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Ethics > Normative Ethics > Flashcards

Normative Ethics Flashcards

1
Q

What is meant by a normative ethical theory?

A

A theory designed to guide decision-making (one which provides a set of norms, or rules)

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2
Q

What is meant by a character-based theory? Which theories have we looked at which are character-based?

A

An ethical theory which focuses on the moral qualities of the individual, rather than the action they are performing or its consequences.
e.g. Virtue Ethics

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3
Q

What is meant by a deontological theory? Which theories have we looked at which are deontological?

A

An ethical theory which focuses on absolute/binding rules or duties, from the Greek deon- meaning ‘that which is binding’.
e.g. NML, Kantian Ethics

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4
Q

What is meant by a teleological theory? Which theories have we looked at which are teleological?

A

An ethical theory which focuses on the end or purpose of an act, from the Greek telos meaning ‘end’.
e.g. Situation Ethics, Utilitarianism

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5
Q

What type of theory is Virtue Ethics?

A

Character-based

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6
Q

Who is the main scholar associated with Virtue Ethics?

A

Aristotle

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7
Q

In which work would we find Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics?

A

Nicomachean Ethics

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8
Q

What is Eudaimonia?

A

Flourishing; a life lived in accordance with perfect virtue; the end and reward of virtue

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9
Q

What is arete?

A

Greek for virtue or excellence; the word used to refer to a thing carrying out its function/achieving its telos well - for humans this involves following the virtues

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10
Q

Which two types of virtue does Aristotle include in his list?

A

Moral & Intellectual

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11
Q

What is phronesis in Virtue Ethics?

A

Practical wisdom; the ability to make sound judgments in real situations

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12
Q

Give two examples of moral virtues from Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics

A

Courage / Justice / Honesty / Temperance / Friendliness

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13
Q

Give two examples of intellectual virtues from Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics

A

Theoretical wisdom / practical wisdom / open-mindedness / inquisitiveness / technical skill

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14
Q

What is the golden mean?

A

The midpoint between the vices of excess and deficiency, where perfect virtue is found

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15
Q

What is vice of excess? Give an example

A

A vice in which a trait is possessed to too great a degree, e.g. bravery as recklessness, friendliness as obsequiousness

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16
Q

What is vice of deficiency? Give an example

A

A vice in which a trait is lacking, e.g. cowardice instead of bravery, miserliness instead of friendliness

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17
Q

What is a sophron in Virtue Ethics?

A

A perfectly virtuous person, who is able to perform virtuous acts out of habit and without conscious self-control

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18
Q

How would virtue ethics respond to theft/lying?

A

Generally against as these acts will likely be connected with some kind of vice (e.g. greed/dishonesty) however there might be some situations in which they show virtue, for example if it is practically wise to lie to someone

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19
Q

Give two strengths of virtue ethics

A

It is an adaptable theory as new virtues can be formulated to reflect the changes in society, plus many of Aristotle’s original virtues are still important today / By focusing on character and fulfilment it is more motivating to follow than a set of rules

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20
Q

Give two weaknesses of Virtue Ethics

A

It is an outdated theory which can be hard to separate from its social context. Many of the virtues are focused on wealthy Athenian men e.g. magnanimity is described in a very masculine way; courage is formulated in terms of war; women are considered incapable of sticking to the intellectual virtues. / It could be argued that the theory is too flexible to solve the moral problems of specific issues e.g. with no exact rules is it clear what is ‘brave’ and ‘wise’ in terms of abortion?

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21
Q

What type of theory is Natural Moral Law?

A

Deontological

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22
Q

Who is the main scholar associated with Natural Moral Law?

A

St Thomas Aquinas

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23
Q

In which work would we find Aquinas’ Natural Moral Law?

A

Summa Theologica

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24
Q

What are Aquinas’ four levels of law?

A

Eternal Law (mind of God)
Divine Law (revealed scripture)
Natural Law (human reason)
Human Law (law of society)

25
Q

According to Aquinas, what is Natural Law?

A

The God-given knowledge of right and wrong possessed by all humans

26
Q

What is synderesis?

A

The innate desire to do good and avoid evil that all humans experience

27
Q

What are Aquinas’ Five Primary Precepts?

A

Preservation of Life
Ordered Society
Worship God
Education
Reproduction

28
Q

What are the secondary precepts in Natural Moral Law?

A

Specific rules which can be derived from the Primary Precepts e.g. Preserve Life -> Do not murder

29
Q

According to Aquinas, how do we discover the secondary precepts?

A

Through use of conscientia (practical reason)

30
Q

What is the role of human reason in NML?

A

Absolutely central - NML teaches that scripture will confirm what human reason can discover independently about right and wrong; we should apply our reasoning carefully in every situation

31
Q

What are the three theological virtues according to Aquinas and how do we learn them?

A

Faith
Hope
Charity

Learned through scripture not reason

32
Q

Explain the Doctrine of Double Effect

A

Aquinas’ teaching that an act is only right if BOTH the interior AND the exterior act / BOTH the action AND the intention are morally good. e.g. You must always do the right act and for the right reason. No committing bad acts for good reasons or good acts for bad reasons. Only unintended side-effects can be bad.

