Lesson 12 - DEONTOLOGICAL / DUTY ETHICS

Question 1

___ is a normative moral theory which places special emphasis on the relationship between duty and the morality of human actions.

Answer 1

Deontological Ethics

Question 2

Deontological Ethics implies that an action is considered morally good because of ___

Answer 2

some characteristics of the action itself, not because the product of the action is good.

Question 3

Deontological Ethics holds that at least some acts are ___ regardless of their consequences for human welfare.

Answer 3

morally obligatory

Question 4

Deontological Ethics focuses on the___, as opposed fo the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions (Consequentialism) or to the character and habits of the actor (Virtue Ethics).

Answer 4

rightness or wrongness of actions themselves

Question 5

Deontological Ethics focuses on the___, as opposed to ___ or to the ___

Answer 5

rightness or wrongness of actions themselves

the rightness or wrongness of the consequences of those actions (Consequentialism)

character and habits of the actor (Virtue Ethics).

Question 6

Immanuel Kant’s ___ is the basis of his deontological ethics, or specifically ___

Answer 6

Categorical Imperative

his view of moral law

Question 7

Immanuel Kant defined imperative as ___

Answer 7

any proposition that declares a certain action (or inaction) to be necessary, that is, a command addressed to agents who could follow it but might not

Question 8

2 kinds of imperatives

Answer 8

hypothetical and categorical

Question 9

___ would compel action in a given circumstance.

Answer 9

Hypothetical Imperative (HI)

Question 10

IK called any action based on desires a ___

Answer 10

hypothetical imperative

Question 11

i.e., it is a command of reason that applies only if one desires the goal in question

Answer 11

hypothetical imperative

Question 12

denotes an absolute, unconditional requirement that exerts its authority in all circumstances, both required and justified as an end in itself

Answer 12

categorical imperative (Cl)

Question 13

Thus, the command “Be honest, so that people may think well of you.” is an ___ while the command “Thou shall not steal.” is a ___

Answer 13

HI

Cl

Question 14

IK argues that ___ must be ___. They must apply to all rational beings, regardless of their wants and feelings.

Answer 14

the commands of morality

categorical imperatives

Question 15

IK saw ___ as a ___, an unconditional command, and believed that its content could be established by ___ alone

Answer 15

moral law

categorical imperative

human reason

Question 16

Kantian Ethics is composed of the following concepts:

Answer 16

a. the idea of the good will
b. duty and the moral worth of an act
c. formulations of the categorical imperative

Question 17

for IK, it is that which facilitates a human act. It is that which enables every agent to do an act

Answer 17

the Good Will

Question 18

Good will is called ___ and not that it produces good result or is done for the greatest number of people likely to be affected

Answer 18

good by virtue of its intrinsic value

Question 19

Good will is ___ ; it is good without any ___

Answer 19

good without qualification

condition

Question 20

How is good will demonstrated?

Answer 20

For IK, the good will is demonstrated when the agent performs an act for the sake of duty

Question 21

When you want to help a friend in need and expect something in return, ___

Answer 21

your good will is NOT good without qualification

Question 22

When you offer your help because you believe that it is your duty to do so, ___

Answer 22

your good will is GOOD without qualification

Question 23

IK argued that the will is ___

Answer 23

autonomous, self-legislating

Question 24

The autonomy of the will implies that it is not ___. Hence, when you do an act, your will is autonomous if ___

Answer 24

influenced by outside factors

you are not forced to do it

Question 25

According to Kant, ___ must be the motive of a moral act. Hence, ___ must not be the motive in the performance of any moral act.

Answer 25

Duty

inclinations or self-interest

Question 26

If I conduct a class discussion, my motive should be duty, that is, I am moved to do this act because it is my ___ as a teacher and not ___ that I will get in doing so.

Answer 26

obligation

my interest of the salary

Question 27

means duty

Answer 27

deon

Question 28

First Formulation

Answer 28

Principle of Universality

Question 29

Act only on that maxim through which you can, at the same time will, that it should become a universal law.

Answer 29

First Formulation

Question 30

a short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct

Answer 30

maxim

Question 31

commands that every maxim someone acts on must be such that others are willing to make it the case, that is, all must do the same act as commanded by the maxim

Answer 31

First Formulation

Question 32

If the maxim cannot be ___, then the action ___

Answer 32

universalized

has no moral worth

Question 33

the act of stealing ___

Answer 33

cannot be universalized, even if someone is willing to steal, reason tells us we cannot force everyone to will the same

Question 34

the act of helping a friend

Answer 34

is universalizable, because we can expect everyone to will the same

Question 35

Second Formulation

Answer 35

Humanity Formula or Formula of the End

Question 36

Act that you use humanity, whether in our own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means

Answer 36

Humanity Formula or Formula of the End

Question 37

IK argued that every human has an ___ and should never be treated as a means to a particular end

Answer 37

inherent value

Question 38

For IK, once a human being is treated as a ___, then he is reduced into ___

Answer 38

means

things or on the level of animals

Question 39

Any act that treats humans as a means is ___

Answer 39

not morally right

Question 40

Third Automation

Answer 40

Autonomy Formula

Question 41

Act so that through your maxims you could be a legislator of universal laws.

Answer 41

Third Formulation

Question 42

Human beings are the ___ rather than ___

Answer 42

universal law givers

universal law followers

Question 43

This is the very source of ___ IK speaks of in the second formulation as ___

Answer 43

dignity of humanity

man’s inherent value

Question 44

The ___ presumably puts on display the source of ___, our status as free rational agents who are the source of the authority behind ___.

Answer 44

Autonomy formula

our dignity and worth

the very moral laws that bind us

Question 45

Act in accordance with the maxims of a member giving universal laws for a merely possible kingdom of ends.

Answer 45

The Kingdom of Ends Formula

Question 46

The Kingdom of Ends Formula implies that our fundamental moral obligation is to ___ each of whom have an equal share in legislating these principles for their community.

Answer 46

act only on principles which could earn acceptance by a community of fully rational agents

Question 47

This states that an action is right if God has decreed that it is right, and that an act is obligatory if and only if (and because) if is commanded by God. Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.

Answer 47

Divine Command Theory

God’s commands

Question 48

This holds that humans have absolute natural rights (in the sense of universal rights fhaf are inherent in the nature of ethics, and not contingent on human actions or beliefs). Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.

Answer 48

Natural Rights Theory

human rights

Question 49

It holds that moral acts are those that we would all agree to if we were unbiased, and that moral rules themselves are a sort of a contract, and therefore only people who understand and agree to the terms of the contract are bound by it. Thus, moral obligations arise from ___.

Answer 49

Moral Theory of Contractarianism

contract or mutual agreement

Question 50

This was advocated by ___, who argues that there are seven ___which need to be taken into consideration when deciding which duty should be acted upon.

Answer 50

Pluralistic Deontology

William David Ross (1877 - 1971)

prima facia duties

Question 51

to help other people to increase their pleasure, improve their character, etc.

Answer 51

I. Duty of Beneficence

Question 52

to avoid harming other people

Answer 52

II. Duty of Non-maleficence

Question 53

to ensure people get what they deserve

Answer 53

III. Duty of Justice

Question 54

to improve ourselves

Answer 54

IV. Duty of Self-improvement

Question 55

to recompense someone if you have acted wrong towards them

Answer 55

V. Duty of Reparation

Question 56

to benefit people who have benefited us

Answer 56

VI. Duty of Gratitude