THE Good but Good Things (ie. Beauty).
Closest we come to the good is in contemplation of it.
Fought against Sophists.
Plato believed through reason we find the pervading good.
How did St.Thomas Aquinas define the Good Life?
At a persons core is the desire for good.
God = highest Good.
Happiness cannot be complete on Earth despite happiness found through virtues.
Must follow Natural Law ( follow what God intended and what we naturally want to follow based on God).
Goodness is found in the Cardinal Virtues and the Theological Virtues.
Define Human Freedom Theory.
The freedom to act or not act.
We are responsible for our actions as we choose to do them autonomously.
Will + act = willed act
The will is invisible and without it there’s no Justice.
What is the churches view on human freedom?
We have the power to choose our own destiny by making good ethical, moral and spiritual choices.
The will is gods most precious gift.
What is Naturalism?
Everything is shaped by nature.
CAUSE AND EFFECT!!!
We are unable to intend as we are genetically preprogrammed.
We aren’t responsible for our actions as we can’t and don’t will them.
Bonus: what is AI theory?
We are genetically preprogrammed and all choices we make are a result of our genes/genetics.
Define predestination.
God predetermines the entire course or history and each humans fate.
Define providence.
Gods influence on events and actions.
What is religious pré-determinism?
Fate is determined at birth by God.
- ie. Once a sinner always a sinner
Our choices don’t impact our fate so we’re not responsible for them.
God pre determines our life.
Not responsible for our actions as we don’t control them.
What is Social determinism?
We are never free as we are a product of what others have done to us.
Human behaviour is driven by UNCONSCIOUS DESIRED and IMPULSES based on REPRESSED impulses and desires which drives the UNCONSCIOUS MIND.
SIGMUND FREUD = unconscious determinism
Freud believed that until you reconnect with the repressed memory your actions aren’t free.
There is no moral value to our actions as they are consequences of external pressures.
What is the first anthropological trait?
Importance of others:
Relationships and others help determine our actions
Others help us to rewatch our true self.
NARCISSISM: self absorption to the exclusion of others
What is the second anthropological trait?
Having a direction in life:
Knowing who you are means knowing where you stand.
Identity emerges from your direction in life.
Describe the third anthropological trait: Importance of communication/language.
**importance of communication/language: **
Our community helps shape our beliefs and values and teach what’s right and wrong.
Language is meaningless without shared experiences.
Describe the importance of character and my body.
Our actions shape our character.
Repeated actions create habits
Our choices are a result of our beliefs, values and habits.
Describe the character cycle
Conscience (choices and actions) —> habits (virtues and vices) —> character
What is the 5th anthropological trait? Describe it.
** Importance of conscience: **
Conscience and FREUD
Id = I want (desires)
Ego = regulates the id’s desires
Super ego = regulates our conduct through guilt and fear of punishment.
What is the last anthropological trait? Describe it
**Development of Conscience: **
Develops as we mature, through experiences, virtues, and helps us realize rights and wrongs.
Develops through our faith, scripture and Eucharist.
List the characteristics of an informed conscience.
Scripture
Church teachings and traditions
Christian community guidelines
Humility
The Eucharist