33
Q

Give an example of an act that would pass the doctrine of double effect

A

Removing the fallopian tube during an ectopic pregnancy.
Act = removal of fallopian tube
Intent = save life
Unintended side effect = death of foetus

34
Q

Give an example of an act that would fail the doctrine of double effect

A

Performing a direct abortion to save the mother’s life.
Act = killing
Intent = save life

35
Q

What is Proportionalism?

A

A 20th Century adaptation of Natural Moral Law in response to more liberal Christian theories e.g. Situation Ethics

36
Q

Name a scholar associated with Proportionalism

A

Rev McCormick / Bernard Hoose

37
Q

According to Proportionalism, why is it sometimes necessary to perform a bad act?

A

If you encounter a moral dilemma in which a primary precept must be broken, it is better to perform a bad act which leads to a proportionate good, e.g. killing one person to save a thousand.

38
Q

How has the Catholic Church responded to Proportionalism?

A

Rejected it as not being true to the teachings of NML

39
Q

How would NML respond to theft/lying?

A

Almost always against both due to the Primary Precepts being broken - theft threatens ordered society & lying threatens Education. Aquinas suggests lying is always wrong but also suggests that it may be justified to steal if you are starving, since this could be seen as within the parameters of an ordered society (redistributing justly)

40
Q

Give two strengths of NML

A

It is clear to follow and explains how to navigate moral dilemmas through the DDE; this makes it useful for efficient decision making and not open to abuse/exploitation / Aquinas emphasises human reason so it is accessible to all people, not just Catholics

41
Q

Give two weaknesses of NML

A

Aquinas argues that all human beings have awareness of the Primary Precepts, but it can be questioned whether the desire to worship God is really part of our nature / The theory offers little flexibility and the DDE simply prioritises keeping your hands clean over making necessary decisions

42
Q

What type of theory is Situation Ethics?

A

Teleological

43
Q

Who is the main scholar associated with Situation Ethics?

A

Joseph Fletcher

44
Q

In which work would you find Fletcher’s theory?

A

Situation Ethics: The New Morality (1966)

45
Q

What two ethical views does Fletcher see Situation Ethics as a middle way between?

A

Legalism (fixed rules, e.g. NML) and Antinomianism (no absolutes at all, e.g. Existentialism)

46
Q

What type of love does Fletcher focus on in Situation Ethics?

A

Agape

47
Q

What is agape?

A

Unconditional love, as seen in the example of Christ

48
Q

What are the four working principles of Situation Ethics?

A

Relativism
Pragmatism
Positivism
Personalism

49
Q

What is relativism in Situation Ethics?

A

The view that Situation Ethics avoids absolutes, e.g. ‘always’, ‘never’. What is right is relative to love in every situation.

50
Q

What is pragmatism in Situation Ethics?

A

The view that what is right has to work in practice, not just in an ideal world. Inspired by William James’ principle of pragmatism - focus on positive effects of acts.

51
Q

What is positivism in Situation Ethics?

A

The view that moral acts are all leaps of faith due to the is-ought gap. We can’t demonstrate right and wrong logically so we must trust that we have made the right choice.

52
Q

What is personalism in Situation Ethics?

A

Situation Ethics is person-centred - it always asks “Who is to be helped?” rather than “What law should I follow?”

53
Q

What are Fletcher’s Six Fundamental Principles?

A
  • Only one thing is intrinsically good; love
  • The ruling norm of Christian decision-making is love
  • Justice is love distributed
  • Love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not
  • Only the end justifies the means
  • Love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively
54
Q

Why does Fletcher suggest that the ruling norm of Christian decision-making is love?

A

Because The New Testament reduces all the laws of the Old Testament down to the rule of love - e.g. Jesus’ breaking the Sabbath rule out of love

55
Q

What does Fletcher mean when he says love’s decisions are made situationally and not prescriptively?

A

“Prescriptively” means to go in with a set of rules and expectations based on past cases. Fletcher believes that love makes decisions situationally, e.g. “in the present”.

56
Q

How would Situation Ethics respond to theft/lying?

A

In both cases Fletcher would apply relativism to suggest there are cases where the act is wrong and cases where it is right. Fletcher gives the example of a student stealing a textbook - whether it is right depends on why the student is stealing it, who else needs it, where from, etc.

57
Q

Give two strengths of Situation Ethics

A

Situation Ethics is very suitable for morally/spiritually mature people who don’t require fixed rules

Pragmatism ensures that Situation Ethics is not simply a woolly/idealistic theory but actually works in practice

58
Q

Give two weaknesses of Situation Ethics

A

Fletcher assumes that the human race is morally mature enough for a completely relativistic theory, but it could be argued that we are more in need of rules and guidance than ever.

There is a worry that ‘love’ is too vague a concept and could easily be exploited. This can be seen in some of Fletcher’s own views, e.g. around children with Down’s Syndrome or the use of nuclear weapons.

Ethics (6 decks)

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