Philosophy Final Review

Flashcards covering key concepts from Immanuel Kant, Utilitarianism (Bentham/Mill), Aristotle's ethics, lying theories, and concepts of law and responsibility.

Good Will

According to Immanuel Kant, someone who chooses with free will to obey the categorical imperative on the basis of morality.

Inclination

A motive for action that involves doing something because you like it or get pleasure out of it.

Self-interest

A motive for action where one acts to get a specific benefit out of the situation.

Duty

A motive for action where the subject obeys the objective moral law.

Categorical Imperative

The objective moral law that functions as an absolute "should do."

Hypothetical Imperative

A conditional rule of action, such as "if I want to be strong, work."

Action done from duty

An action performed because it is morally right, such as not stealing because stealing is wrong.

Action done in accordance with duty

An action that aligns with duty but is done for other reasons, such as not stealing only to avoid getting in trouble.

Hedonist Principle

The foundational utilitarian principle that states pleasure is the only good and pain is the only evil.

Consequentialist

The utilitarian view that the results that occur from an action or law determine whether it is right or wrong.

Principle of Extent

A foundational principle focusing on the majority of people that an action affects.

Bentham's view of pleasure

The belief that pleasure is the same as happiness and there are no different types of pleasure.

Mills's view of pleasure

The belief that human pleasure is distinct from and does not closely compare to animal pleasure (e.g., a dog's pleasure).

Descriptive Dimension

The part of ethical theory that describes humans as hardwired to only want pleasure and avoid pain.

Normative Dimension

The moral part of ethical theory based on moral calculus.

Intensity

A dimension of moral calculus measuring how painful or pleasureful an experience is.

Duration

A dimension of moral calculus measuring how long or short the sensation is going to last.

Certainty

A dimension of moral calculus measuring how positive one is about the resulting pleasure or pain.

Propinquity

A dimension of moral calculus measuring how close the results are going to happen.

Fecundity

A dimension of moral calculus measuring if an event will happen one or multiple times.

Purity

A dimension of moral calculus measuring whether pleasure will be mixed with pain or not.

Extent

A dimension of moral calculus measuring how far or wide the amount of people affected is.

A view from nowhere

The utilitarian view of community used to avoid favoritism that could skew the moral calculus scale.

Futurology

A critique of utilitarianism stating that it is not possible to predict the future.

Consensus Theory of Truth

The theory that a proposition is true if the majority of people believe it.

Coherence Theory of Truth

The theory that a proposition is true if it can be argued logically.

Correspondence Theory of Truth

The theory that a proposition is true if it matches with reality.

Object

In the morality of human acts, this refers to the action itself (e.g., lying).

Intention

In the morality of human acts, the reason why someone is doing something, including the hope and the result.

Circumstances

In the morality of human acts, the outside factors surrounding an act.

Direct Lie

Consists of two parts: a statement that doesn't correspond with reality and the intention to deceive.

Eudaimonia

The final goal or happiness, defined as complete well-being and having an ordered soul.

Virtuous Person

According to Aristotle, someone who is not tempted to do wrong.

Continent Person

According to Aristotle, someone who is a little tempted but resists the temptation.

Incontinent Person

According to Aristotle, someone who is tempted and gives in.

Vicious Person

According to Aristotle, someone who does bad things on purpose.

Efficient Cause

One of the Four Causes; the means by which a thing is made.

Material Cause

One of the Four Causes; the matter out of which a thing is made.

Formal Cause

One of the Four Causes; the pattern or form into what a thing is made.

Final Cause

One of the Four Causes; the purpose or reason why a thing was made; relates to Eudaimonia.

Ordered Soul

A soul where reason (the chariot driver) and courage (horse $1$) control the appetite (horse $2$).

Disordered Soul

When a person lets their appetite take over their courage and reason, which does not lead to happiness.

Telos

The end, goal, or purpose of a thing; for humans, this is happiness.

Contested Good

Goods that diminish when used or participated in, causing people to compete for them.

Common Good

A good that increases when we participate in it (e.g., knowledge) and helps society flourish.

Variable Knowledge

Changeable aspects of knowledge, such as a corrupt government that can be changed.

Invariable Knowledge

Unchangeable aspects of knowledge, such as mathematics.

Contemplative Life

One of the four types of life; involving knowledge and knowing for the sake of knowing; part of true happiness.

Intellectual Virtues

Just knowing about something or having head knowledge; does not guarantee virtuous actions.

Moral Virtues

Being virtuous by physically practicing and performing virtuous actions.

The Mean

The virtuous midpoint between deficiency and excess.

Acquired Disposition

A character trait that must be practiced and worked for; relates to achieving virtue.

Arete

A Greek term meaning excellence.

Just Law

A law that aligns with morality and the natural law of God, and uplifts human personality.

Unjust Law

A man-made law out of harmony with moral law that degrades human personality.

Deliberation

Thinking something through before making a choice; only possible for things a person can accomplish.

Apparent Good

Something that seems good but actually isn't; individuals are responsible for poor decisions regarding these.