What are the main three areas of moral philosophy? How might answering questions in one area inform the way we think about other areas?
Value theory, normative ethics, and metaethics
1. Value theory encompasses a range of approaches to understanding how, why, and to what degree persons value things
2. Normative ethics refers to the process of establishing norms or standards for human acti
What is moral skepticism and what are some of the reasons that people give for being moral skeptics? Do you think moral skepticism is correct? Why or why not?
Moral skepticism is the view that there may or may not be objective moral standards, we simply have no way of knowing for certain.
Some reasons are: individuals constantly disagreeing on what's wrong and right, there are no universal ethics, if there were
How do moral standards differ from those of the law, etiquette, or tradition?
Both moral standards and law tell us what to do, but just because something is immoral does not mean it is illegal. And just because something is legal does not mean that it is moral. Good etiquette is not the same thing as good morals. It is not immoral
What are the two ways that a moral argument can fail? Can an argument with either of these failings still have a true conclusion? Why or why not?
An argument is any chain of thought in which premises are constructed in support of a particular conclusion.
An argument can fail by using false assumptions. When one starts with false assumptions the entire chain of reasoning becomes suspect. No, because
Is it possible for a valid argument to be unsound? What about for a sound argument to be invalid? Give example or explain why impossible.
Yes, if a valid argument is backed up with unsound evidence, it can be unsound. If an argument makes sense and it is sound, it doesn't exactly mean it's the truth.
The premises of an argument do not have actually to be true in order for the argument to be
What is the point of trying to develop a moral theory? Do you think that there might be a single, ultimate moral principle that can explain the truth of all other moral principles?
Moral theorizing is primarily a matter of thinking about the attractiveness of various ethical theories. I don't think that there's an ultimate moral principle that would be able to explain all other moral principles. It seems like morals are subjective f
How might religion motivate people to behave morally? Why is this kind of motivation sometimes thought to be morally problematic?
Religion helps motivate people to behave morally because they are told that if they do what "God" has told them they are promised that at the end of their life they will be rewarded such as "heaven". If you do not follow "God" then you will end up in hell
Does the existence of a law imply the existence of a lawmaker? Defend your answer.
Yes, the existence of a law implies the existence of a lawmaker. So that would mean that moral law would too require a law maker. But if these law are objective then the law maker cannot be human
Since God created everything, God created morality. Therefore, the divine command theory is true." Assess.
People who are religious believe that God created everything, which includes theories and morals. What is right and wrong is determined by god, because God already knows how despicable bad acts are and perfect good acts are. It is assumed that an act is m
Describe the two possible relationships between God's commands and morality suggested by Socrates. Which account do you find more attractive and why?
The two possible relationships between God's commands and morality suggested by Socrates are that either things are moral because God commands them, or God commands the things that are moral. The first option means that things are moral because God comman
There are many different religious texts offering us moral guidance, and some of them give conflicting advice. Is there a reliable way of deciding which text (if any) is correct?
No. I do not think that there is any way of determining if a certain religious text or religious advice is correct. That would be like saying that there are a set of morals that are universally accepted. There are way to many ways to interpret things, and
What is the difference between intrinsic and instrumental value?
Instrumental-something valued as a mean to an ends. Something we value not for it's own sake but because it helps us to get something else that we do value. goods are valuable because of the good things they bring about.
-Money, nobody wants money just fo
What is the difference between physical pleasure and attitudinal pleasure? Why do you think that hedonists make this distinction, rather than claiming that all pleasure is intrinsically valuable?
Attitudinal pleasure is happiness, the positive attitude of enjoyment. Physical pleasure is something that makes our bodies feel good, at least for a moment. Hedonists probably make this distinction because the body wears away. Physical pleasure is usuall
In what sense does hedonism "give us a say" in what the good life looks like? Do you think that this is an attractive feature of hedonism? Why or why not.
Hedonism says that there are many paths to happiness. There are many sources of happiness, you can pick and chose to 'have a say'? Yes, I like this feature of hedonism. It means that someone doesn't have to live a certain way to be happy. What brings happ
Can you think of any case in which experiencing pleasure fails to contribute to a person's well-being? If so, consider what a hedonist might say in order to undermine such a case.
