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Ethics in America > Who's Who > Flashcards

Who's Who Flashcards

1
Q

Aquinas, St. Thomas

(1225-1274)

Italian

A

Theory

Moral/Natural Law

Concepts

Natural laws are “self evident”

“An unjust law is no law at all”

Wrote Summa Theologica

Human law

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2
Q

Aristotle

(384-322 B.C.)

Greek

A

Theory

Greek Tradition

Concepts

Promoted virtue ethics

Argued that happiness is the ultimate good

Nicomachean ethics

Virtues of character, ethics, leads to the right emotions that, in turn, lead to good actions

Virtue is a “mean” between under- and over-responding

Best human life is devoted to understanding science and philosophy without necessarily applying them

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3
Q

Jeremy Bentham

(1748-1832)

English

A

Theory

Consequential ethics

Utilitarianism

Concepts

A founder of utilitarianism

Principle of utility

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4
Q

Epictetus

(55-135 A.D)

Greek

A

Theory

Moral Law

Stoicism

Concepts

To lead a virtous, happy life in midst of uncertainty, “do what is in accordance with nature”

Universal brotherhood

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5
Q

Epicurus

(341-270 BC)

Greek

A

Theory

Consequential ethics

Hedonism

Epicureanism

Concepts

Ethics based on please

Hedonism with moderation

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6
Q

Carol Gilligan

(1936- )

American

A

Theory

Feminist Ethics

Concepts

Believes traditional ethics are Male-oriented

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7
Q

Thomas Hobbes

(1588-1679)

English

A

Theory

Moral law

Social contract

Concepts

Wrote Levianthan

State of nature

Right of nature

Law of nature

Social order exists to protect our lives; we give up individual rights for communal safety

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8
Q

David Hume

(1711-1776)

English

A

Theory

Moral law

Social contract

Concepts

Rationality is slave to passions

Morality not based on reason , but on how we feel about certain actions

Morality based onsympathy or feeling for fellow humans

Naturalistic fallacy; “what is” vs “what ought to be” ; just because things are a certain way, does not mean they are right

Communitarianism: needs of community out weigh needs of individual

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9
Q

Thomas Jefferson

(1743-1804)

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Social contract

Concepts

Wrote Declaration of Indepenence

Heavily influenced by Locke

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10
Q

Immanuel Kant

(1724-1804)

German

A

Theory

Moral law

Kantism

Concepts

Most powerful proponent of duty

Happiness is not the ultimate good, and that motive is the only way to measure moral actions

Motivation based on duty is moral

All other motives lack moral significance

Absolute rules

Hypothetical imperative

Categorical imperatives

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11
Q

Martin Luther King Jr.

(1939-1968)

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Concepts

Right of justice ovverrides possibility of violence

Letter from Birmingham jail- “An unjust law is no law at all”-from Aquinas

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12
Q

John Locke

(1632-1704)

English

A

Theory

Moral law

Social contract

Concepts

Social contract and civil law

Social order exists to protect “life, liberty and property”

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13
Q

John Stuart Mill

(1806-1873)

English

A

Theory

Consequential ethics

Utilitarianism

Concepts

A strong propnent of utility

Greatest happiess principle

Harm principle

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14
Q

Nel Noddings

(1929- )

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Concepts

Ethical vs. natural caring

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15
Q

Robert Nozick

(1938-2002)

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Concepts

Opposes the right to tax labor (income)

Challenged Rawls’ belief that exchange of wealth should benefit the least wealthy

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16
Q

Plato

(428-347 B.C)

Greek

A

Theory

Greek tradition

Concepts

Student and admirer of socrates

Much written work survives, The dialogues: primary character is often Socrates

Republic: Contrasts life of self-interest; contends that people may know virtue but still not act on it

The “ideal city”; presented through the chracter of Socrates

The types of citizens: Rulers of philosopher kings (reason)-wise, virtuous leaders

Workers (appetite or desire)

Guardians or millitary (spirit)

Plato used he “ideal city” to represent the ideal balanced structure fo the human body and soul

Apology: Socrates defense at his trial, refuses to renounce his mission of questioning conduct out of fear of the “mob”

Fundamental virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice

17
Q

Ayn Rand

(1905-1982)

American

A

Theory

Consequential Egoism

Concepts

Wrote Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged

Values and actions based on reason

Strongly opposed views of Kant

18
Q

John Rawls

(1921- )

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Social contract

Concepts

Wrote A Theory of Justice

Veil of ignorance

Original position

Concern for fairness to the underclass

19
Q

Jean Jacques Rousseau

(1712-1778)

Swiss/French

A

Theory

Moral law

Social Contract

Concepts

Freedom cannot survive without some level of equality

20
Q

Josiah Royce

(1855-1916)

American

A

Theory

Moral law

Kantism

Concepts

Deontological (Non-consequential)

Highest duty is loyalty

21
Q

Adam Smith

(1723-1790)

English

A

Theory

Consequential ethics

Egoism

Concepts

Wrote Wealth of Nations

Common good is best advanced by pursiut of self-interest

Basics of Western capitalism

22
Q

Socrates

(470-399 B.C.)

Athenian Greek

A

Theory

Greek Tradition

Concepts

First major “moral or ethical philosopher” focused on “how man should behave” rather than “what is the world made of?”

The Socratic Methid- everything is open to question

Ultimate human good is happiness

If a person knows that a virtous souls is necessary to happiness then that person will make virtuous choices

Better to suffer injustice than to inflict it

Harm to the body does not harm the soul

People act virtously because it is good for the sould, which leads to happiness

People act virtuously because it is good for the souldm which leads to happiness

People who dont act virtuously, dont know that such action is bad for the sould and leads to unhappiness

Teach virtue to wrongdoers, dont punish

“unity of virtues”

23
Q

Thucydides

(460-400 B.C)

Greek

A

Theory

Greek Tradition

Concepts

Historian

“Might makes right”- Morals are meaningless to those with power

Ethics in America (3 decks)

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