Ethics Exam 2

objectivism

the belief that certain things especially moral truths, exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them

objections for objectivism

??

divine command theory

the belief that what’s moral and immoral is commanded by the divine (god)

objections for divine command theory

• assumes god exists

• Euthyphro dilemma

  • arbitrariness

  • independence

natural law theory

a moral theory that suggests there are inherent laws in nature that govern human behavior and ethics, based on principles of reason and morality. It asserts that certain ethical principles are universal and can be discovered through reason.

• derived from reason

• the idea that certain laws exist independent of human action

argument for natural law theory

1. human nature is similar in essential respects

2. moral principles are functions of human needs and interest

3. some principles meet these needs and interests better than others

4. principles that meet 3 are objectively valid

5. therefore, there are objectively valid moral principles that apply to everyone

problems with natural law theory

• assumes god

• if something is a matter of fact, it cannot also be a matter of value

  • to say that God or nature has purpose is to make a claim about a matter of fact

utilitarianism

the view that the right actions tends toward the production of the greatest happiness for all considered

problems with utilitarianism

• problem of no rest (over- demandingness)

• problem of consequences

• problem of justice

Utilitarianism:

problem of no rest

going to movies instead of donating to charity example

Utilitarianism:

problem of consequences

when to calculate? happiness, going to college example

Utilitarianism:

problem of justice

locking up a violent man in order to protect society from further violence

DCT

the Euthyphro problem

1. are right actions right because God commands them?

2. are right actions commanded by God because they are right?

the dilemma is commonly interpreted as starting with the question “what makes God’s commands good?” if they are good because they are God’s this seems to leave morality arbitrary and unconstrained. if the commands are good independent of god, then it seems that DC is irrelevant to the grounding of morality.