Meta ethics

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What is Bentham’s Utilitarism

Bentham’s utiltarism is a theory which promotes the greatest number of happiness for the greatest number of people arguing that this comes above rules. It uses the hedonic calculus

What is Divine Command Theory

DCT is the idea that God's commands in the bible is what defines what is right or wrong, and we must always follow this even if we may not agree with it, as God’s authority is the sole authority.

What’s the euphoryo dilemma

Plato - is it good because God commands it, or does God command it because it good? -

intutionism - Moore

-theory that moral truths are known by direct intuition

what is emotivism?

The idea that moral statements are not statements of fact but are expressions of emotion.

Karl Barth on DCT

People shouldn’t interfere with God’s command as human understanding is limited - bible contains the word of God

Calvin on DCT

if you challenge God's morality, you're suggesting there is something greater than God, which is false because god is THE uncaused being.

Weakness of DCT

Commands bad things at times, St Paul 'slaves should be submissive to their master'

‘‘is-ought gap’’

Idea that we can not infer what should be done based on what has happened, as this is subjective and we can not infer what ought to be done based on what has happened

Strength of Moore’s intutionism

A strength of intuitionist cognitivism is that it fits with human psychology, Moore argues that when we observe or reflect on a moral action and its consequences, we intuitively know whether it was right or wrong.

Weakness of Utilitarism

It can justify actions which are seen as morally wrong, despite the fact that they may provide happiness, the act could still be morally wrong

Weakness of Utilitarism 2

Similar to Situation Ethics, could be seen as giving too much freedom

Weakness of Utilititarism 3

Bentham’s view that all pleasures are equal is often disagreed with, and was disagreed with by J.S Mill

Utilatarism on naturalism

Bentham agrees because he thinks pain and pleasure are real within this world (observable) therefore naturalist.

Ethical naturalism criticism

Fallacy of composition - what is true of the part is not necessarily true of the whole:
- Ethical naturalism provides only general guidance, but it does not help individual cases