Meta Ethics

Question 1

strengths of utilitarianism

Answer 1

-utility principle is timeless
-practical- greatest good for greatest number can be applied by anyone
-for peace, sometimes the needs of the minority need to be compromises

Question 2

Weaknesses of utilitarianism

Answer 2

-happiness is not the only intrinsic good
-happiness varies between people, impossible to define
- impossible to be sure of the consequences of our actions
-ignores the rights of the minority

Question 3

Bentham’s View of Good

Answer 3

Good=pleasure
evil=pain

Question 4

Open question argument

Answer 4

Moore’s objection to utilitarianism

analytical statements cannot be questioned

“is a bachelor and unmarried man?” makes no sense

If good is pleasure, asking if good is pleasure is meaningless, but its not

Question 5

Rule Utilitarianism

Answer 5

JSM
there is a scale of good actions
average, everyday people shouldn’t judge this, experts should

Question 6

Act Utilitarianism

Answer 6

Bentham
what is good is what produces the most pleasure

this is found out through hedonic calculus

Question 7

Difference between Bentham’s and Mill’s Utilitarian principles

Answer 7

Bentham:
greatest good for the greatest number

JSM:
The greatest good for the greatest number

Mill also adds there is a hierarchy of actions

some are more “good” than others

Question 8

TULIP (with definitions)

Answer 8

Total depravity: you cant identify good except through the Bible

unconditional election: You cant make yourself elect, you are either saved or not

limited atonement: not everyone is saved

Irresistible grace: those who are saved find it easy to live as such

Perseverance of the saints: if you are saved, it will be manifested in the way you live

Question 9

Strengths of DCT

Answer 9

-The rules are universal
-fits with divine sovereignty
-Easy to apply- if God says its good, it must be
-emphasises virtue of obedience (Eph 6:6, be slaves of christ)
-God is a fair judge

Question 10

Weaknesses of DCT

Answer 10

-Bible contains somewhat immoral commands (slavery + homosexuality)
- Autonomy- to perform good actions, we must have the option not to, Calvin says we dont
-Bible can contain human error

Question 11

Ethical Naturalism vs Ethical non-Naturalism

Answer 11

Ethical naturalism- the meta-ethical view that morality is defined by facts about nature/-human nature

ethical non-naturalism- the meta-ethical view that moral virtues are objectively true or false but the good is not a feature of the natural view

Question 12

Which theories are naturalist vs non-naturalist

Answer 12

Naturalist- intuitionism

non-naturalism- DCT and Utilitarianism

Question 13

Divine Command Theory

Answer 13

The view that Good is whatever God says- revealed through scripture and the church

Calvin created and displayed the calvinist version

Question 14

What do Catholics say about DCT

Answer 14

-we can tell what is good and evil through our natural reasoning

-why would you do anything? you cant be saved or unsaved

Question 15

Emotivism

Answer 15

A.J. Ayer
He says ethics is non- cognitive and is a matter of feeling

to say “murder is wrong” his to say “I dont like murder”

Question 16

Intuitionism

Answer 16

G.E. Moore

A form of ethical non-naturalism

Moral knowledge of good is known by our intuition

Question 17

Strengths of intuitionism

Answer 17

-Moore said intuitionism is the natural way we make decisions. but we need to be more purposeful and systematic
-Applies to both atheists and theists
-Open question arg doesn’t disprove

Question 18

Weaknesses of intuitionism

Answer 18

-Assumes there is a universal definition of good- not the case
- No true conscience or intuition of good- comes from primary socialisation (Freud)