Philosophy - Exam 3

Utilitarianism

idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (utility = happiness)

hedonism

the view that happiness (subjective experience) is the only thing with intrinsic value

Bentham's 3 fundamental convictions

1. Equality of persons

2. Pleasures of sentient creatures are the only ultimate goods

3. Morality has to be based on firm principles

The ultimate good

a good that is not derived or reducible to another good

Bentham's argument by elimination

a form of argument that defends a theory by showing that all competing theories are unsatisfactory

Principle of Asceticism

we should maximize pain over pleasure

Principle of Sympathy and Antipathy

use of our moral sense to intuit the right answer to moral dilemmas

• Moral sense = a built-in capacity to perceive right from wrong

Theory of the Good

a theory of intrinsic value (Bentham- pleasure is the only thing with intrinsic value)

Ordinal measurement

putting items in order from worst to best (can be done with pleasure)

Cardinal measurement

giving a numerical value to the pleasure (can it?)

Principle of utility

right actions are those that maximize happiness (theory of the right)

Theory of the good

happiness is the only thing that is intrinsically valuable

theory of the right

right actions are those which maximize happiness

Act utilitarianism

when faced with a choice, ___ utilitarians consider the particular situation to determine what individual act would maximize happiness

Rule utilitarianism

generate rules or derive guidelines from the greatest happiness principle that look beyond the immediate case and bring in other considerations

Deontology

Right action is defined in terms of following one's duties rather than maximizing good consequences

Good Will

the will of a person who is good

• A good person is a person who does the right thing with the right motivation

• The good will has intrinsic value

• The good will is not good because of what it can do (its effects)

• The good will is good in itself

Autonomy

our nature as rational, self-governing, free agents

Categorical imperative

moral action requires that our maxim of action, the principles we live by, be universalizable.

• Our maxim is acceptable only if we can will that all others act on the same maxim.

a priori

independent of experience

a posteriori

dependent on experience

Hypothetical imperative

a conditional imperative.

• "If you want to get an A, you must study."

Principles based on prudence (rational self-interest) are hypothetical.

• "If you don't want to get into trouble, don't tell lies."

maxim

an established principle; a truth or rule of conduct

Duties to self (self-regarding duties)

moral obligations that we have toward ourselves

Duties to others

moral obligations we have toward others

Perfect duty

a moral obligation that applies at all times, in all circumstances

• Must be satisfied at all times

Imperfect duty

a moral obligation that does not apply at all times, in all circumstances

• Must sometimes be satisfied, but not in every action

Haiti AIDS study

Cornell Medical College study; trial in Haiti

Were prevailing US protocols followed? Why not and with what consequences?

Was it appropriate for the scientists to act as they did in the hope of medical breakthrough?

Descriptive Ethics

tell us what people do

Normative Ethics

tell what people ought to do

Doctrine of Double Effect

the way the problem of multiple results emerging from a good intention is reconciled as morally acceptable

Phronesis

practical wisdom

eudaemonia

Often translated as "happiness," "human flourishing," or "fulfillment."

• Is physically and mentally healthy

• Enjoys life

• Accomplishes a number of goals

virtue ethics

an approach to morality that emphasizes the virtues of character

propositional knowldege

knowledge that... (facts)

practical knowledge

knowledge how... (skill)

acquiring virtue (aristotle)

1. Virtue is not something we are born with, nor something we acquire through study alone

2. Virtue is something we have to practice or be habituated into

3. There are at least four elements to habituation:

a. Acquiring knowledge about the virtues

b. Acquiring knowledge about why the virtues are what they are

c. Practicing being virtuous

d. Taking pleasure in virtuous action

The Doctrine of Golden Mean

Virtuous action is the mean between excess (too much) and deficiency (too little)

Stoicism

the ancient worldview that claimed we should be indifferent toward wealth and pleasure

Booker T. Washington

Chapman believed that a proper education included skill development and character included skill development and character building

Ethical decision making (Aristotle)

First, the moral agent must have knowledge and awareness

Second, there must be a choice involved

Third, "action must proceed from a firm and unchangeable character

Telos

a things end, purpose, or destiny

Arête

character traits

Virtue of thought

intellectual virtue

Virtue of character

Practical virtue

ethics of care

builds a moral theory out of emotional engagement and personal relations, eschewing principles in favor of contextual factors ("moral persception"

care ethics

• Ethical concern grows out of natural caring relationships, such as the mother-child relationship.

• Like virtue, caring demands are not felt as demands to one who has developed a caring attitude.

sex

the biological distinction between females and males

gender

a social construct (man/woman)

patriarchy

the organization of men to their advantage

direct discrimination

practices and policies that intend to discriminate against women by:

• Disenfranchisement, limiting property or political rights, limiting workopportunities

indirect discrimination

practices and policies that cause harm to women, though not intended to to so.

• Examples: Policies that result in women shouldering more of the child-rearing labor, or that make it harder for them to achieve career advancement

sexual harassment

unwelcome behavior or speech of a sexual nature

Feminism

a collective term that covers a spectrum of philosophical, social, and political movements that are unified by asserting quality for women

Essentialism

will acknowledge that women may have a distinct nature which may involve a more emotional and intuitive component

John Stuart Mill's On Liberty

the nature and limits of individual freedom in relation to society and government. The central theme of the book is the "harm principle," which asserts that the only legitimate reason for exercising power over an individual against their will is to prevent harm to others.