Phil midterrmmmm

Cultural Relativism

The belief that moral values and ethics are relative to specific cultures and societies, with no universal moral truths.

Psychological Egoism

A descriptive theory suggesting all human actions are motivated by self-interest.

Ethical Egoism

A normative ethical theory that argues individuals should act in their own self-interest.

Aquinas' Theory of Natural Law

Thomas Aquinas' theory that moral laws are based on human nature and reason, derived from a divine order.

Divine Command Theory

The view that morality is determined by God's commands; actions are right or wrong based on alignment with divine will.

Social Contract Theory

The idea that moral and political obligations arise from an implicit contract among individuals to form a society.

Classical Virtue Ethics

A theory emphasizing the development of virtuous character traits as key to moral living, originating with Aristotle.

Virtue-Based Theories

Ethical theories that emphasize moral character and virtues rather than rules or consequences.

Natural Law Theories

Philosophical theories suggesting that moral principles are inherent in nature and discovered through reason.

Human Moral Sentimentalism

A theory proposing that moral judgments are based on human emotions and sentiments.

Deontology

A moral theory emphasizing duty and rules, associated with Immanuel Kant, where actions are right if they follow a universal law.

Utilitarianism

A form of consequentialism that holds that the right action maximizes overall happiness or pleasure.

Consequentialism

An ethical theory determining morality based on the consequences of actions.

Descriptive Statements

Statements that describe how the world is, based on facts and observations.

Prescriptive Statements

Statements suggesting how the world ought to be, expressing moral or ethical obligations.

Thick Ethical Concepts

Ethical terms carrying both descriptive and evaluative meaning, contrasting with thin ethical concepts.

Euthyphro Dilemma

A challenge to Divine Command Theory questioning if something is good because God commands it or if God commands it because it is good.

Aristotle

Greek philosopher who developed virtue ethics and focused on achieving eudaimonia through cultivating virtues.

David Hume

Scottish philosopher emphasizing experience and observation as sources of knowledge, known for the 'is-ought problem'.

Rationalism

The belief that knowledge comes primarily from reason and innate ideas.

Empiricism

The belief that knowledge comes from sensory experience.

Moral Agent

An individual capable of moral reasoning and responsible for actions.

Moral Patient

An entity deserving moral consideration but lacking moral agency.

Monism

The belief that there is only one fundamental moral principle or ultimate reality.

Pluralism

The belief that multiple moral principles or realities coexist.

Plato

Greek philosopher known for the Theory of Forms and advocating for philosopher-kings.

Immanuel Kant

German philosopher who developed deontological ethics and argued for the categorical imperative.

Analytic Statements

Statements that are true by definition.

A Priori Knowledge

Knowledge that can be gained independent of experience.

Theory of Right Action

Examination of what makes an action morally right or wrong.

The Grounding Problem

A philosophical issue regarding how moral claims can be justified or grounded.

Augustine of Hippo

Early Christian philosopher who integrated Neoplatonism with Christian doctrine.

Thomas Aquinas

Medieval philosopher who developed Natural Law Theory, combining Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology.

Synthetic A Posteriori

Statements that are informative and based on experience.

Theory of the Good

Explores what constitutes the ultimate good or intrinsic value in ethics.

Moral Objectivism

The belief that moral principles are objective and independent of perspectives.

Thomas Hobbes

Political philosopher known for his social contract theory, arguing for a strong central authority.

Jeremy Bentham

Founder of utilitarianism, advocating for the 'greatest happiness principle'.

John Stuart Mill

Expanded on utilitarianism, distinguishing between higher and lower pleasures.