religion exam Flashcards
deontology
an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right from wrong.
Who is the philosopher associated with deontology?
Immanuel Kant. Kant believed that ethical actions follow universal moral laws, such as “Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat.”
categorical imperative
A concept by Immanuel Kant that asserts an action is morally right if it can be universally applied as a rule for everyone. It emphasizes acting according to principles you’d want to become universal laws.
maxim
a principle or rule that an individual uses to guide their actions. Kant believes we should act only on maxims that we would want to apply universally.
3 strengths for deontology
- Emphasizes fairness and justice, principles that respect individual rights.
- Provides clear rules, easy to determine right from wrong.
- Prioritizes duty over consequences, prevents justifying harmful actions for “greater good.”
3 weaknesses for deontology
- disregarding the possible consequences of our actions when determining what is right and what is wrong
- Can be inflexible, ignoring specific circumstances
- May lead to conflicting duties without guidance on how to resolve them
utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on outcomes.
Who is the philosopher associated with utilitarianism?
John Stuart Mill
Act Utilitarianism
Evaluates the consequences of each individual act.
Rule Utilitarianism
Follows rules that generally lead to the greatest good, believing
3 strengths for utilitarianism
- Flexible and adaptable to different scenarios.
- Prioritizes overall happiness, which aligns with societal well-being.
- Considers consequences, making it practical for decision-making.
3 weaknesses for utilitarianism
- Can justify morally questionable actions if they maximize overall happiness.
- Difficult to accurately predict outcomes.
- Overlooks individual rights in favor of the majority’s happiness.
Virtue ethics
An ethical theory focused on building good character traits (virtues) like courage, honesty, and compassion.
Pluralist Society
A society where multiple groups coexist and are recognized, like Australia, where different religions are practiced freely
9 Aspects of Religion:
Beliefs: Catholicism (Trinity), Islam (Monotheism – Tawhid).
Sacred Stories: Catholicism (Creation story in Genesis), Islam (Stories of the Prophets).
Spaces, Places, Times, and Artifacts: Catholicism (Churches), Islam (Mosques).
Texts: Catholicism (Bible), Islam (Qur’an).
Rituals: Catholicism (Eucharist), Islam (Salah – prayer).
Symbols: Catholicism (Cross), Islam (Crescent and Star).
Social Structure: Catholicism (Pope, clergy), Islam (Imams, scholars).
Ethics: Catholicism (Ten Commandments), Islam (Sharia).
Spiritual Experiences: Catholicism (Sacraments), Islam (Hajj pilgrimage).
Authority
Having the power or right to give orders.