phil 4 midterm 2

according to Aristotle, the human good is closely related to…

the proper activity of a human being and activity of the soul in accord with virtue

why does Kant believe the good will is good

because it is good in itself, not because of its consequences or the ends it achieves

what do Aristotle’s virtue ethics invite us to focus on?

what kind of person we become when we act a certain way

hypothetical imperative

if you want X, you must do Y (a possible action is necessary as a means to the attainment of something else that one wills)

According to Aristotle, how do we acquire virtues?

1. by first doing virtuous actions, just as we learn a craft by doing it

2. by imitating the virtue of virtuous people and forming habits

first formulation of the categorical imperative

the formula of universal law

the formula of universal law

i ought to never act except in such a way that I could also will that my maxim become a universal law

Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean

moral virtue is between two vices, one of excess and one of deficiency

• virtue is a state concerned with choice, lying in a mean relative to us, this being determined by reason and in the way in which the man of practical wisdom would determine it

• the mean is relative to us and determined by a person of practical wisdom

phronimos

a person of practical wisdom: someone who’s morally mature, makes good choices, finds balance, and lives a flourishing life (eudaimonia).

according to kant, which are good only under the guidance of good will?

talents of the mind (intelligence, wit, judgment)

temperaments (courage, resolutness, perseverance)

gifts of fortune (power, riches, health, happiness)

What does aristotle say is the proper activity of a human being

reasoning

second formulation of the categorical imperative

the formula of humanity

the formula of humanity

act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end, never merely as a means

According to Aristotle, how does a virtuous person feel when performing a virtuous action?

pleasure

Kant’s concept of the will

• the will is our own capacity to control our behavior through reasoning and deciding

• only the good will is morally assessable

In Aristotle’s doctrine of the mean, how is the mean determined?

by reason, and in the way that a man of practical wisdom would determine it

phronesis

practical reason in virtue

practical reason in virtue

• the engine behind virtue (how we apply moral insight to real life)

• the virtuous person has practical wisdom ( the ability to judge well + doing the right thing for the right reasons)

Kant’s view of duty

• the need to act out of reverance for the law

• an action has moral worth only if it is done from duty

Shopkeeper example

Kant

• a shop owner has fair prices

1. he does it because its good for business → morally wrong

2. he does it just because its the right thing to do→ morally right

The will

Kant: the capacity to act according to principles or laws that we choose through reason

Kant’s relationship of reason and the will

• reason rules the will

• reason’s role is to direct the will toward the unconditional good, not just happiness

• the will is the capacity to determine itself to action in accordance with the idea of certain laws

Kant: where does an action’s moral worth come from?

the maxim/ the agent’s reason for doing it

according to formula of humanity, why is making false promises wrong?

• it treats the other person as a mere means, not also as an end

• it violates the other person’s autonomy

prudence

acting in accordance to your own self interest / hypothetical imperative

Kant: perfect duties

not committing suicide, not making false promises

third formulation of the categorical imperative

autonomy

principle of autonomy

Kant: rational will is self-legislating, it is the source of its own law

the universal validity of moral law derives from the self-legislation of the will

kingdom of ends

Kant: a moral community in which all rational beings treat each other as ends and unite under shared, self legislated laws

a society where each individual is both legislator and subject of the moral law

inquiring murderer

if a murderer came to your door looking for your friend, you wouldn’t be able to lie to him even to save your friend’s life, according to Kant

arguments of inquiring murderer

if the murderer is lying/decieving, we can lie back to him since the maxim of lying could be universalized (the conditions of trust are already violated)

contradiction of the will

a maxim of refusing to develop one’s talents (even though this is possible, no one would want to live in a world where this is true)

imperfect duties

rules that are more flexible

• helping others in need

• developing one’s talents

Why does Kant claim that only a good will is morally good?

Even if it fails due to bad luck, it still had the right intentions + remains morally good

According to Aristotle, what is necessary to achieve happiness?

external goods like health/wealth/luck

the good of the soul— rational activity in accordance with virtue

Aristotle: two kinds of virtues

moral virtues and intellectual virtues

moral virtues

have to do with character and emotions, are learned through habits (ex. courage)

intellectual virtues

virtues that are taught involving thinking/reasoning (ex. phronesis)

Aristotle: “the good” of an action

if it performs in distinctive function well

consequentialism

the moral status of an action depends on its consequences

utilitarianism

the ultimate value is happiness, we should do what results in the most happiness (impartially considered)

contractualism

the rules are those that we should all agree to as part of the mutually advantageous system of living together in peace

deontology

a formal set of rules to follow