Ethics final

Utilitarianism

Judges actions by outcomes, aiming for the greatest happiness for the greatest number; motives are secondary.

Kantian Ethics

Judges actions by intentions; an action is moral if it’s done from duty and aligns with universal moral law.

Impaired Sex

When someone's judgment is impaired (e.g., by alcohol), it raises questions about the capacity to give full consent.

Regretted Encounter

Not every regretted sexual act is rape; clear consent must be critically assessed.

Mens Rea

"Guilty mind"; intent or knowledge of wrongdoing.

Actus Reus

"Guilty act"; the physical act of committing a crime.

Active Euthanasia

Deliberately causing a patient’s death, such as through lethal injection.

Passive Euthanasia

Withholding treatment to allow someone to die naturally.

Physician-Assisted Suicide

Where a doctor provides the means for a patient to end their own life.

U.S. Euthanasia Laws

Legal only in certain states and primarily for physician-assisted suicide for terminal illnesses.

Belgian Euthanasia Laws

Broader laws allowing euthanasia for physical and mental suffering, including for minors with consent.

Arguments Against Euthanasia

Concerns about self-interest in vulnerable individuals and the potential for a slippery slope leading to abuses.

Arguments For Euthanasia

Support for autonomy in choosing death, avoiding unnecessary suffering, and being honest about assistance in dying.

Negative Eugenics

Aims to stop reproduction by "undesirable" individuals, such as through sterilization.

Positive Eugenics

Encourages reproduction by individuals with "desirable" traits.

Huemer's View on Gun Rights

Advocates for strong evidence before the government imposes restrictions on gun ownership.

Kellerman Study

Found that having a gun in the home increases the risk of harm to household members.

Child Welfare and Parental Autonomy

Parents’ rights are upheld due to their knowledge of their children and the importance of family privacy.

Medical Child Neglect

Refusing life-saving treatment can be considered criminal neglect by parents.

Lying and Morality

Conflicting values include trust-building versus harm-avoidance through lying.

Philosophical Hedonism

Defines well-being in terms of pleasure and absence of pain.

Desire Theory

Well-being is defined as getting what one wants, regardless of the nature of those desires.

Objective List Theory

Certain things are inherently good for everyone, like relationships and health, though there is debate over the list.

Libertarian Free Will

The belief that we have genuine freedom to choose and are morally responsible for our actions.

Hard Determinism

The view that all actions are predetermined, denying true freedom and thus moral responsibility.