Utilitarianism and Contractarianism

Question 1

BLANK is all about sticking to the moral rulebook. There are never any exceptions, or any excuses, for violating moral rules.

Answer 1

Kantianism

Question 2

BLANK was founded in the 18th century by British philosophers Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. But the theory has philosophical ancestors in ancient Greek thinkers such as Epicurus.

Answer 2

Modern utilitarianism

Question 3

BLANK – this means the good is equal to the pleasant, and we ought, morally, to pursue pleasure and happiness, and work to avoid pain.

Answer 3

hedonistic moral theory

Question 4

BLANK says that everyone ought, morally, to pursue their own good.

Answer 4

Egoism

Question 5

BLANK- “we should act always so as to produce the greatest good for the greatest number.”

Answer 5

Principle of utility

Question 6

BLANK - in any given situation, you should choose the action that produces the greatest good for the greatest number. Period.

Answer 6

Classical utilitarianism (Act)

Question 7

BLANK - This version of the theory says that we ought to live by rules that, in general, are likely to lead to the greatest good for the greatest number.

Answer 7

Rule Utilitarianism

Question 8

BLANK -right acts are those that do not violate the free, rational agreements that we’ve made.

Answer 8

Contractarianism

Question 9

We both want something, and we make a BLANK that we both believe will result in us being better off.

Answer 9

Explicit contract

Question 10

BLANK – ones that we’ve never actually agreed to, but sort of find ourselves in.

Answer 10

Implicit contracts

Question 11

BLANK- is where you break the contract you’re in – whether you agreed to be in it or not – and you decide to look after your own interests, instead of cooperating.

Answer 11

Defection

Question 12

But, there’s another important part of this theory – one we haven’t mentioned yet. And that is: In order for a contract to be valid, the contractors must be free. You can’t force someone into a contract.

Answer 12

YES

Question 13

BLANK- ethical theory that emphasizes an individual’s character rather than following the set of rules.

Answer 13

Virtue Theory

Question 14

Rather than saying, “follow these rules so that you can be a good person,” Aristotle and other virtue theorists reasoned that, if we can just focus on being good people, the right actions will follow, effortlessly.

Answer 14

YES

Question 15

BLANK- it focuses on the middle ground between two extremes, but as Aristotle suggests, the middle ground is usually closer to one extreme than the other.

Answer 15

Golden Mean

Question 16

These people who already possess virtue are BLANK, and according to this theory, we are built with the ability to recognize them, and the desire to emulate them.

Answer 16

moral exemplars

Question 17

BLANK refers to acts or states of affairs for which you can be praised or blamed.

Answer 17

Moral responsibility

Question 18

“BLANK.” This means that if you ought, or should do something morally, then you first must be able to do it. In other words, you’re only morally required to do things that are possible for you.

Answer 18

Ought implies can

Question 19

BLANK – where you’re one link in a chain of events

Answer 19

Causal responsibility

Question 20

BLANK, which means you deserve positive or negative judgment for what happened.

Answer 20

Moral responsibility

Question 21

BLANK, for example, is luck that has to do with our own constitution – our disposition, or personality.

Answer 21

Constitutive luck

Question 22

BLANK- This relates to the situation you find yourself in, and plays a huge role in whether you manage to do good or bad things.

Answer 22

Circumstantial luck

Question 23

BLANK. In other words, your character is shaped by things that have happened to you.

Answer 23

Antecedent circumstances

Question 24

BLANK – that’s the way your actions actually turn out.

Answer 24

Consequent circumstances