main arguments Flashcards
Natural Law
1-2
strengths
- deontological but still with some flexibilities/use of reason
weaknesses
- relies too heavily on religious principles with a western focus
- telos can be questioned, remove God you remove telos
kantian ethics
1-2
strengths
- it respects the intrinsic value of a person, treats people as ends in themselves making it less prone to personal bias
weaknesses
- it feels wrong to always ignore the outcome, against our nature
- it is much too abstract and theoretical
utilitarianism
1-2
strengths
- progressive and moves with the times/not religious and democratic
weaknesses
- Bentham’s theory can justify all sorts of things and causes issues for minorities
- Mill’s theory improves upon it by emphasising the quality of happiness not the quantity and rule over act but still runs into issues of measuring pleasure/def of higher pleasure
situation ethics
1-2
strengths
- good that it takes situation into account
weaknesses
- the concept of agape is very vague and difficult to actually apply
- it requires impossible predictions of the future and seems to be a worse version of utilitarianism
strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to CSR
2-2
strengths
- ensures businesses take consideration and see people as ends
- would help the environment
weaknesses
- may come at a detriment to business as it ignores profit
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory
strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to CSR
2-1
strengths
- ensures the company still makes a profit
- liberals in favour of companies deciding what’s best for themselves as opposed to government restrictions (Bentham and Mill were very liberterian)
weaknesses
- lack of a deontological outlook would result in no fixed principles and dubious practices
strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to whistleblowing
1-3
strengths
- ensures one does their duty regardless of outcome
weaknesses
- whistleblowing is hard for the individual and asks them to ignore the outcome
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory
- what to do when duties conflict
strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to whistleblowing
2-1
strengths
- always ensures that it benefits the most people
- makes the individual consider the consequences of their actions through the hedonic calculus
weaknesses
- just because most people benefit it could still seriously harm a few individuals (tyranny of the majority) and justify all sort of questionably business practices
strengths and weaknesses of a Kantian approach to globalisation
1-2
strengths
- ensures good pay and treatment of all workers regardless of pay/treats people as ends in themselves
weaknesses
- ignores profit
- issue of the specifity of maxims when actually applying the theory
strengths and weaknesses of a utilitarian approach to globalisation
3-1
strengths
- would ensure a company made a good profit and source the cheapest labour
- some forms of utlitarianism might view the suffering of a few individuals as not worth the pleasure of the masses
- they would point to the millions who have been lifted out of poverty as a result of globalisation
weaknesses
- other forms of utilitarianism might argue that poor treatment of some is worth the benefit of others
strengths of situation ethics applied to euthanasia
1
recognises the complexity and individuality of each case taking a teleological approach
weaknesses of situation ethics applied to euthanasia
3
- the lack of absolute rules means all sorts of things could be justified, could lead to a slippery slope… where do you stop
- it requires impossible predictions of the future
- ambiguous nature makes it hard to practically apply
strengths of natural law applied to euthanasia
1
deontological theory sets out a clear approach that is easy to follow
weaknesses of natural law applied to euthanasia
3
- fundamentally a religious theory that not every culture could apply
- relies on the principle of sanctity of life which is outdated in todays society (kind of just links to the above)
- lacks compassion for those who are greatly suffering
is the concept of sanctity of life still relevant in today’s society
1-2
yes
- it provides clear deontological guidelines that prevent a slippery slope
no
- we live in an increasingly globalised world with multicultural societies therefore a fundmentally religious principle is no longer helpful
- quality of life is significantly more helpful as it applies to everyone regardless of religion
strengths of naturalism/all cognitive theories
3
- upholds a moral standard
- allows for moral progress
- many fundamental moral principles are universally agreed upon
weaknesses of naturalism
3
- Hume’s is-ought problem
- G.E. Moorie’s naturalistic fallacy
- observing the world around us will always reflect its time e.g. hedonistic nature of the late 18th century (Bentham) or FH Bradley’s views on class division
weaknesses of intuitionism
2
- people’s intuitions differ
- doesn’t account for different ‘intuitions’ across cultures etc.
weaknesses of emotivism
1
could use Hick’s eschatological verification to argue for Ayer’s form of the verification principle but this would be rejected by anyone non-religious
strengths of Aquinas’ view on conscience
4
- improvement upon other religious theories on conscience
- takes into account that reason can be mistaken
- explains why we might change our minds
- explains moral disagreement
weaknesses of Aquinas’ view on conscience
- does not fit with our experience of conscience
- doesn’t take into account social and environmental factors
- takes a cognitive view that there is a ‘right’ conscience
strengths of Freud’s view on conscience
- tries to ground his explanation in scientific fact
- recognises the role of social and cultural factors
weaknesses of Freud’s view of conscience
- his research was based on only a handful of studies
- could not even be hypothetically empirically verified (Ayer)
- Popper, falsification and pseudo-science
