Normative ethical theories and issues surrounding them

Question 1

What was Michael a fox and Cohan quotes on how humans should treat humans?

Answer 1

Michael a fox= “animals are not part of the moral community”

Cohan= “animals lack the bare elements that makes humans moral persons”

Question 2

What are some reasons why treating animals in any way we feel fit is acceptable?

Answer 2

• Xenotransplantation- animals give there organs to humans and it is placed inside a human.
• in blood sports in particularly bull fighting maintains tradition in areas like Spain and it has been a tradition since 711 AD also it can help the economy in an area
• animals used as food are a great source of protein for humans so this could support the hierarchy of the souls
• Insulin can be extracted from the pancreas of pigs and use to treat diabetes in humans

Question 3

What does the beatific vision mean?

Answer 3

The ultimate,direct self- communication of god to humanity .

Aquinas talks about this in his NML and states this is how we as humanity can only complete happiness

Question 4

What does Aquinas state we have to remember when trying to act in a right way ?

Answer 4

• We have to differentiate between real and apparent goods

- The act has to be a good interior and and exterior act( intentions and the nature of the act have to both be good)

Question 5

Give 3 virtues and the vices of them?

Answer 5

cowardice——-courage——-recklessness
Stinginess——-generosity——–extravagance
boorishness——–wittiness——–buffoonery
———————–justice——————————–

Question 6

In aristotles V.E. what does phronimos mean?

Answer 6

A man of practical wisdom who is best qualified to define virtuous behaviour in any given situation.

Question 7

In Aristotle’s V.E. what does the key term Theoria mean?

Answer 7

Theoria = The intellectual virtue of contemplation, which Aristotle finally decides constitutes the good life for humans.

Question 8

What is a quote we can use to eudaimonia ?

Answer 8

“An activity of the soul in accord with virtue”

Question 9

When talking about Aristotle and the soul where does he state intellectual virtues and moral virtues come from?

Answer 9

Intellectual — The rational soul

Moral — The non-rational soul

Question 10

What is a quote to support for situationism?

Answer 10

Situation with is

“Empirical, fact-minded, data conscious, inquiring”

Question 11

What is Aristotle’s argument for theoria?

Answer 11

• happiness is an activity which conforms to the highest virtue, which must be the best thing in us
• the highest thing in us is reason, that is, our intelligence
• since scientific discoveries are the highest objects of knowledge, contemplation of them give us our greatest happiness, not least because we can contemplate whenever we like
• contemplate, being pure reasoning, is in effect contemplation of the divine, so theoretical reasoning has to be the greatest thing we can do-practical reason is merely human

Question 12

What is a quote that begins VE and Aristotle theory?

Answer 12

“ every art and every enquiry, and similarly every action as well as choice, is held to aim at some good”

This it’s a teleological claim
It shows there is a large variety of ends at which we can aim
It suggests that there is some final end to which all activities are directed

Question 13

What does Aristotle state happiness is?

Answer 13

Firstly he states that happiness is not pleasure as Aristotle states even cattle experience pleasure

Aristotle states that happiness and eudaimonia is a function of the human

Question 14

In Aquinas NML what are the ‘seven virtues’ made up from the 4 cardinal virtues and the 3 Christian theological virtues?

Answer 14

4 Cardinal virtues

• Prudence
• Justice
• Fortitude
• Temperance

3 Christian theological virtues

• Faith
• Hope
• Love

Question 15

Fletcher who is a situationist (middle between legalism and antinomianism) rejects the views of which legalistic philosopher ?

Answer 15

• Kant

This is because in the example of the mad-axeman Kant, a legalist, would hold we need to tell the truth to the mad axe-man

Question 16

What is a key fact we can use when talking about the status of animals and animal intelligence?

Answer 16

Chimpanzees can use computer imagery to demonstrate a vocabulary of 1500 words, and in some shirt-term numerical memory tests out-perform humans

Question 17

When applying ethical theories to non-human issues what is a quote by Kant on the rights of animals (contextual knowledge)?

Answer 17

“As far as animals are concerned, we have no direct duties”

Question 18

What do these key principles mean (they link to animals and the status they hold (contextual knowledge));

• Absolute dismissal argument
• Pragmatic dismissal argument

Answer 18

Absolute dismissal argument = Animals are for whatever reason placed outside the bounds of moral consideration

Pragmatic dismissal argument = animals are accorded moral status but is not equal to the moral status accorded to humans. The moral status of animals would only be reduced in circumstances where it threatened the survival or human communities or individuals

Question 19

Who argues against hurthouse and actually supports Blood Sports (VE) ?

Answer 19

• Scruton

Argues that blood sports shows courage as the bull fighter is courageous

Question 20

Who opposes Aquinas idea that from the hierarchy of souls and potential rights of animals are subsumed under humans (NML)

Answer 20

• Barad

“An animals capacities have value independent of their usefulness to humans”