Ethics Exam 3

Moral realism

There is at least one objective moral truth that is true regardless of situation

Moral anti-realism

There are no objective moral truths independent of belief or perspective

Moral character

The agent who makes moral choices

Moral choice

The goal an agent creates before acting

Moral action

The actual right or wrong behavior performed

Individual moral relativism

Morality is determined by the individual

Cultural moral relativism

Morality is determined by society or culture

General moral skepticism

We cannot know moral truths

Moral nihilism

There are no moral truths to know

Objectivism

Moral truths exist independent of opinion

Absolutism

Moral truths apply in all situations without exception

Universalism

Moral truths apply to all people

Consequentialist theory

Rightness depends only on outcomes

Non-consequentialist theory

Rightness is not determined solely by outcomes

Strong deontologism

Never consider consequences; duty only

Weak deontologism

Consider consequences, but duty still matters

Ethical egoism

You should act in your own self-interest (normative)

Egotism

Self-centered personality; everything revolves around self

Selfishness

Desire to have everything; greed

Psychological egoism

We can only act in self-interest (descriptive)

Act utilitarianism

Right action depends on the specific situation

Rule utilitarianism

Follow general rules that maximize happiness

Divine Command Theory

Right and wrong are determined by God's commands

Parmenides

Reality is the world of ideas; physical world is illusion

Pythagoras

Physical world is punishment; goal is to escape via reincarnation

Plato Simile of the Line

Knowledge (forms), understanding, opinion (physical world), ignorance (copies)

Plato soul parts

Reason, spirit, appetites

Plato ideal city

Philosophers (kings), warriors, producers

Plato virtue ethics

Reason must control desires for a good life

Aristotle Prime Mover

Perfect being that draws everything toward perfection

Aristotle virtue ethics

Virtue is the balance between excess and deficiency

Example of virtue

Bravery = between cowardice and rashness

Job (Plato view)

Moral character matters more than worldly success

Job (Aristotle view)

Happiness depends on fulfillment in this life

Stoics

Live according to nature and reason; ignore pain/pleasure

General revelation

Truth discovered through reason and science

Special revelation

Truth revealed by God or supernatural sources

Aquinas on adultery

God can redefine marriage

Aquinas on theft

God owns everything

Aquinas on murder

God controls life and death

Aquinas natural law

Moral duty comes from human nature and purpose

Human duties (Aquinas)

Preserve life, reproduce, use reason

Kierkegaard

God is above morality, but humans must still act morally

Empiricism

Knowledge comes from experience (tabula rasa)

Rationalism

Knowledge is innate (a priori)

Occam's Razor

Simplest explanation is best

Continental rationalists

Descartes, Leibniz, Spinoza

Rationalist belief

Innate knowledge

Locke

Primary qualities real; secondary qualities mind-dependent

Berkeley

Only minds and ideas exist; no physical world

Hume

We cannot know God, self, or causation for sure

Leibniz free will

Free will and determinism are compatible

Hume morality

No free will; actions driven by passions

Kant vs Hume

Moral responsibility requires true free will

Categorical imperative

Universal moral law that applies to everyone

Inner duty

Duty to oneself

Outer duty

Duty to others

Perfect duty

Must always be followed

Imperfect duty

General obligation but not always required

Inner perfect duty

Never commit suicide

Inner imperfect duty

Develop yourself

Outer perfect duty

Never lie

Outer imperfect duty

Be charitable

Kant moral credit

Only actions done from duty have moral worth

Nietzsche slave morality

Promotes weakness (humility, obedience)

Nietzsche master morality

Promotes strength and excellence

Minimalist feminism

Women equal to men in rights and worth

Standard feminism

Adds women's experiences and new ethical framework

Radical feminism

Women superior and should dominate

Wollstonecraft

Women need equality and education for true morality