Philosophy of Ethics: Exam 1

Question 1

What does it mean to say that a creature has “moral status?

Answer 1

the human or the animal is valuable IN ITSELF. we should treat in that way for its own sake. if you don’t hurt animals because they might hurt humans or something else etc, then you don’t believe that animals have moral status

Question 2

Some people who believe that animals should not be treated with unnecessary cruelty nevertheless do not believe that animals have moral status. Be able to explain at least two reasons why such a person might still hold that we ought to treat animals well.

Answer 2

1) One might believe that it’s wrong to hurt animals because it could ultimately harm humans. Believing the animal is someone else’ property, and hurting the animal hurts someone else’s property.
2) Mistreating an animal not because the person thinks the animal has moral status but because it is against the persons moral philosophy to treat any other creature wrongly because one’s actions reflect on ones’ own person. Or a vice of cruelty which harms the person.

Question 3

Moral Status Sense:

Answer 3

1) Moral status sense:
Saying a being has rights is saying the being has moral status.
“Animals have at least some moral status. Animals do not exist solely for human use, so they should be treated well for their own sake.”

Question 4

Equal-consideration sense:

Answer 4

2) Equal-consideration sense:
The means that animal rights are equal to human rights.
“We must give equal moral weight to humans’ and animals’ comparable interests. Animal suffering matters as much as human suffering.”

Question 5

Utility-trumping sense:

Answer 5

3) Utility trumping sense:
The vital interest in question must be protected even when protecting it might be disadvantageous to society as a whole.
“Like humans, animals have certain vital interests that we must not override (with few if any exceptions) even in an effort to maximize utility for society. For example, animals have a right to liberty, meaning we should not harmfully confine them even if doing so would predictably bring about many benefits.”
Strong animal-rights view.

Question 6

Two reasons why a person might deny that animals deserve rights in the equal-consideration sense:

Answer 6

1) Inegalitarians would claim we are Different species from animals. His Response: How can we justify that our own species is superior to one that is so closely related to our own? We are connected to larger groups and classifications of the animal kingdom
2) our moral feelings tell us that it is worse to kill humans than animals. He denies that this is less morally problematic and says there is nothing absurd or unreasonable about equal consideration for animals.

Question 7

Laws of nature:

Answer 7

laws/rules/circumstances that I did not choose, but that control me in some way: genetics, physics

Question 8

Laws of freedom:

Answer 8

laws/rules that I freely choose for myself. allows free will.

Question 9

Maxim:

Answer 9

a personal rule that one uses to guide his own actions

Question 10

Universal Law:

Answer 10

a rule that can be applied to everyone

Question 11

Does Kant believe that an action is right or wrong depending on (1) the motive of the action, or (2) the results the action produces? Be able to explain.

Answer 11

1) Motivation/intention should be used in making ethical decisions. One should use their free will to make the decision. One should not be motivated or compelled by Laws of Nature. We are not machines.

Question 12

According to Kant, why must a person’s actions be guided by the laws of freedom (rational reflection) if they are to be good; in other words, why couldn’t a choice governed by feelings, desires, or instincts be good?

Answer 12

Feelings etc stem from laws of nature, controlling us in some sort of way. If we allowed that to control us we’d be programmed of sorts. We should base our decisions on intention based off of duty.

Question 13

Why does Kant think that our laws of freedom must be imperatives, i.e., commands?

Answer 13

so that one can rationally decide what his duty is. ethics is about using free will.

Question 14

CI:

Answer 14

“I ought never to act except in such a way that I can will that my maxim should become a universal law”

Question 15

Steps of the CI:

Answer 15

1) Formulate your maxim.
2) Formulate the universal law.
3) Imagine a world where everyone followed this law.
4) Does a contradiction arise in the world?

Question 16

Does Mill believe that an action is right or wrong depending on (1) the motive of the action, or (2) the results the action produces?

Answer 16

2) The results. The outcomes and effects are what matter because an action is not inherently bad.

Question 17

Greatest Happiness Principle:

Answer 17

“The goal of human life is to obtain happiness. Therefore we should always perform and action that will bring the most happiness to the greatest number of people.”

Question 18

What information do I need to know, if I am going to be able to correctly use the Greatest Happiness Principle?

Answer 18

1) who, bother present and future will be affected by my action
2) how, the person will be affected
3) how much pleasure and pain will these persons experience

Question 19

When Mill says that all human beings desire pleasure above all else, does he mean that we only desire “animalistic” pleasures?

Answer 19

Not all pleasures are animalistic. Some forms of pleasure have higher value and more meaning to some than others.

Question 20

How do we determine which are “higher” and which are “lower” pleasures, according to Mill?

Answer 20

Via the Pleasure point system, in which everyone’s pains and pleasures are determined and ranked.

Question 21

Does Mill think it is okay to lie, if this will bring about the most happiness for the liar and the person being lied to? Why or why not?

Answer 21

Mill says no, because society runs on trust in order to communicate. Lying would break down trust and society would fall apart if we could not trust each other.

Question 22

Mill claims that our moral feelings (i.e., the conscience) are not innate. Where do these moral feelings come from, according to him?

Answer 22

Moral feelings are acquired through education and external sanctions.

Question 23

Mill thinks that we do, however, have two innate human desires, and recognizing these desires should lead us to want to be utilitarians. What are these desires?

Answer 23

1) Happiness, Pleasure and Avoidance of pain.

2) And Social feelings.