utilitarianism keywords

Question 1

Agency

Answer 1

The capacity of an agent to act in any given environment

Question 2

Agent

Answer 2

A being that is capable of action, usually restricted to humans due to our ability to
reason between courses of action

Question 3

Applied ethics

Answer 3

The practical application of ethical theories to moral dilemmas that people encounter
such as abortion, euthanasia, the treatment of animals etc

Question 4

Autonomy

Answer 4

The ability to self-govern (to make your own decisions, based on reason and freedom)

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

A statement that comes at the end of an argument, supported by the reasons
(premises) given in the argument. If the premises are true, then the conclusion will be
as well

Question 6

Consequentialist ethics

Answer 6

A normative moral theory which views the moral value of an action as lying in its
consequences. An action can be judged as good if it brings about beneficial
consequences and bad if it brings about harmful ones

Question 7

Deductive argument /
reasoning

Answer 7

An argument where the truth of the conclusion is guaranteed by the truth of the
premises e.g. (Premise 1) a triangle is a shape with three sides. (Premise 2) this shape
has three sides. (Conclusion) This shape is a triangle

Question 8

Descriptive

Answer 8

A descriptive statement tells us the way things are

Question 9

Divine command ethics

Answer 9

A type of deontological ethical theory that claims that an action is good if it follows
one of God’s commands

Question 10

Empiricist

Answer 10

An approach to philosophy which states that our beliefs and knowledge should be
based on our experiences

Question 11

Ethics

Answer 11

The philosophical study of our ideas of moral good, of how to live and of the status of
moral judgements

Question 12

Good

Answer 12

Actions that bring about positive outcomes. It can also have a functional meaning
similar to ‘fulfilling your function / purpose well’

Question 13

Fallacy

Answer 13

When an argument has gone wrong because of a mistake or a problem with the
structure of it

Question 14

Hedonism

Answer 14

The belief that pleasure is the good

Question 15

Inductive argument

Answer 15

An argument where the truth of the conclusion is not guaranteed by the conclusion.
It usually involves moving from an example (every person I have met likes pizza) to a
generalisation (all people like pizza). Even if we accept the premise (every person I
have met likes pizza), the conclusion is not necessarily true

Question 16

Judgement

Answer 16

A decision made about the rightness / goodness of a course of action

Question 17

Kantian ethics

Answer 17

A deontological ethical theory developed / influenced by Kant. We can determine
what is right / what our duties are through the categorical imperative

Question 18

Liberty

Answer 18

The freedom you have to perform actions which are not restricted / prohibited by the
state / government

Question 19

Meta-ethics

Answer 19

The study of the meaning of moral judgements

Question 20

Moral dilemmas

Answer 20

A situation where an agent will have difficulty choosing between two or more courses
of action. Usually there are moral reasons both in favour and against choosing each
option

Question 21

Moral philosophy

Answer 21

The philosophical study of good, of how to live and of the status of moral judgements

Question 22

Morality

Answer 22

Standards or principles taken from any given moral theory e.g. what is right and
wrong according to utilitarianism

Question 23

Naturalism

Answer 23

The belief that we can explain moral concepts, such as good, in naturalistic terms like
happiness and pleasure

Question 24

Normative ethics

Answer 24

Also known as ‘first-order ethics’ – this covers moral theories that offer action guides.
They give us rules or principles, through which we make moral judgements which
then direct our behaviour

Question 25

Partiality

Answer 25

When humans tend to value something or someone higher than other things or
people e.g. friends and family. Some moral theories require that you don’t do this
(impartiality)

Question 26

Person

Answer 26

Generally refers to humans, although some philosophers will discuss the nature of
people and what sets us apart from other animals

Question 27

Practical ethics

Answer 27

See applied ethics

Question 28

Preference utilitarianism

Answer 28

The goodness of an action is determined by the number of preferences it fulfils

Question 29

Premise

Answer 29

A statement / claim / reason that supports the conclusion of an argument

Question 30

Prescriptive

Answer 30

The belief that moral language has a special use. The purpose of moral judgements isto urge others to act in a certain way

Question 31

Utilitarianism

Answer 31

A moral theory that states that what is good is what brings the most happiness or pleasure for the most amount of people

Question 32

Utility

Answer 32

Usually defined as the usefulness of something; Bentham and Mill equated it with pleasure or happiness

Question 33

Utility principle

Answer 33

The principle that an action or object is good if it brings about something that is desired

Question 34

Vices

Answer 34

A characteristic which is be avoided or is seen as a flaw e.g. dishonesty

Question 35

Virtue ethics

Answer 35

A normative ethical theory which suggests that value / goodness is not in an action or its consequences, but rather the agent performing the act. Actions are judged in the context of how a person might generally behave

Question 36

Virtues

Answer 36

A characteristic which is valued e.g. honesty, wisdom