Lecture 2 - Normative Ethics

Question 1

Beneficence

Answer 1

Do good

Question 2

Objections to Utilitarianism

Answer 2

Inadequate respect for individuals. Too demanding. Only forward-looking. Inconsistent with fair distributions of wealth.

Question 3

Normative ethics.

Answer 3

The systematic inquiry into what makes up the substantive content of morality - in particular, into what moral value consists in, what our duties are, what makes right actions right, what makes a good person, and includes inquires into related moral concepts, such as virtue, freedom, justice, fairness, rights, goodness, and obligation.

Question 4

Advantages of a Kantian outlook

Answer 4

Appeals to intuitive ideas: an ethic of respect for persons. Motive is central to moral action. Establishes limited conditions on others’ freedom of action (more respect for individuals compared to utilitarianism; limited paternalism). Not as demanding as utilitarianism. Consistent with rights.

Question 5

___ + ___ = moral judgements

Answer 5

Moral values and non-moral facts.

Question 6

Two Formulations for the Categorical Imperative

Answer 6

1. Formula of the Universal Law

2. Principle of Respect for Persons

Question 7

The formula of the universal law

Answer 7

Act as if the maxim of your actions should become a universal law.

Question 8

Why is a human being an end in itself?

Answer 8

A person is not a mere object, so it does not have only conditional value. Since a person must recognize themselves as having unconditional value, they must recognize this about all other relevantly similar beings.

Question 9

The concept of a right

Answer 9

A moral claim that is supposed to supercede claims based on the goodness of an act or its consequences.

Question 10

Advantages of deontology

Answer 10

Not teleological, Often process-oriented. It can account for personal (backward looking) duties. It gives respect to individuals.

Question 11

Objections to Principle of Respect for Persons

Answer 11

What about non-rationals? Theory doesn’t recognize moral relevance of suffering well enough.

Question 12

Who should decide who is right or wrong?

Answer 12

No one. Morality is evidence-based, so we follow the evidence.

Question 13

Teleological theories give priority to the ___ over the ___.

Answer 13

Teleological theories give priority to the good over the right.

Question 14

Intrinsic value

Answer 14

Something that is valuable for its own sake and not merely for any consequences that it brings about.

Question 15

Non-maleficence

Answer 15

Do no harm

Question 16

Utlitarianism

Answer 16

Answers questions about what duties we have, what virtues to pursue, what is just/unjust, what we should admire, and how we should generally live, in terms of what maximizes overall happiness.

Question 17

Autonomy

Answer 17

Respect preferences of persons

Question 18

Deontology

Answer 18

Rightness/duty is not exclusively, and perhaps not at all, a matter of promoting a standard of goodness (good consequences).

Question 19

Care Ethics

Answer 19

A new moral theory based in a descriptive study of moral decision-making by Gilligan. Focus is on preserving relationships and protecting the vulnerable and dependent. An alternative to utilitarianism and Kantianism.

Question 20

Justice

Answer 20

Be fair; treat like cases alike

Question 21

Another word for consequentialism

Answer 21

Teleological

Question 22

Who decides what is right and wrong?

Answer 22

No one. Morality is evidence-based.

Question 23

What is the most prominent contemporary consequentialist theory?

Answer 23

Utilitarianism

Question 24

Deontological theories give priority to the ___ over the ___.

Answer 24

Deontological theories give priority to the right over the good.

Question 25

Consequentialist Theories of Normative Ethics

Answer 25

Rightness is a function of promoting good consequences (or a standard of goodness).

Question 26

Deontological Theories of Normative Ethics

Answer 26

Rightness/duty is not purely, and perhaps not at all, a function of promoting good consequences (or a standard of goodness).

Question 27

Advantages of Utilitarianism

Answer 27

Systematizes moral ideas. Is impartial. Promotes happiness/well-being. Provides a decision principle.

Question 28

Instrumental value

Answer 28

Something that is valuable as a means to promoting intrinsic value.

Question 29

Kant’s 2-part Deontological Moral Theory

Answer 29

1. Morality is a matter of acting with a proper motive.
2. Duty:
   2a) Act with a good will.
   2b) Be motivated in one’s actions by the categorical imperative.

Question 30

Is morality a rational subject area?

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

The principles of biomedical ethics

Answer 31

Non-maleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice.

Question 32

Examples of instrumental value

Answer 32

Work, money, clothes, and shelter.

Question 33

What is an “end in itself”?

Answer 33

Something of ultimate value, or valuable independently of any desire or taste I or anyone might have.

Question 34

In terms of biomedical ethics, what is something missing from both utilitarianism and Kantianism?

Answer 34

Neither focus enough on preserving relationships.

Question 35

What kind of value do “things” have?

Answer 35

Things have value conditionally only as a means to promote human ends, and it is human ends that give them value.

Question 36

Metaethics

Answer 36

The inquiry into whether morality has an objective basis.

Question 37

Principle for the respect for persons

Answer 37

Act in such a way as always to treat humanity, in my own person or others, never merely as a means, but always at the same time as an end.

Question 38

A challenge to “utilitarianism promotes happiness and well-being.”

Answer 38

Pleasure isn’t the only thing that matters in life.

Question 39

Moral values + Non-moral facts =

Answer 39

Moral judgements (claims, beliefs, assertions).

Question 40

What is the name of a view that reduces morality to mere taste and custom?

Answer 40

Cultural relativism.