Key Concepts in Ethical Theories and Philosophers

Jeremy Bentham

Philosopher known for utilitarianism and Panopticon.

Greatest Happiness Principle

Ethical principle promoting the greatest good for all.

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory prioritizing pleasure and useful consequences.

Felicific Calculus

Framework calculating pleasure from actions' consequences.

Duration

Length of time pleasure lasts.

Fecundity

Chance of repeated pleasurable sensations.

Certainty

Likelihood that pleasure will occur.

Purity

Chance of avoiding opposite sensations after pleasure.

Principle of Utility

Guiding principle of pleasure and pain in ethics.

Act Utilitarian

Bentham's approach focusing on individual actions' consequences.

Knowledge

Considered a higher level of pleasure.

Sexiness

Considered a lower level of pleasure.

John Stuart Mill

Philosopher known for utilitarianism, born May 20, 1806.

David Hume

Philosopher who inspired Jeremy Bentham's ideas.

Moral Value

Determined by consequences, not intentions.

Moral Rights and Justice

Justified by consequences for the greatest good.

Virtue Ethics

Ethical approach emphasizing character over rules.

Aristotle

Philosopher who developed virtue ethics.

Eudaimonism

Goal of life is eudaimonia through practicing virtues.

Phronesis

Greek term for practical wisdom.

Ethics of Care

Feminist ethics emphasizing caring over justice.

Empiricism

Knowledge derived from experience and senses.

Deontological Ethics

Ethics based on duty and obligation.

Categorical Imperative

Kant's principle of moral duty.

Natural Law

Moral actions align with human nature's purpose.

Moral Object

Intention and purpose behind an action.

Circumstance

Factors influencing the evaluation of moral acts.

Intention/Motive

Ultimate reason guiding moral actions.

Principle of Double-Effect

Judges acts with both good and evil effects.

Deontological Ethics

Ethics based on adherence to rules, regardless of outcomes.

Golden Rule

Treat others as you wish to be treated.

Quality of Pleasure

Concept by John Stuart Mill regarding pleasure's value.

Categorical Imperative

Kant's principle for universal moral law.

Kingdom of Ends

Kant's idea of treating humanity as an end.

Virtue Ethics

Focus on developing moral character traits.

Utilitarianism

Maximizes overall happiness or well-being.

Natural Law Theory

Moral principles inherent to human nature.

Felicific Calculus

Calculates pleasure produced by actions.

Eudaimonism

Pursuit of a good life through virtue.

Moral Virtues

Character traits promoting ethical behavior.

Vice of Deficiency

Excessive lack of a virtue, e.g., cowardice.

Vice of Excess

Excessive presence of a virtue, e.g., prodigality.

Social Contract Theory

Moral rules agreed upon under fair conditions.

Divine Will

Moral law as dictated by a higher power.

Aristotle

Philosopher known for virtue ethics and moral character.

Aquinas

Philosopher emphasizing natural law and moral virtues.

Kantian Ethics

Focus on duty and moral law over consequences.

James Mill

Bentham's student, contributed to utilitarian thought.

Moral Exemplars

Individuals embodying moral virtues for others to emulate.

Utilitarianism

Ethical theory focused on maximizing pleasure's consequences.

Natural Law

Morality based on human nature's end purposes.

Human Acts

Actions derived from the will, per Aquinas.

Ethics of Care

Emphasizes feminine values like caring over justice.

Aristotle's Virtue Ethics

Focuses on achieving one's ultimate purpose or telos.

Rational Faculty

Part of the soul where intelligence is developed.

Deontology

Ethics evaluating actions based on their inherent rightness.

Moral Norms

Standards that determine what makes a choice right.

Circumstance

Context influencing the evaluation of moral acts.

Rational Will

Ability to act according to self-determined principles.

Autonomy

Self-imposed law, opposite of heteronomy's external authority.

Heteronomy

Law imposed by external authority on the will.

Bentham's Greatest Happiness Principle

Ethics based on pleasure and pain as motivators.

Fecundity

Likelihood of pleasure being followed by similar sensations.

Felicific Calculus

Method for evaluating actions based on resultant pleasure.

Mill's Qualitative Distinction

Pleasures should be evaluated qualitatively, not just quantitatively.

Socrates vs. Pig

Better to be dissatisfied human than satisfied pig.

Greatest Happiness Principle

Utilitarianism aims for greatest happiness for most people.

Legal Rights

Rights justified by their contribution to overall happiness.

Mill's Moral Rights

Not absolute; justified by consequences promoting general good.

Due Process Rights

Rights justified if they enhance overall societal good.

Mill's Marriage

Married Harriet Taylor after 21 years of friendship.

Quantitative Difference

Pleasure and pain vary in measurable amounts.

Different Dimension

Factors influencing pleasure and pain experiences.

Affected Persons

Number of individuals experiencing pleasure or pain.

Principle of Utility

Bentham's idea linking happiness to pleasure.

Masters of Choice

Natural guides for determining good and bad.

Usefulness of Actions

Actions judged by their contribution to happiness.

Utilitarianism

Sacrificing rights for greater happiness of many.

Moral Value

Based on usefulness of consequences.

Goodness of Actions

Determined by results promoting specific purposes.

Jeremy Bentham

Philosopher born February 15, 1748, in London.

Rational Will

Capacity to act according to self-determined principles.

Organism's Ability

Perceive and navigate external environments.

Human Rationality

Ability to reflect before acting.

15th Century Mathematician

Proposed geocentric model of the universe.

Paradigm Shift

Radical change in human understanding of existence.

Autonomy

Self-imposed laws guiding individual actions.

Heteronomy

Actions influenced by external authorities.

Free Choice

Determined by pure personal will.

Animal Choice

Determined by sensory impulses.

Human Choice

Affected but not determined by impulses.

Kant's Maxim

Act only if maxim can be universal law.

Moral Test

Imagining universal adoption of proposed actions.

Paternalism

Decisions made for others' benefit.

Deontology

Morality based on reason and rational capacity.

Sensible Impulses

Factors affecting but not determining actions.