meta ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What’s the Eurythphro Dilemma?

A

Is smth good bc God commands it? OR
Does God command it bc it’s good?

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2
Q

Which theory believes smth is good bc God commands it?

A

Divine command theory - morality dependant on God

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3
Q

Who were divine command theorists?

A

John Calvin + Karl Barth

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4
Q

What does Divine command theory believe?

A

God has been nice enough to command us w scriptures + teachings
Reaffirms Gods love, power etc

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5
Q

What’s an issue w DCT?

A

It’s meant to be timeless but what about biblical references to homophobia, women, slavery etc

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6
Q

What would God commanding smth bc its good imply?

A

God merely recognises morality
Limits his omnipotence
Goes against scripture

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7
Q

What did John Calvin believe?

A

The will of God is the supreme rule of righteousness; everything he wills must be righteous

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8
Q

What does Karl Barth believe?

A

Christians have scripture + Gods commands to make moral decisions

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9
Q

What are strengths of DCT?

A
  • Moral maxims are universally; apply at all time
  • Offers a means of proof concerning what’s right + wrong
  • Offers sense of justice; God sees everything
  • Offers a motive
  • Reaffirms God’s attributes
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10
Q

What are weaknesses of DCT?

A
  • Existence of God isn’t certain
  • What is God’s will
  • How do we interpret the holy book?
  • What about the other horn of the Eurythpro Dilemma
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11
Q

Which theories are ethical naturalism?

A

Utilitarianism, situation ethics, virtue ethics + natural moral law

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12
Q

Which theories are ethical non-naturalism?

A

Intuitionism + divine command theory

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13
Q

What is ethical naturalism?

A

Moral values can be described in terms of natural properties; objective part of the universe

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14
Q

Why are ethical naturalist theories naturalist?

A

They exist + can be described, so its possible to discover + understand them

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15
Q

What are 2 ethical naturalist theories? Who are the scholars?

A

Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarianism
Jon Stuart Mill’s utilitarianism

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16
Q

What is Bentham’s utilitarianism focused w?

A

Observation that human lives focus on maximising pleasure + minimising pain

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17
Q

What does Bentham say human action should be aimed at?

A

Greatest good for the greatest number

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18
Q

What did Bentham devise to help calculate the max. happiness?

A

The hedonic calculus

19
Q

What are the 7 criteria in the hedonic calculus?

A

Intensity, duration, certainty, proximity, productiveness, purity + extent

20
Q

What did the hedonic calculus mean for Bentham?

A

Bentham thought pain could be measured

21
Q

What is Bentham’s utilitarianism known as? Why?

A

Act utilitarianism
Focus on actions, not moral rules

22
Q

What is the diff between Bentham + Mill?

A

Mill didn’t believe all pleasures are equal + can be measured

23
Q

What did Mill believe?

A

Quality of life over pleasure
Higher + lower pleasures

24
Q

How did Mill see moral rules?

A

Moral rules had been developed bc they’re seen to result in the greatest benefits for society

25
Q

What is a criticism of naturalism? Who said this?

A

It commits the naturalistic fallacy
G.E. Moore

26
Q

What did Moore say?

A

You can’t derive ought from is
Can’t move from facts to values
Can’t move from knowledge to ethics

27
Q

What did Moore say you can’t do?

A

You can’t make the leap from a factual claim to an ethical claim from looking at facts around us

28
Q

What example can we use of the naturalistic fallacy?

A

Meat eaters say our teeth are designed for eating meat so we OUGHT to;
Moore may say we OUGHT to, doesn’t mean we SHOULD

29
Q

What are 2 strengths of ethical naturalism?

A
  • Factual + empirical nature of propositions
  • Objective nature of right/wrong enables us to assess our actions
30
Q

Is intuitionism naturalist or non-naturalist?

A

Non-naturalist

31
Q

What is intuitionism?

A

Standalone, self evident beliefs
Morality is objective

32
Q

Who is the scholar for intuitionism?

A

G.E. Moore

33
Q

What does intuitionism believe about morality?

A

Moral truths are self evident (gut instinct)

34
Q

What example can we use for intuitionism?

A

We instinctively know good, like how we instinctively know yellow
We rec. yellow but can’t define yellow
We know what’s good but can’t define it

35
Q

What is the quote from Moore about good?

A

“Good is good + that is the end of the matter”

36
Q

Which scholar goes w prima facie duties?

A

W.D. Ross

37
Q

What did W.D. Ross accept?

A

In some cases, there might be conflicting duties where it’s not always obv. which takes priorities

38
Q

What are Ross’ 6 prima facie duties?

A
  • Keeping promises
  • Pay back harm done to others
  • Not injure others
  • Return favours
  • Not harming innocent ppl
  • Look after parents
39
Q

What’s an example of a situation where duties might conflict?

A

Do you lie to the gunman to protect intended innocent victim?

40
Q

What are prima facie duties?

A

Conditional, not absolute + may change depending on situation

41
Q

What’s an example of the conditionality of prima facie duties?

A

A 5 yr old may lie bc their intuition isn’t fully developed

42
Q

What are 3 strengths of intuitionism?

A
  • Objective nature of morality helps us assess actions + give guidelines
  • Overcomes prob of disagreement w eth. nat. as to what’s right + wrong
  • Universal experience of moral intuition
43
Q

What are 3 weaknesses of intuitionism?

A
  • Morality cons. of sub. statements of approval
  • Where does intuition come from?