VI - CONSEQUENTIALISM & DEONTOLOGY

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on Normative Ethical Theories.

What are the two main normative ethical theories discussed in the lecture?

Consequentialism and Deontology.

How do consequentialists assess the morality of actions?

They assess choices based solely on the states of affairs they bring about, which are thought to be intrinsically valuable.

What is the key principle of utilitarianism?

The greater good for the greater number, identifying the Good with pleasure or happiness.

What criticism does consequentialism face regarding its demands?

It is overly demanding, leaving no room for moral permissions or supererogation.

What is the deontological response to consequentialism's criticism about killing innocents?

Deontologists prohibit actions like killing, regardless of potential good consequences.

What is the difference between ethical naturalism and ethical non-naturalism?

Ethical naturalism views good/right as observable properties, while ethical non-naturalism sees them as non-natural properties known through reason.

What is G. E. Moore's stance on the definition of 'good'?

He argues that 'good' is indefinable or denotes a complex that is debated.

What did Hobbes’s social compact theory of morals suggest?

It suggested that men have a duty to obey the will of their sovereign.

What is the doctrine of double effect?

It forbids intending evils even if they minimize future harm, but allows justification of acts leading to evil consequences if they reduce overall evil.

According to Kant, what is the only thing that qualifies as good?

Good will (intention).

What is a key advantage of deontological theories?

They align with conventional ideas of duty and do not demand general beneficence.

What is a significant disadvantage of deontological theories?

They can seem irrational by allowing duties that make the world morally worse.