RELG203: EXAM 1 PREP & Study Guide

As noted in the lectures and in Navigating Right and Wrong, what is the difference between deontological & consequentialist approaches to ethics?

Give examples of each.

Deontological Approach- believes that certain things are right and others are wrong. This can be expressed as rules of various types (rules that are generalized about various types of acts)

• EXAMPLE: Smoking, telling the truth, or respecting property rights

Consequentialist Approach- views that the morality of an act is determined by the consequences of the act, rather than by the nature of the act itself.

• EXAMPLE: Telling the truth or lying. If either is beneficial in any case then it’s fine to do it.

Define Consequentialist ethics.

Consequentialist Approach- views that the morality of an act is determined by the consequences of the act, rather than by the nature of the act itself.

• EXAMPLE: Telling the truth or lying. If either is beneficial in any case then it’s fine to do it.

Define Deontological Ethics.

Deontological Approach- believes that certain things are right and others are wrong. This can be expressed as rules of various types (rules that are generalized about various types of acts)

• EXAMPLE: Smoking, telling the truth, or respecting property rights

As noted in the lectures and in Navigating Right and Wrong, what are three questions which must be answered, either implicitly or explicitly, by anyone who is a consequentialist?

1. What is likely to happen if a particular course of action is taken? (catalyst)

2. What counts as a good consequence and what counts as a bad consequence?

3. Whose balance sheets should be considered when tabulating the consequences?

According to Matthew 5, what will happen to those who are meek?

They are blessed by god and shall eventually inherit the earth.

What are jus ad bellum and jus in bello respectively?

• Jus ad Bellum (justice in going to war)- the belief that there’s a set list of criteria that ALL MUST BE MET before going to war on the justification that it is morally right.

• Jus in Bello (justice in the conduct of war)- the question of whether there are ways of fighting that are so evil that they shouldn’t be used even if they were effective in winning

What is Jus ad Bellum?

Jus ad Bellum (justice in going to war)- the belief that there’s a set list of criteria that ALL MUST BE MET before going to war on the justification that it is morally right.

What is Jus in Bello (justice in the conduct of war)?

Jus in Bello (justice in the conduct of war)- the question of whether there are ways of fighting that are so evil that they shouldn’t be used even if they were effective in winning

As noted in Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says there are two views of what lies behind the universe. What are they? And which does he prefer?

• Materialist View:

  View that matter and space have always existed and behave according to set laws, with no need for a creator or higher power to explain their existence. 

• Religious View:

  View that proposes that the universe was created by a conscious being, a "mind" with a plan and goals, which is responsible for the order and design we observe in the world. 

He prefers the religious view.

As noted in the lectures and in Navigating Right and Wrong, consequentialist approaches to ethics suggest that:

(a) we have a duty to comply with whatever rules are applicable

(b) the consequences of an act determine its morality

(c) we should always act on the basis of self-interest

(d) none of the above

(b) the consequences of an act determine its morality

As noted in the lectures and in Navigating Right and Wrong, subjectivists believe that:

(a) there isn’t anything that is really right or wrong

(b) it is always wrong to tell a lie

(c) there is an existing moral order in the universe

(d) none of the above

(a) there isn’t anything that is really right or wrong

In “Exposition of Moral Law,” John Calvin:

(a) places a strong emphasis on the Bible

(b) states that there are too many rules

(c) rejects the doctrine of original sin

(d) none of the above

(a) places a strong emphasis on the Bible

Thomas Aquinas believed that

(a) there really isn’t anything that is right or wrong

(b) existence precedes essence

(c) there are no existing moral norms in the universe

(d) none of the above

(d) none of the above

Jean-Paul Sartre (the author of “Existentialism Is a Humanism) responded to the student who came to him for advice by:

(a) urging him to join the Free French

(b) encouraging him to collaborate with the Nazis

(c) saying that he had no advice to give

(d) none of the above

c) saying that he had no advice to give

Negative rights (rights of forbearance) include the following:

(a) a right to privacy

(b) freedom of religion

(c) freedom of the press

(d) all of the above

(d) all of the above

As noted in “What if Then,” Roland Bainton suggests that:

(a) survival is not the most important value

(b) the use of lethal violence is morally acceptable if it is the last resort

(c) if a tyrant invades our country, we use all means at our disposal to resist the invader

(d) none of the above

(a) survival is not the most important value

In “Love Is the Only Norm,” Joseph Fletcher suggests that:

(a) we need strict rules to govern our conduct

(b) the Bible is the ultimate moral authority

(c) it is sometimes acceptable to break some or all of the Ten Commandments

(d) none of the above

(c) it is sometimes acceptable to break some or all of the Ten Commandments

In Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II:

(a) calls for the Catholic Church to get rid of strict rules

(b) expresses concern about what he describes as a culture of violence

(c) takes a position very similar to that taken by Joseph Fletcher

(d) none of the above

(b) expresses concern about what he describes as a culture of violence

Most people have moral inclinations. As you see things, are they (a) something they were born with, (b) the result of social conditioning, or (c) some combination of both?

Moral inclinations result from both social conditioning and something we are born with.

1. The common person typically develops their moral inclinations based on their environments and what they grew up in. For example, if a child is born into a racist family, then the child will (TYPICALLY, not always) become racist. That is unless they are exposed to an opposing opinion. They are not born racist, they are conditioned to become that way.

2. However, if we look at the case of someone who is diagnosed as a sociopath, this condition is theorized to be both a combination of genetics and something that is learned through social interactions. Therefore, a person with the condition is simultaneously born with preprogrammed moral inclinations/behaviors while simultaneously being conditioned by their environments.

3. In regards to the texts and lectures that we’ve read, let’s look at it from a pacifist or aggressive person. A person (who does not have a preexisting condition) isn’t born aggressive, or a pacifist. It’s something that is learned early on and throughout our lives.

In your opinion, who came closer to getting it right with respect to rules—John Calvin or Joseph Fletcher?

What are your views with respect to pacifism?

1. Pacifism according to what we’ve learned is the viewpoint that war and other forms of lethal violence are ALWAYS wrong. Normally, pacifists argue their case their case in one of two ways. One is that the Cost of war outweighs its benefits. Two, that lethal violence is intrinsically wrong.

2. With that all being said, I believe that pacifism should be the only way of solving issues instead of resulting in unethical means of war. However, I understand that the perspective of “perfect” pacifism could most definitely be viewed as something much easier said than done.

3. However, that’s not to say pacifism can’t be done. If we take a look back at history, we can see multiple famous figures like MLK, Gandhi, & etc. All of these figures were able to properly institute means of pacifism to solve critical social issues.

4. So pacifism is possible. It’s just not simple street.