Ethics Final

What is Ethics?

The philosophic attempt to resolve a specific moral conflict

Two Types of Moral Theories

Absolute and Prima Facie

Absolute

An absolute moral principle is one that claims that has no exception exists to its command. All or None

Prima Facie

A principle that does claim exceptions to its command. Some, Many, Most, Not All.

Argument from Principle

p1 It the principle Universal or Prima Facie

p2 An example of the principle

C One should…

Argument from Analogy

p1 A is P

p2 Analogy, A and B are reasonably similar

C B is P

IBE (Inference from Best Explanation): Principle Justification

p1 Paradigm cases

p2 Be (is)

C Source Conclusion

IBE (Inference from Best Explanation): Principle Application

p1 Source Conclusion

p2 Target

C Target Conclusion

Virtue Theory

Assessing the character of an Agent.

Deontology

Focuses on what Act the Agent commits.

Consequentialism

Focuses on the Outcome of the Act carried out by an Agent.

Parity of Reason

Both cases are alike so you must have reason to judge one positive and one negative. Like-cases-alike.

Ought implies Can

If someone has a moral obligation to do something, they must also be capable of doing it.

Discovery

Subjectivity prevails. Tries to discover what something through observation.

Designation

Intellect prevails. Says that something is the way it is because we designate it to be so.

PDE/DDE

1. The act itself cannot be morally wrong or intrinsically evil

2. The bad effect cannot cause the good effect.

3. The agent cannot intent the bad effect.

4. Proportion: the bad effect cannot outweigh the good effect.

Negative Duties

Avoiding the bad. Doesn’t require action.

Positive Duties

Doing the good. Requires action.

Elements of Action

Act: The agent

Why: Point of Action

Intention: What did I intend to do

Circumstances: What happened because of the action.

Functions of Conscience

1. Respiratory of principles (guidelines)

2. Action

Conscience

The ability human beings have to engage in practical reasoning. One should according to their conscience.

Subjectivist Thesis

If X seems good to A, then X is good

Basic Goods

Life, Family, Friends, Knowledge, Health

Complex goods (most important to Bioethics)

Life, Health

Personhood: Properties

consciousness and self-consciousness, reasoning, freedom of choice, and moral agency.

Substantial Change

A change that causes one thing to become something else. Coming to be or ceasing to be. I.e, a person dying and becoming a corpse.

Accidental Change

When a thing has become different but not something different. I.e a puppy becoming a dog. It is still a dog, just a different stage of development.

What is Potential?

Something that is already there. It is already a part of whatever the being is.