Philosophy 213 Exam I Review Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards reviewing key terms and concepts for Philosophy 213 Exam I, including Utilitarianism, Deontology, Ethical Relativism, Kantian Ethics, Egoism, Intuitionism, and Common Morality.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that focuses on maximizing the overall good for the public and achieving high happiness.

Deontology

A non-consequentialist ethical framework based on acting out of duty or what is right, emphasizing commitments to truth, loyalty, friendship, non-harm, autonomy, and inherent value.

Ethical Relativism

The claim that there are no universally valid moral principles and that all moral principles are valid relative only to culture or to the individual.

Objectivism (Pojman)

The view argued by Pojman that there is a universally valid core morality because human beings relatively share similar needs and interests.

Conventionalism

A form of ethical relativism holding that morality is decided by a society or culture.

Subjectivism

A form of ethical relativism holding that morality is decided by the individual, which allows any action to be justified as personal taste.

Absolutism

An ethical position stating that certain actions are always wrong, differing from objectivism.

Psychological Egoism

A descriptive theory claiming that altruism is not possible and that human behavior is always motivated by self-interest.

Argument from Strongest Desires

The psychological egoist claim that acting on one's strongest desire means acting in self-interest, criticized by Shafer-Landau for assuming that the desire itself is selfish.

Ethical Egoism

A normative theory claiming that individuals should act in their own self-interest exclusively, and that an action is not moral unless it benefits one's long-term self-interest.

Revised Golden Rule (Gensler)

Gensler's interpretation of the Golden Rule: Treat others only as you consent to be treated in the same situation.

Formula of Universal Law (FUL)

Kant's categorical imperative principle: Act only on those maxims that one can will to become universal laws.

Maxim

A subjective principle of action that includes the action, the circumstance, and the purpose or intent.

Contradiction-in-Conception

A Kantian test where a maxim fails because it is logically impossible to act on one's maxim successfully in a world where everyone acts that same way (e.g., making false promises).

Contradiction-in-Will

A Kantian test where a maxim, when universalized, contradicts what any rational being could consistently will (e.g., failing to develop talents or refusing mutual aid).

Formula of Humanity as an End (FHE)

Kant's categorical imperative principle: Treat humanity, in oneself and in others, always as an end and never merely as a means.

Acting From Duty

Doing what is morally right precisely because it is right.

Acting According to Duty

Doing the right action without individual preference, fulfilling either a positive duty (to help) or a negative duty (not to harm).

According to Duty from Indirect Inclination

Performing a morally right action where the motivation is mainly self-interested, such as fear of punishment or promise of reward.

According to Duty from Direct Inclination

Performing a morally right action because one naturally wants or inclines to do so out of love or admiration for someone.

According to Duty Against Inclination

Performing a morally right action when having almost no inclination to do so or a strong inclination against it, representing heroic actions.

Morally Permissible Action

An action that is neither forbidden nor required.

Imperfect Duties

Duties that are not specifiable in the exact same way as perfect duties, allowing leeway in how and when they are acted upon.

Prima Facie Duties

Mnemonic: Boys Should Literally Grow Radishes Just For Nutritional Value
Beneficence: Helping others.
Self-improvement: Bettering oneself.
Liberty: Respecting others' freedom.
Gratitude: Acknowledging and repaying benefits.
Reparation: Making amends for past wrongs.
Justice: Ensuring fairness and equality.
Fidelity: Keeping promises and being trustworthy.
Non-injury: Avoiding harm to others.
Veracity: Telling the truth.

*Self-evident, non-absolute ( can be over-ridden), always morally relevant

Actual Duty vs Prima Facie

The final duty a person decides on in a specific situation after considering and weighing all competing prima facie duties.

Moral Rules (Gert)

Prohibit actions that cause people to suffer harm.

Moral Ideals (Gert)

Encourage individuals to prevent harms that the moral rules prohibit.

Self-Betrayal (Terry Warner)

An act committed against one's own sense of what is right, leading inevitably to self-deception and false emotions.

Baron’s 3-part response

Objection Two: Does acting from duty really add anything to an action done with the right sentiments?

Response Part 1: Acting from duty adds a sense of obligation and constraint that is necessary to being a moral person.

Response Part 2: Acting from duty involves commitment—giving priority to duty over everything else.

Response Part 3: Right sentiment alone is not sufficient for ensuring a right action.

Four Factors to Identify Consequences (SPID)

S - Scope: The number of individuals affected by an action.
P - Probability: The likelihood that the consequences will occur.
I - Intensity: The strength or severity of the consequences.
D - Duration: How long the effects of the consequences last.

Two-Step Procedure to Justify Violations of Moral Rules

Determine what counts as the same kind of violation: Identify the type of moral rule being violated.

* Estimate the consequences: Consider the effects of everyone knowing that this kind of violation is allowed or not allowed.

Three Types of Ways to Determine What Counts as the Same Violation

Type of Rule Involved: Different rules may have different implications for violations.

Alternatives to the Action: Consider whether there were other options available.

Intent vs. Knowledge: Distinguish between the intention behind the action and what the person knows about it.

Gert's Main Points About Impartiality

Two-Step Procedure for Justifying Violations: Ensures that moral reasoning is impartial.

Ensuring Impartiality: A person acts in a way that they would accept everyone else doing under the same circumstances, thereby upholding fairness.

Self-Betrayal and Its Inevitable Results

Self-Betrayal: Going against our living sense of what is right in our relationships with others. It involves acting contrary to what we know is right.

Inevitable Results: Leads to an "I-it" mode of being, where we become accusing, suspicious, and hardened. We fail to see others as real persons, viewing them instead as obstacles or irrelevant entities.

Example of Marty

Situation: Marty justifies not attending to his crying baby by believing his wife should handle the situation instead.

Three Beliefs That Make Up Self-Deception

1) We Are Being Morally Conscientious: Believing that we are acting rightly.

2) Others Are the Problem: Blaming others for our circumstances and feelings.

3) We Are Passive Victims: Seeing ourselves as victims without agency or responsibility.

The Difference Between Truly Having an Emotion and Having a True Emotion

Truly Having an Emotion: Acknowledging that our feelings are real but not necessarily truthful or valid.

True Emotion: An emotion that makes a truthful claim about our experiences or relationships.

What Warner Means by a "Collusion"

Collusion: A cycle of mutual blame between individuals, where each person justifies their negative feelings and actions by blaming the other, perpetuating the conflict and distancing in relationships.

What is the main argument against Ethical Egoism?

There are good reasons to help others even when it doesn't benefit our interests, such as duties of easy rescue.

What is Aristotle's concept of the mean in Virtue Ethics?

Virtue is a state involving choice and consists in observing a mean relative to our situation, defined by rational principle, e.g., courage is the mean between cowardice and recklessness.