Revision guide questions Flashcards
What does Aristotle believe about telos?
Aristotle believes that all things have a telos or purpose. |It is good when things and people fulfil their purpose.
What does Eudaimonia mean?
Eudaimonia means living well or flourishing. It can also be translated as happiness or fulfilment.
How does Natural Law relate to the rules found in the Bible?
Natural law enables us to reason about things that are not directly mentioned in the Bible. It is a lower level of law than Divine law and its conclusions should not contradicct scripture.
Why does Aquinas think that it is permissible at times to break a country’s laws?
The laws that countries make are Human law; they are lower than Natural Law and Divine Law.
List the five primary precepts
Reproduce, preserve innocent life, education, live in an ordered society, worship God.
Can you suggest some secondary precepts that may accompany each of the five primary precepts
Reproduction - do not use contraception.
Preserve innovent life - do not permit abortion.
Education - allow each child to have a free schooling.
Live in an ordered society - those who are able to should work.
Worship God - allow time off for religious holidays.
What is the doctrine of double effect? Explain with an example
The doctrine of double effect allows an action that has two possible effects - one good and one bad - to take place if it is the good effect that was intended. An example may be carrying out an abortion to save a pregnant woman’s life.
Suggest two criticisms of the idea that we have a telos
Telos assumes that we are created by a God who gives us purpose. Telos also commits the naturalistic fallacy.
Fletcher uses the word ‘agape’ to describe love. What type of love is this?
Agape is an unconditional love for our fellow human beings. It is not to be confused with sexual love or friendship love.
Agape is a midpoint according to Fletcher. What two things are at either end of the spectrum?
Legalism- the overreliance on system of laws, ans antinomianism - the complete lack of laws, are at the two ends.
What are Fletcher’s four working principles or assumptions that underpin situation ethics?
The working principles or assumptions are pragmatism, relativism, positivism and personalism.
‘Situation ethics produces unjust outcomes’. How would Fletcher reply to this?
He would argue that love and justice are the same thing if correctly interpreted.
When asked whether adultery is right or wrong, Fletcher says ‘give me a real case’. Why does he give this answer?
Fletchers says this because he does not believe actions are absolutely right or wrong. It would depend on whether adultery led to a loving outcome or not in that case.
Why does Fletcher believe situation ethics is a religious theory? Why might others disagree with him?
Fletcher argues that situation ethics is to be seen as a religious theory as love for your neighbour sums up Jesus’ key commandment. Critics would argue that this over simplifies Jesus’ words and that other commandments, or example the ten commandments, are being ignored.
Why do some thinkers argue that situation ethics is similar to utilitarianism?
Both theories are relativist and teleological.
Which of the following words can be applied to Kantian ethics: absolutist, relativist, deontological, teleological, religious, secular?
Absolutist, deontological, secular.
What does Kant mean in saying we should be motivated by duty?
He means that we should do what is morally required regardless of how we feel or what the consequences may be.
What is the key difference between categorical and hypothetical imperatives?
A categorical imperative applies at all times regardless of consequences whereas a hypothetical imperative depends upon whether we want the outcome or not.
Which imperative is more important for Kant and why?
The categorical imperative, as it is our moral duty to obey it.
Give an example of an action that Kant thinks can not be universalised.
Lying, committing suicide, and possibly killing and stealing are all things that could not be universalised.
What does Kant think we should do if confronted by a killer seeking the location of his next victim?
We are required to tell the truth about the location of the victim.
How does the summum bonum link to God?
The summum bonum that virtue or goodness is rewarded requires that a being exists who is able to ensure that justice occurs.
What is the key idea involved in utilitarianism?
The key idea is that we should achieve the greatest balance of good over evil or the greatest good for the greatest number.
Utilitarianism is a teleological theory. What does this mean?
It means that the theory is focused on the outcome of a situation.
What is the utility principle?
It is the idea that we should aim to do actions that tend to increase happiness and decrease unhappiness.
What are the seven factors Bentham considers in his hedonic calculus?
Intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity and extent - of the pleasure and/ or pain.
Imagine you are J.S.Mill. Sort the list below into higher and lower pleasures : eating cake, reading a newspaper, organising a community event, attending a philosophy class, drinking beer, attending a concert, chatting with friend, sleeping.
Reading a newspaper, organising a community event, attending a philosophy class, attending a concert and chatting with friends are all higher pleasures as they pleasure the mind. Eating cake, drinking beer and sleeping are all lower pleasures.
What is the main difference between Act and Rule utiltarianism?
An act utilitarian works on a case-by- case basis, whereas a rule utilitarian seeks to apply general principles about what may lead to the greater good.
Imagine you are exploring an underground cave with eight friends. As the water begins to rise you make your way over to the only remaining exit. One of your number ,’Big Jake’, goes first but gets stuck. The rising water threatens to drown you all and push Jake out. However, you have a stick of dynamite which you could attach to Jake, blowing him up and making the exit wider. What would a utilitarian suggest?
A utilitarian would suggest that it is permissible to blow up and kill Big Jake if this is what is needed to save more lives.
