PHILOSOPHY 101 SDSU BARBONE FINAL EXAM

Aristotle

Associated w/ virtue theory. 3rd century (BCE)

(Proper) Function

Fulfilling a thing's purpose (ex. the proper function of a knife is to cut)

Virtue

Being excellent as the thing one is (ex. a virtuous knife cuts well, for humans, activity of the rational soul)

Habit

A learned behavior, either chosen or developed, by which one becomes virtuous or vicious; Second nature

Mean (NOT MEANS)

neither extreme of any given range of behavior (ex. courage is the mean between being a fool in battle and being cowardly)

Teleology

belief that everything has a purpose

Good

for virtue theorists, the purpose and end of everything, which leads to happiness for humans

(pre)conditions of virtue

Disposition that must be present in order to learn a virtuous habit

Involuntary decisions

choices we make that aren't forced by external circumstances or in light of those very circumstances

Voluntary decisions

These actions are done by agent who knows the circumstances

Virtues of character

define what/who we are by our behavior

Justice

Main virtue of character: All other virtues are a form of this

Bravery, temperance, generosity, magnanimity, truthfulness, wit

Virtues of character. each which falls as the mean between 2 extremes

Virtues of thought

when soul(mind) is fulfilling its proper function due to learned habits

Understanding, intelligence, deliberation

processes needed to make good decisions in order to practice virtues of thought

Purpose of political state

keep people living as if they were practicing virtues of thought or virtues of character

akrasia

doing what one knows is wrong even though one wants to do what is right

contemplation/thought thinking thought

highest level of activity for humans, thus the perfection of humans, the most virtuous activity

yurn

mongrel meat

mongrel

all non-human animal born of a human mother in the world of "Animals"

Don LePan

animals rights activist; author of "Animals"

Fredrich Nietzsche

19th century philosopher associated with will to power, superman (übermensch)

will to power

striving to exert one's power over other things

Dionysius and Apollo

Greek gods of desire(drinking/sex/pleasure) and measure the reason respectively

Master morality

being a leader and deciding for oneself what is good - usually whats good is what the master likes and has the power to take/have

Slave morality

Being a follower and revising the master morality so that what's good is weakness and meekness

naysayer to life

From the slave morality, a person who denies himself for some supposed higher cause; the Naysayer does not live for her life today but does without choice

Übermensch(superman)

the person who is above laws and morality since they make them up for themselves

eternal return

thought experiment to test whether one is living a good life - would you want to repeat your life exactly as it is for eternity?

Altruism

we should act for the sake of others; others self-interest comes before yours

Ethical egoism

we should act in our own interests first

Psychological egoism

we do indeed act in our own interests first

"God"/nature

infinite , uncaused being through/in/with which everything else exists

Determinism

belief that there is no free will, that everything is a matter of cause/effect

Self preservation doctrine

each thing strives to preserve itself the best way it knows how

Virtue

What promotes your well-being; vice is what prevents your well being

Purpose of religion

to help people live as if they were rational and self-interested egoist

Normative question

Just because i have a duty, why should I do it? why does duty matter?

Reflexivity

-the ability to reflect consciously on our actions
-The self-conscious human mind is essentially introspective and reflective
-It generates guilt or resentment when our deeds or the actions of others are seen to be immoral
-Obligations and values are "projections" of our moral sentiments and dispositions
-OUR reason for doing this/that

Reasons

We need a reason to act; it may be authority, peer pressure, etc but we need a reason

Famous Violinist

Thought experiment to help us ask whether abortion is permissible

Philippa Foot

Trolley problem but also 20th century philosopher associated with drowning the nephew problem

Drowning your Nephew

Thought experiment wherein we are asked what's the difference between killing and letting die

Drowning Baby

thought experiment to help show that we would easily and naturally help a child in distress unless that child is far away, then we might not eve donate a quarter

Giving what we can

Program to get people to donate 10% of their income (or less if they are under employer) to known charities that do most immediate good

Capability

Nussbaum's notion that each person has certain abilities and that we ought to sponsor laws and customs that allow for each of those abilities to be expressed. (This could induce allowing some things - like incest - that are not considered ethical now)

Objectivism

concept that the world is how we see it, neither hostile to humans nor helpful to us; we have to make our own way in the world

Virtue of selfishness

don't sacrifice yourself for others; individual rights are more than social rights

Retributive Justice

Eye for an eye justice; seems to just punish the criminal (associated with Deontology)

Restorative Justice

an effort to recognize that both the criminal and victim are harmed in all illegal action so therefore should both work together to fix the harms committed (associated with Utilitarianism)

Instrumental Value

Whether something is good as a means

Intrinsic value

that something has moral worth just because it is that thing

Moral standing

whether something deserves to be treated as an other with dignity and respect rather than a mere thing

Benedict (Baruch) Spinoza

17th century philosophy, associated with VIRTUE, EGOISM, DETERMINISM, GOD=NATURE

Judith Javis Thomson

20th Century philosopher associated with famous violinist

Peter Singer

animals rights philosopher, associated with drowning child problem

Toby Ord

21st century philosophy student, founder of giving what we can

Martha Nussbaum

associated with ethics, reason, emotion, and capabilities

Ayan Rand

founder of objectivism

Richard Sylvan

associated with environmental ethics