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Pragmatic method
what gets us what we want
Coherence theory
What fits with other beliefs and meanings
Correspondence theory
What corresponds to the real world
Knowledge
Justified true belief
A priori
A proposition that is gathered from reason like math or logic
Empirical
A proposition that is gathered from observation
Basic belief
Does not have to be justified by other beliefs
Nonbasic belief
Inferred from other beliefs
Foundationalism
All beliefs are based on basic beliefs; ex: I think therefore I am
Coherentism
Beliefs rest and other beliefs in an interconnected way; beliefs are true if they fit coherently in a system of beliefs
Correspondence theory
Truth is an agreement or correspondence between a proposition and same fact in the real world
Tarski
Defined truth as a property of sentences; a sentence is true when it states something as it is
Coherence theory
A belief is true is it coheres with other beliefs that we regard is true; similar to that of justification
Brand Blanshard
Said that the only way of getting out truth is seeing if a statement fits with other excepted statements
Pragmatic theory
A belief is true if it is useful to believe
William James
A pragmatist who claimed that ideas are validated if they lead to experiences that are progressive, harmonious, and satisfactory
Rorty
Claimed that truth is whatever has passed societies procedures of justification
Instrumentalist view
Focuses on if a Scientific theory works; based on pragmatic theory of truth
Realist view
Focuses on the fact that science is meant to accurately describe the universe; based on correspondence theory of truth
The conceptual relativist view
Says that truth is determined in the scientific community; based on the coherence theory of truth
Thomas Kuhn
The person in whom the conceptual relativist view is based in; focused on communities of scientists providing conceptual framework that says what is true
Three main ways to interpret text
authorial intent
meeting of the horizons
Eye of the reader
Wittgenstein
Related to ideal clear language; based more in a pragmatic theory; language can have many meanings and the meanings of a text does not depend on the facts it pictures but on the meaning people give it
Gadamer
Said that reading depends on the person reading it and their context; based on coherence theory of truth
Hirsch
Argued that Gadamer has meaning confused with significance; meaning doesnât change but significance does
Transmission
Relates to how a text was passed on
Literal
The text itself
Allegorical
How to text relates to doctrine
Moral
How to live
Anagogical
Hidden meanings
Ethics
The philosophical study of morality
Virtue ethics
Asks the question âwhat should I be?â
Ethical absolutism
One and only one correct morality exists
Ethical relativism
There isnât one universal morality for everyone
Normative ethics
The study of principles that guide actions and judgments
Metaethics
The meaning of moral beliefs
Applied ethics
Applying moral norms to specific issues
Universizeability
The principle that must apply across cases
Impartiality
Treat everyone equally
Moral norms dominate
Morality is above it all
Objectivism
Maria norms are valid for everyone and culture does not matter
Cultural relativism
An action is morally right if oneâs culture approves of it
Subjective relativism
An action is morally right if one approves of it; this means the individual holds moral power and decision making
Emotivism
Moral statements are not true or false, they are a representation of the true emotion of the one stating them
Alfred Ayer
Related to emotivism
Cognitivism
One can apply moral concepts to actions and people that can be labeled true or false
Noncognitivism
Moral properties cannot be applied to actions or people
Emotivism
Geared toward changing attitudes and behaviors; moral judgments cannot be true or false because they do not make any claims
Emotivism
In it, there is no good or bad because these properties do not exist
Consequentialist theories
In them, consequences matter; often referred to as teleological
Utilitarianism
Results in the most happiness for everyone
Ethical egoism
The right action is one that is in an individualâs best interests; not selfishness
Act egoism
To determine right action, you must apply the egoistic principle to individual acts
Rule egoism
The individual falls under a broadened rule that maximizes self interest
Epicurus
Formed Epicureanism
Epicureanism
Do what gives you max pleasure; there is no midstate between pleasure and pain
Psychological egoism
The basis for ethical egoism; motivated by self interest
Ayn Rand
Author of atlas shrugged; said that altruism is bad, if we all look out for ourselves then we will all do well
James Rachels
Summarized Ayn Randâs arguments as ethics of altruism does not take seriously the value of the human individual; ethical egoism takes the value of the human individual seriously
Utilitarianism
Do what causes the most happiness for everyone
Jeremy Bentham
Related to utilitarianism and the principle of utility
John Mill
Related to utilitarianism and the greatest happiness principle
Happiness
In utilitarianism, this is the only intrinsic good
Hedonism
States that happiness is the ultimate good
Act utilitarianism
In it, actions are judged by their consequences and only the total amount of happiness matters
Rule utilitarianism
States that the rule that causes the most overall happiness is correct
The principle of utility
The right action is the one that directly produces the balance of happiness over unhappiness for all concerned
Hedonic calculus
Benthamâs calculation to find the greatest amount of net happiness
Bentham
Argues that the quantity of pleasure is what matters
Mill
Argues that there is a quantification of pleasures and ranks them
Social contract theory
A consequentialist theory that builds off of belief in a materialist approach to the world; morality arises from a social contract that self interested in rational people abide by in order to secure a degree of peace, prosperity, and safety
Thomas Hobbes
Related to social contract theory and the term leviathan
Leviathan
A governing body that enforces a social contract
Non-consequentialism
The end consequences do not matter; sometimes called deontological ethics; the study of duty
Immanuel Kant
Related to the hypothetical imperative in the categorical imperative
Hypothetical imperative
Tells us what we should do if we have certain desires
Categorical imperative
Tells us that we should do something in all situations regardless of our wants and needs; Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law
Perfect duties
Duties without exceptions
Imperfect duties
Duties with exceptions
Means-end principal
We must always treat people as ends in themselves, as creatures of great intrinsic worth, donât use people
Three major moral features of Kant
Universality, impartiality, respect for persons
Natural law theory
Made more popular by Thomas Aquinas; how nature is revealed is how it should be
4 Goods
Human life, family, knowledge, orderly society
Doctrine of double effect
You may commit a good action that has bad effects but you may not commit a bad action that has good effects
Intention
This matters in natural law theory
Divine command theory
Focuses more on God the natural law theory; encompasses the Euthyphro argument
Euthyphro argument
Either God has reasons that support his commands or God lacks reasons for his commands; God is not imperfect; the divine command theory is false
Alastair MacIntyre
Says that we shouldnât worry about the rules of what to do, but the virtues that make us good
Virtue ethics
Ask the question âwhat should I be?â
Aristotleâs theory of virtue
Beings are happy only if they fulfill their basic purpose; since humans alone can reason our purpose is to be happy; after acquiring a virtue one can feel pleasure in virtuous acts
Aristotle
Said that love is central to friendship
Agape
Self sacrificial love
Eros
Sexual love
Philia
Brotherly love
Relationship view
Love is a positive response to something good in a person and thus wishing for and doing what is good for them
Emotion view
Love is an emotion that arises when one sees the beloved as attractive and valuable
Union view
A unifying of two people who identify with each otherâs interests and concerns
Creative view
Love creates goodness in another person and brings out potential good
Eudaimonia
Happiness, the goal of humans
Golden mean
A balance between two behavioral extremes; this is what Aristotle thinks is best to live moderately
Note
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