Cultural Relativism, Ethical Theories, and Utilitarianism

These flashcards cover key concepts and objections related to Cultural Relativism, Ethical Theories including Ethical Egoism and Utilitarianism.

What is a key objection to Cultural Relativism regarding moral progress?

It makes moral progress impossible.

How do you decide which culture sets the ethical truth?

This is a central question that challenges Cultural Relativism.

What is the Plurality Argument for cultural relativism?

It suggests that because multiple cultures have differing moral perspectives, there are no universal moral truths.

What is a criticism of the Plurality Argument?

One criticism is that just because different cultures disagree does not mean that no objective moral truths exist.

What is Ethical Cultural Relativism?

The belief that moral values are based on cultural context and that there are no absolute moral truths.

What is a critique of Ethical Cultural Relativism regarding moral reformers?

It struggles to evaluate moral reformers who challenge the prevailing norms of their society.

What is the difference between objective naturalistic and nonnaturalistic ethical theories?

Objective naturalistic theories base ethics on natural facts, while nonnaturalistic theories claim moral truths exist independently of natural phenomena.

Is ethical egoism considered an objective or relative theory of ethics?

Ethical egoism is considered an objective theory.

Define ethical egoism.

The ethical theory that suggests individuals should act in their own self-interest.

Define psychological egoism.

The theory that suggests individuals inherently act in their own self-interest.

Who is the key proponent of ethical egoism discussed in the textbook?

Ayn Rand.

What is an objection to egoism related to common moral intuitions?

Egoism conflicts with commonly held moral intuitions about altruism and caring for others.

What is the objection to egoism that claims it is unjust?

It leads to scenarios where individuals can justify harming others for personal gain.

What epistemological difficulty faces egoism?

It is challenging to justify how one can know their own interests without an objective perspective on ethics.

How would an ethical egoist argue that following ethical egoism promotes everyone's good?

They might claim that promoting one's own good ultimately benefits society as each person pursues their own self-interest.

Summarize a critique of ethical egoism.

One critique is that it fails to account for the moral obligations we have towards others.

Is Utilitarianism an objective or relative theory of ethics?

Utilitarianism is considered an objective theory of ethics.

Define hedonism.

The ethical theory that pleasure is the highest good.

What is the fundamental good according to Utilitarianism?

The greatest happiness or pleasure for the greatest number.

Define consequentialism.

The ethical theory that judges the rightness of actions based on their outcomes or consequences.

Who should be considered when making ethical evaluations according to Utilitarianism?

All individuals affected by the action must be considered.

Describe Bentham's form of utilitarianism.

Bentham's utilitarianism focuses on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain, using a quantitative approach.

Describe Mill's form of utilitarianism.

Mill's utilitarianism includes qualitative assessments of pleasures, emphasizing higher intellectual and moral pleasures over mere physical ones.

What is the 'epistemic problem' for utilitarianism?

The challenge of accurately predicting the consequences of actions to determine their moral worth.