Philosophy Midterm

What is cultural relativism (CR)?

An act is morally permissible if and only if it is permitted by the moral code of the society of the agent at the time.

What is the moral progress argument against CR?

When a society changes some aspect of their moral code for the better/improves the moral code?

Present the moral progress argument.

1.If CR is true then moral progress is impossible (because there is no object standard-rational)

2.Moral progress is not impossible (ex. slavery)

Therefore, CR is not true

What is the moral critic argument against CR?

someone who disagrees with some part of their society’s moral code must be wrong

Present the moral critic argument?

1.If CR is true, then every moral critic is mistaken (this theory does not allow the majority to be wrong-rational)

It is not the case that every moral critic is mistaken (ex. MLK)

Therefore, CR is not true

What is hedonic act utility (HAU)?

The creed which accepts as the foundation of morals, utility or the greatest happiness principle, holds that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness and wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain.

What is the organ harvest arg. against HAU?

Digit goes to the doctor, and he gets his organs harvested to save 5 other people

Present the organ harvest arg. against HAU?

You have to kill and harvest organs according to HAU (explain that HAU would say that this produces the most happiness-rational)

It’s not morally permissible to kill digit (using as a means, violation of oath,digit did not consent-rational)

Therefore, HAU is not true

What is Kant’s 1st categorical imperative (CI1)?

your act is right if and only if you would rationally will it to be universal

What is the stock market objection to CI1?

stasha wants to take her money out of the stock market but not everyone could do that

Present the stock market object ot CI1.

If CI1 is true then Act1 (pulling all her money out of the stock market) is morally wrong (explains how CI1 says it has to be universal-rational)

Act1 is not morally wrong (it is not wrong in itself to take your money out of the stock market-rational)

Therefore, CI1 is false

What is Kant’s 2nd categorical imperative (CI2)?

An act is morally permissible if and only if you refrain from treating others [humans] as a mere means

What is the shallow pond objection to CI2?

walking past a drowning child in a pond is ok according to CI2 (Act 1)

Present the shallow pond objecto to CI2?

If CI2 is true then Act1 is morally permissible (CI2 says to not treat people as a mere means, doing nothing in this situation is not violating that-rational)

Act1 is not morally permissible (letting someone die when you could easily save them with no harm to yourself is wrong and cruel-rational)

Therefore CI2 must be false

What is affirmative action?

A variety of practices that are designed to increase the representation of members of historically excluded groups in government,education and employment.