Ethics Exam 1

Who endorses or criticizes Utilitarianism?

jeremy benthan and john stuart mill

Who endorses or criticizes Deontology?

immanuel kant

Who endorses or criticizes Virtue Ethics?

Aristotle

Who endorses or criticizes Ross’s Theory?

W.D. ross

Who calculates the numbers?

bentham

Who follows the categorical imperative?

kant

Criticisms of Utilitarianism

• it can justify harming innocent people

• it can be difficult to calculate consequences

• it can demand too much

• it focuses too much on consequences

Criticisms of Deontology (Kant)

• it can be too rigid

• duties can conflict

• consequences don’t matter enough

Criticisms of Aristotle

• it can be difficult to know exactly what the virtuous action is

• virtues can be culturally disputed

• it can be difficult in emergencies

• virtue ethics focuses on character rather than specific actions

Difference between Ross and Kant

Kant: one universal system of duties

Ross: multiple duties can conflict. when they conflict, we determine which duty is more important in the situation

Difference between Mill and Kant

Mill: judges actions based on their consequences

Kant: judges actions based on duty/rules

Ross’s 5 Foundational Duties

1. fidelity

2. reparation

3. gratitude

4. justice

5. beneficence

2 x Aristotle’s Virtues of Character

cowardice ← COURAGE → recklessness

insensibility ← TEMPERANCE → self-indulgence

Bentham on Purity

purity asks: is the pleasure likely to be followed by pain?

purity = pleasure without subsequent pain

Mill’s Higher vs. Lower Pleasure

lower pleasures: basic/physical (eating, drinking, physical comfort)

higher pleasures: intellectual, emotional, or moral (reading/learning)

Kant on Suicide

kant argues that suicide violates a perfect duty to oneself

Duty is a synonym for what?

obligation

Definition of Virtue?

hit the mean