Moral Philosophy Notes final Flashcards
What is Kant’s Categorical Command
Absolute Command
What is social contract theory
Having a moral duty to follow society’s rules whenever and because we’re better off given that everyone follows the rules
What is Utilitarianism
to maximize utility that produces a great balance of pleasure minus pain
what’s the difference between instrinsic and instrumental goods?
Instrumental are things that’re good that lead to something else, intrinsic is things that’re good for their own sake.
give a definition for hedonism, universalism and maximalism
H: pleasure is only instrinsic good, pain is instrinsic bad
U:Everyones pleasure and pain is equally important
M: We have a duty to maximize good in the world.
what’s ethical egoism?
We should always do what’s in your best interest.
Why is E.E. not a moral theory?
Its judgments about what we should do don’t implicate S.A.P.S
What is Ockham’s razor?
If hypothesis isn’t necessary part of explanation, remove it
What’s NLT?
God created everything with purpose or function and it’s wrong to act contrary to one’s purposes or function.
what are two objections to Utilitarianism
Too demanding and the second is can’t make sense of moral rights
What’s the first and second formulation of categorical imperative
Act only according to a maxim that it should become a universal law
act so that you treat humanity always as an end and never as a means only.
what is paternalism?
Forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do for their own good
what is the difference between utilitarianism and retributivism in terms of punishment
U: punishment’s justified so long as it maximizes utility
R: punishment’s justified so long as the person deserves it.
What is aristotle’s virtue ethics
something flourishes when it performs its function excellently. Purpose of human is to reason so human flourishes when they reason excellently. To reason excellently is to act in accordance with the virtues according to Aristotle.
what are the two incompleteness objections for Aristotle virtue ethics
What counts as a desirable trait can depend on a culture and virtue ethics is incomplete in the sense that it can’t always guide our behavior.
What’s the difference between descriptive and normative?
D: how the world really is
N: not how the world is but how the world should be.
What are social accountability practices
When someone morally wrongs another they’re worthy of blame owing an apology, they owe a dirt of repair, the one who’s wronged can forgive.
Is “killing is always wrong” a descriptive or a normative claim and why?
Killing is always wrong is a normative claim because it’s arguing what you should not do.
What are right wrong and permissible actions?
R: should be done if not you’re to blame
W: should not be done if done you’re blame worthy
P: neither right nor wrong, they’re optional
Why is E.E. inconsistent with role obligations
Because it denies that we owe others moral obligations because of our special relationship.
What are role obligations?
Duties that we owe to particular people in virtue of our relationship with them (friends, family).
What is the difference to treat someone as a means, an end or a means only
Means is using them to get what you want
An end is to respect what they want
Means only to get what you want without also helping them get what they want
What would be considered an informal rule?
An informal rule would be if a stranger dates a young adult and the punishment by the public is looking at you in disgust
What did you do that produced more utility and why?
I helped my team on doing an event. My actions right because there’s nothing else I could’ve done that produced more utility
