Phil Ethics 2 Flashcards
Consequentialism (Utilitarianism)
Actions are right if, and only if, they produce the greatest net benefit (or least net harm) for those involved compared to other actions. (Arjuna, Mozi)
Courage (along with Cowardice and Recklessness)
Too much of a virtuous act is reckless. Too little is Cowardice. Courage is the mean, the balance of virtuous action. If you want moral virtue, you have to practice hitting the mean and feeling good about it.
Generosity (along with Stigininess and Extravagance)
Too much generosity is extravagance (Mr. Beast). Too little is stinginess (Scrooge, penny-pincher). Generosity is the mean. Giving is one of the actions for generosity, but there must be a balance. You must be able to take in a way that complements what you give. Extravagance is redeemable because they can learn to take, but stinginess is not, for they cannot learn to give.
Deficiency, excess, and the mean
Deficiency is too little (cowardice, stinginess), excess is too much (reckless, extravagant), the mean is the balance (courage, confidence, fear)
Deontology
An action is right if an only if it fulfills the individual’s duty. (Krishna)
Ethics
Ethics is the branch (or subfield) of philosophy that studies right and wrong action, good and bad consequences, and virtuous and vicious character. Ideally, ethics will provide guidance on how to make wise decisions and live a good life.
Friendship (philia)
- Philia (friendship) is necessary for living a good life
- It is necessary to thrive as a human being because we are social and political by nature
- Philia ≠ Passionate desire (Erōs)
Without friendship (in isolation) you are dysfunctional as a human. Usefulness, pleasure, and goodness.
Happiness (eudaimonia)
Eudaimonia (happiness), is the starting point and goal of ethics that require these kinds of
valuable relationships in order to be happy and live well
Intellectual Virtue (virtues of intellect)
Learned from others. Wisdom, prudence, consideration, deliberation, and cleverness. Someone of practical wisdom and high moral standards. Excellence of intellect
Plato’s arguments on virtue and knowledge
Virtue, courage, specifically, as it is most related to military training. Standing firm at battle (example) endurance of the soul: Not just any endurance is courage, courage is good, however, enduring foolishly is bad. So, courage must be wise endurance. Endurance without knowledge is foolish. Knowledge of the fearful and the hopeful, knowledge of good and bad defines all of virtue.
Philosophy
Philosophy is a humanistic discipline that studies and investigates ourselves
(human beings) and the world we inhabit. Another way of putting it is philosophy
is the more or less abstract and systematic way of understanding ourselves and
the world we inhabit.
Practical Wisdom
The ability to know what is right or best in a situation. Thinking should match the truth. Desire should match the good.
- Under rational deliberate
- Truth in harmony with correct desire
- Directs virtues and aligns thinking with action
Moral virtue
Excellence of character. This is nonrational. Find the mean of deficiency and excess.
Reason
Entirely cognitive, within our souls. If overcome by passion, we are not using reason
Seneca and Aristotle’s arguments whether happiness necessarily includes friendship
Aristotle says friends contribute to eudaimonia because without friends we are isolated and therefore dysfunctional (we are social animals). Friends keep us in line and encourage us to be virtuous. Seneca says we should have friends (as Aristotle does) but doesn’t believe we need them to be happy. Happiness comes from internal virtue and self-sufficiency.
Singer’s arguments on the moral requirement to prevent suffering
Suffering is unavoidable. If it is in our power to prevent something bad from happening
without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable moral importance, we ought
morally to do it.
Supererogatory (e.g. giving to charity)
going above and beyond
Types of friendship according to Aristotle
Incidental and Perfect (complete). Incidental is when the good of the friendship is no longer present (it ends), this is usefulness or pleasure. Perfect is a friendship of goodness/virtue based on who the friend is rather than what you get from the relationship.
Virtue Ethics
An action is right if and if only it is acted from what a virtuous person would do,
in character, in the same space (Kongzi/Aristotle)
Virtuous role model
teaches us intelligence. (the person of practical wisdom/the person of high moral standards)
