Whether proportionalism is better suited to our fallen world Flashcards
What is considered a strength of Natural law in ethical decision-making?
A strength of Natural law is its flexibility due to the doctrine of the double effect.
Natural law’s flexibility is highlighted by the doctrine of the double effect, which allows for nuanced ethical reasoning in complex situations.
How has the doctrine of the double effect been applied in modern Catholicism?
A strength of Natural law is its flexibility due to the doctrine of the double effect.
In modern Catholicism, the doctrine of the double effect has been utilized to justify practices such as passive euthanasia, abortion to save the life of the mother (albeit controversially), and contraception to prevent the spread of AIDS.
How does the doctrine of the double effect contribute to the flexibility of Natural law?
A strength of Natural law is its flexibility due to the doctrine of the double effect.
The doctrine of the double effect enables Natural law to accommodate various ethical dilemmas by allowing for the consideration of both intended and unintended consequences of actions, leading to greater flexibility in ethical decision-making.
What is a weakness of Natural law ethics highlighted by B. Hoose’s proportionalism?
Weakness: B. Hoose’s proportionalism
B. Hoose’s proportionalism challenges traditional Natural law ethics by introducing a more flexible and coherent framework that allows for the consideration of proportionate reasons in ethical decision-making.
How do proportionalists differ from traditional Natural law ethicists in their approach to ethical dilemmas?
Weakness: B. Hoose’s proportionalism
Proportionalists, like B. Hoose, argue that it is acceptable to deviate from the primary precepts of Natural law if there is a proportionate reason to do so, wherein the action will bring about more good than harm.
What conditions of the doctrine of double effect do proportionalists consider invalid?
Weakness: B. Hoose’s proportionalism
Proportionalists reject the validity of the nature of the act condition and the means-end condition of the doctrine of double effect. Instead, they emphasize the importance of proportionality, wherein the action’s overall value outweighs its disvalue.
Provide an example illustrating the application of proportionalism in ethical decision-making.
Weakness: B. Hoose’s proportionalism
According to proportionalism, it may be morally justifiable to kill a baby to save the lives of its family if the overall value of saving the family outweighs the disvalue of killing the baby. This example highlights how proportionalists prioritize proportionate reasons over adherence to traditional primary precepts.
What is considered a strength of proportionalism in ethical decision-making?
A resulting strength of proportionalism is it’s far greater flexibility.
Proportionalism offers significantly greater flexibility compared to traditional Natural law ethics, as it allows for the consideration of proportionate reasons to justify actions that may otherwise be deemed morally wrong.
How does proportionalism approach actions that are traditionally considered wrong according to Natural law ethics?
A resulting strength of proportionalism is it’s far greater flexibility.
Proportionalism contends that there are no intrinsically evil actions and that the morality of an action depends on whether there is a proportionate reason for performing it in a particular situation. Thus, actions such as euthanasia, abortion, or genetic engineering could be morally permissible under proportionalism if a proportionate reason is present.
What does proportionalism prioritize in ethical decision-making?
A resulting strength of proportionalism is it’s far greater flexibility.
Proportionalism prioritizes the consideration of proportionate reasons over adherence to traditional ethical principles, allowing for a more flexible approach to determining the morality of actions.
What is Hoose’s main critique of Aquinas’ view on the double effect?
Hoose’s argument for the greater coherence of proportionalism.
Hoose argues that an overall good act cannot consist of bad parts, such as breaking the primary precepts. He believes moral evil cannot be a component of moral goodness.
According to Hoose, how should we view the parts of an action in terms of good and evil?
Hoose’s argument for the greater coherence of proportionalism.
Hoose posits that the parts of an action are good or evil in a factual or physical sense, regarding their enabling or disabling of flourishing (eudaimonia), rather than in a moral sense.
What are ‘ontic goods’ and ‘ontic evils’ according to Hoose?
Hoose’s argument for the greater coherence of proportionalism.
‘Ontic goods’ are physical or factual goods, such as health, life, and knowledge, which enable flourishing. ‘Ontic evils’ are the deprivation of such goods.
How does Hoose suggest we determine whether an action is overall morally good?
Hoose’s argument for the greater coherence of proportionalism.
Hoose suggests judging whether the action produced more ontic good compared to ontic evil. If the ontic goods outweigh the ontic evils, then there is a proportionate reason for performing the action, making it morally good.
What example does Hoose use to illustrate his point against Aquinas’ view, and how does he reinterpret it?
Hoose’s argument for the greater coherence of proportionalism.
Hoose uses the example of killing a baby to save a family. Aquinas would call it morally evil, but Hoose calls it an ontic evil that must be weighed against the ontic good of saving the family. If the ontic good outweighs the ontic evil, it is morally good.
