Intro and Consequentialist Frameworks Flashcards
What is cultural relativism, also known as ethical relativism?
The idea that values change from society to society, thus making ethics relative to cultural context
-no overarching, always right or wrong answer
What is ethnocentrism?
Thinking your cultures values are the best or that your way of doing something is correct for everyone and not seeing how that is a product of your culture
How do cultural relativism and ethnocentrism interact?
CR acts as a guard against Ethno. because you are able to see how values change in different cultures
What is our applied ethics model?
- Moral Principle
- Account for the relevant facts
- Practical conclusion
Under utilitarianism are right and wrong mutually exclusive?
Yes, thus it is wrong to not do what is right (there is not different levels of right)
What are the consequentialist frameworks?
Utilitarianism (Hedonistic/Act, Rule, and Preference), Contractualism (Social Contract)
Describe what consequentialism is
an ethical framework where the moral rightness of acts depends only on the consequences of that act, not necessarily the act itself
Describe Hedonistic/Act Utilitarianism
act is morally right if and only if that act maximizes the good and the total amount is greater in pleasures than any other act available.
- Maximize happiness/wellbeing
- Considers specifics
Describe Rule Utilitarianism
We are guided by general rules that tell us what choices will lead to the most happiness/wellbeing and then we must follow the those rules even when we don’t feel like it or the rule might not provide maximum pleasure in a given situation.
-Does not allow for specifics
What is the issue with AU and RU that does not exist with PU?
AU and RU both only account for actual or expected consequences, they do not take into account preferences.
Describe Preference Utilitarianism
Only the satisfaction of having our INTRINSIC preferences, or desires, that we hold for our own lives are of importance to our welfare.
-Takes into consideration our personal intrinsic preferences.
What are the 2 rules that must be met for Preference Utilitarianism?
The preferences are for our own lives (not the lives of others) and they have to be intrinsic preferences (not means to an end)
Scenario: Peeping Tom is watching you undress, you are completely unaware. Is this ethical?
Assess from AU, RU, PU frameworks
AU: Peeping tom’s happiness increases while yours stays the same since you are unaware. So keep peeping
RU: What is the rule to set for everyone? As long as the person peeped on is never made aware of the fact that they are peeped on, everyone should peep because it increases the welfare of the peep.tom without effecting the other party
PU: We prefer privacy (not as a means to an end but as a personal desire/preference) so it is unethical from our point of view.
Scenario: Should I lie to win a game? Assess from AU/RU/PU
AU: If you lie and are not caught, you will be happier and the opponent’s welfare will not be decreased lower if the do not know.
Rule: Lying will produce more welfare for you, and not effect the other team any more than if they lost fairly. So lie (blanket effect, does not take into account the getting caught)
Preference: Lying frustrates athletes’ desire to win honestly so never lie
What are the 5 critiques of Utilitarianism?
- Impossible to apply when considering all the possible outcomes and factors that need to be considered
- Threat to close family and friends (we may determine our lives or the world would be better off without someone)
- Too demanding, any time we are able to increase the overall wellbeing and fail to do so we have failed utilitarianism (ex give wealth to starving people)
- Too permissive, ONLY THE CONSEQUENCES MATTER, thus the act itself is neither right nor wrong. Trying to harm someone but if you end up accidentally helping them you were ethical
- Does not take equality seriously (slavery)
other: promotes selfish/damaging behaviours: sitting on couch, eating chips and playing video games = happiness so do it
