Professional ethics teological theories exam

Flashcard Set 1: Key Concepts

🔹 What is Teleological Ethics?

  • A moral theory that judges actions based on their consequences.

  • An action is right if it leads to the best outcomes.

🔹 What is the Principle of Utility?

  • "Greatest happiness for the greatest number."

  • The foundation of Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham).

Flashcard Set 2: Ethical Egoism

🔹 What is Ethical Egoism?

  • The belief that actions are morally right if they maximize self-interest.

🔹 Types of Ethical Egoism:

  1. Personal – One acts in their own interest, but others don’t have to.

  2. Individual – Everyone should act in their own self-interest.

  3. Universal – Everyone ought to act in their self-interest.

🔹 Who are key thinkers in Ethical Egoism?

  • Thomas Hobbes – Social Contract & self-preservation.

  • Ayn Rand – Rational self-interest (Objectivism).

  • Adam Smith – "Invisible Hand" of self-interest benefiting society.

🔹 Criticisms of Ethical Egoism?

  • Can lead to conflicts of interest.

  • No moral obligation to others.

  • Society might break down if everyone acted selfishly.

Flashcard Set 3: Utilitarianism

🔹 What is Utilitarianism?

  • A moral theory that evaluates actions based on the greatest happiness for the greatest number.

🔹 Types of Utilitarianism:

  1. Act Utilitarianism (Bentham) – Each action is judged by its specific consequences.

  2. Rule Utilitarianism (Mill) – Moral rules should be followed for long-term benefits.

🔹 What is the Hedonic Calculus?

  • A method to measure pleasure and pain based on:

    1. Intensity (How strong?)

    2. Duration (How long?)

    3. Certainty (How likely?)

    4. Propinquity (How soon?)

    5. Fecundity (Will it lead to more pleasure?)

    6. Purity (How free from pain?)

    7. Extent (How many people affected?)

🔹 Key Thinkers in Utilitarianism?

  • Jeremy Bentham – Founder, developed Hedonic Calculus.

  • John Stuart Mill – Distinguished higher and lower pleasures.

🔹 Criticisms of Utilitarianism?

  • Justifies immoral acts if they maximize happiness.

  • Hard to predict consequences accurately.

  • Ignores justice and rights (e.g., sacrificing one for many).

Flashcard Set 4: Comparing Theories

🔹 Ethical Egoism vs. Act Utilitarianism vs. Rule Utilitarianism

Feature

Ethical Egoism

Act Utilitarianism

Rule Utilitarianism

Moral Focus

Self-interest

Greatest good per action

Greatest good via rules

Obligation to Others?

No

Yes, equally

Yes, through rules

Key Thinkers

Hobbes, Rand, Smith

Bentham

Mill

Decision Process

What benefits me?

What benefits most people now?

What general rule benefits most?

Criticism

Selfish, lacks cooperation

Can justify harm

Rules may conflict with cases

Flashcard Set 5: Thought Experiments

🔹 What is the Prisoner's Dilemma?

  • A scenario showing how individual self-interest can lead to worse outcomes for all.

  • Applies to Ethical Egoism (conflict between cooperation & self-interest).

🔹 What is the Trolley Problem?

  • A moral dilemma: pull the lever to kill one and save five or do nothing?

  • Applies to Utilitarianism (weighing consequences).

🔹 What is Nozick’s Experience Machine?

  • A thought experiment challenging Utilitarianism:

    • Would you plug into a machine that gives you endless pleasure but isn't real?

    • Suggests pleasure isn't the only moral good.