Lecture 2. Moral Reasoning Flashcards
What is normative dominance?
It is the idea that moral norms override other norms.
What is universality?
The concept that morality should be consistent in all situations.
What is impartiality?
Equal consideration unless there are MORALLY RELEVANT differences
What is the difference between agent neutrality and agent relativity?
Agent neutrality - Moral norms apply in every situation - perfectly impartial
Agent-relativity - Some suffering is more important than others subjectively
What is the difference between right, obligation, permission, and superogatoration?
Right: Obligation (wrong not to do) or Permission (not wrong not to do)
Superogatory: Above and beyond the call of duty
What falls under the categories prima facie and absolute?
Moral duties
What is the difference between prima facie and absolute moral duties?
Prima facie - Principles apply unless an exception is granted given other principles
Absolute - without exception
What is the harm principle?
We can lower autonomy to prevent harm to others
What is the difference between weak and strong paternalism?
Weak - when one cannot autonomously make the decisions on their own
What is the difference between non-maleficence and beneficence?
Non-Maleficence is about not causing unnecessary harm, and beneficence is about an obligation to do as good as one can
What are the two viewpoints of distributive justice? Who are the leading philosophers in each?
Egalitarianism - equal distribution of economic advantages and opportunities - John Rawls
Libertarianism - autonomy over equality - Nozick
What was the basis of John Rawls Theory of Justice?
Justice is decided as a social contract in the original position where we adopt a veil of ignorance (nobody knows anything about each other)
Who came up with the equal liberty principle and the difference principle?
John Rawls
What is the equity liberty principle?
Everyone should has rights to the maximum without infringing on others rights
What is the difference principle?
Social/Economic inequalities are permissible if they benefit the least advantaged, or they are available to all under fair equal opportunity
What is the maximin rude?
Choose the social arrangement that has the least worst possible outcome
What are the three rules of Nozick’s Entitlement theory of Justice?
- Principle of justice in acquisition holds
- Principle of justice in transfer holds
- Nobody is entitled to anything not gotten through acquisition or transfer
What is the justification of Nozick’s theory?
Liberty upsets patterns
What are some bioethical challenges faced by Nozick’s theory?
Unequal distribution attached to goods and money, imposes obligations, inequalities will not be addressed
What is the difference between moral objectivism and moral absolutism?
Objective principles may still have exceptions, absolutism will not
What is ethical relativism?
Moral standards depend on individuals/cultures
What are the two types of relativism based on individuals/cultures?
Subjective relativism/ cultural relativism
What are the challenges associated with the two types of relativism?
Subjective:
infallibility of individuals, moral conflict is reduced
Cultural:
criticism of other cultures is prevented
No moral progress
potentially different cultures for one individual
What is divine command theory? What are the two dilemmas with this?
Morality is based on divine will
Is morality arbitrary off of God’s will
OR
Does god only command good things, which implies good exists outside of god
What is metaphysics?
The study of existence
What is an ontology?
It is a study/assumption about what makes up reality
What is the naturalistic fallacy?
Poor assumption that natural = good/desirable
Define Autonomy
The respect for the right to rational self-determination
