Ethics Prelims

Here are your flashcards for quick and effective review! 💡📚

🃏 Aristotle: Happiness & Virtue

Q: What is eudaimonia?
A: The highest human good, often translated as happiness or flourishing.

Q: What is the function argument (ergon argument)?
A: The idea that the good life consists in rational activity performed excellently.

Q: What are the two types of virtues in Aristotle’s ethics?
A:
1⃣ Moral virtues – Courage, temperance, generosity, etc.
2⃣ Intellectual virtues – Wisdom, understanding, prudence.

Q: What is the role of the polis (city-state) in happiness?
A: The polis exists to help people achieve happiness by fostering a virtuous society.

🃏 Plato: Justice & The Virtuous Soul

Q: What are the three parts of the soul in Plato’s Republic?
A:
1⃣ Rational (reason) – Seeks truth, should rule.
2⃣ Spirited (courage) – Defends reason’s rule.
3⃣ Appetitive (desires) – Must be controlled.

Q: What are Plato’s four cardinal virtues?
A:
1⃣ Wisdom – Rulers (philosopher-kings).
2⃣ Courage – Guardians (warriors).
3⃣ Temperance – Self-control, harmony.
4⃣ Justice – Each part of the soul doing its role.

Q: How does Plato define justice in the state?
A: Each class (rulers, warriors, producers) doing their proper role without interfering with others.

🃏 St. Augustine: Free Will & Moral Responsibility

Q: What is Augustine’s view on free will?
A: Humans have free will, but it is weakened by sin and needs God’s grace.

Q: Why can’t intellect alone lead to moral goodness?
A: The will must choose the good, and human desires often resist reason.

Q: What is Augustine’s solution to the problem of evil?
A: Evil is not a substance but the absence of good (privatio boni).

🃏 St. Thomas Aquinas: Virtue & Natural Law

Q: What is the ultimate end of human life?
A: Happiness (beatitudo) – Imperfect happiness in this life, perfect happiness in union with God.

Q: What are the four cardinal virtues (borrowed from Plato)?
A:
✔ Prudence – Wise decision-making.
✔ Justice – Giving what is due to others.
✔ Courage – Overcoming fear.
✔ Temperance – Self-control over desires.

Q: What are the three theological virtues?
A:
✔ Faith – Belief in God.
✔ Hope – Trust in God’s promises.
✔ Love (Charity) – Selfless love of God & others.

Q: What is natural law?
A: The moral law based on human nature & reason – “Do good, avoid evil.”

🃏 Immanuel Kant: The Categorical Imperative

Q: What is the Categorical Imperative?
A: The fundamental principle of morality: Act only on maxims that can be universalized.

Q: How does Kant’s Universal Law Formula work?
A: Ask: Would it be okay if everyone did this?

• ❌ Lying? → No trust in society.

• ❌ Stealing? → No property rights.

Q: What is Kant’s Humanity Formula?
A: Treat others as ends, never merely as means (respect human dignity).

Q: What are perfect vs. imperfect duties?
A:
✔ Perfect duties – No exceptions (e.g., don’t lie, don’t kill).
✔ Imperfect duties – Flexible (e.g., help others when you can).

🃏 Gautama Buddha: The Four Noble Truths

Q: What are the Four Noble Truths?
A:
1⃣ Life is suffering (dukkha).
2⃣ Suffering arises from attachment & desire.
3⃣ Suffering can end by eliminating attachment.
4⃣ The Eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering.

Q: What are the key principles of Buddhism?
A:
✔ Anicca – Everything is impermanent.
✔ Anatta – No permanent self.
✔ Karma – Actions shape future experiences.

Q: What are the Eightfold Path’s main components?
A:
🛤 Right View – Understanding reality.
🛤 Right Intention – Committing to ethical living.
🛤 Right Speech – Avoiding lies & harmful words.
🛤 Right Action – Ethical behavior.
🛤 Right Livelihood – Choosing a moral career.
🛤 Right Effort – Cultivating positive thoughts.
🛤 Right Mindfulness – Awareness of thoughts & emotions.
🛤 Right Concentration – Deep meditation.

🃏 Quick Review Cheat Sheet

✔ Aristotle → Happiness = Rational activity in accordance with virtue.
✔ Plato → Justice = Harmony in the soul & society.
✔ Augustine → Free will is crucial but requires God’s grace.
✔ Aquinas → Natural law guides morality; ultimate happiness is union with God.
✔ Kant → Morality = Universal duty & respecting human dignity.
✔ Buddha → Suffering ends by eliminating desire through the Eightfold Path.

🎯 STUDY TIP: Go through each flashcard 2-3 times, say the answers out loud, and try to recall them without looking. You can also write them down for better retention!

Good luck on your exam! You got this! 💯🎯📖✨