If someone has heart problems and should be on a diet. That person may gain pleasure from eating a hamburger, but it only makes their condition worse. Hedonists would say that advice to go on a diet and exercise would be deeply mistaken. These people don'
Imagine someone who chooses to sacrifice his or her own happiness in order to help others, and claims that this is the best sort of life to live. Would the existence of such a person be a problem for hedonism? Why or why not.
yes. Hedonists say that we should do something to make ourselves happier, but if someone does something to make other people happy, it is not in line with hedonism. They might say that this person chose to do something that makes them happy (helping other
What is the point of Foot's comment about lobotomies? How do you think a hedonist might respond to Foot's challenge?
The point is that no parent in their right mind would give their normal child a lobotomy in order to get them a happier life. This means that there is more that improves the quality of life than happiness. The problem is that people assume if someone know
What is the paradox of hedonism? Do you think the paradox gives us good reason to reject hedonism? Why or why not?
Paradox of hedonism refers to those instances when the more a person seeks pleasure the more pleasure seems to allude them.
People who seek pleasure will never be truly satisfied and the more pleasure they get the more they will want. try hard to be happi
If you had a chance to get into the "experience machine" for the rest of your life, would you do it? Why might the idea of the experience machine pose a challenge for hedonism?
No I would not, I would not want to live in a false reality. I think that there is more to life than just seeking pleasure. I don't think that someone could be virtous in a world where seeking pleasure is the point to life. It poses a problem because both
What are "evil pleasures" and why do they seem to be a problem for hedonism?
Evil pleasures are when people get happiness from awful things, like betraying or hurting people. It is a problem because if hedonism is true, then the happiness that comes from evil acts is the same that comes from decent acts. In reality, it is not as g
What is autonomy? Can hedonism account for the value of autonomy? Defend.
Autonomy is the power to guide our life through our own free choices, even if it sometimes costs us our happiness. No hedonism cannot account for it. We want our lives to be our own, authentic lives, even if we make choices that do not make us happier as
What is false happiness? Construct a case of your own that provides an example of such happiness, and then access its impact on the plausibility of hedonism.
False happiness is when something makes a person happy, but that thing is actually not what it seems. Say if someone gets happiness from interactions with their friends, but their friends talk about them behind their back. Hedonists say that all happiness
What does it mean to talk about the "shape of life"? Are some lives better than other simply in virtue of their "shape"?
Those whose life contains the same amount of happiness and unhappiness must be equally well-off. A life that involves continual improvement is a better life than one that is going downhill, even if both lives contain the same amount of happiness.
Life tha
Many people believe that there is just one path to the good life. Do you agree? If so, what argument can you give to someone who thinks otherwise?
No I do not agree that there is only one path to happiness. It is obvious through the study of ethics that there is much disagreement on their matter. There are so many things and ways that can bring an individual happiness. What makes one person happy ma
2. Many people find the desire theory attractive on the grounds that is leaves what counts as a good life "up to us". To what extent are our desires "up to us"? Can we really choose whether we want something or not?
The ability of the individual to be able to choose what their idea of a good life is what is attractive about this theory. If nobody gets to dictate which basic desires we should have. If everyone gets to choose their own desires then there are no univers
. What is an objective theory of human welfare, and why isn't the desire theory an objective theory? Is the denial of objective values an attractive or an unattractive feature of the desire theory?
An objective theory of human welfare is a theory where what contributes to a 'good life' is fixed independently of your desires and your opinion about what is important. The good life consists of a hanful of activities & experiences such as gaining knowle
The desire theory tells us that our lives go better so long as we get what we want- no matter what we want. Can you think of any examples where the is isn't so?
Someone who wants to experience pain is put through pain. Someone who wants to kill themselves commits suicide. Someone who wants to steal is put in jail because of it. In all of these situations, the desires are satisfied, but the lives do not get better
Why is it difficult for objective theories to explain the connection between well-being and motivation? How does the desire theory solve this problem?
It is hard to explain the connection between well-being and motivation because of the this simple question: How can something make my life better if I do not want it and do not want what it gets me? If you desired to be an artist then the daily practice w
According to the Argument for Self-Interest, we always have reason to pursue what we want. Does this assumption seem true to you? Can you think of any counterexamples?
An argument to support the view that there is always good reason to look out for ourselves. If something makes us better off and satisfies our desires, then we have motivation to obtain them.
Example- If you want to lose weight then you have reason to exe
Can something be good for you, even if you don't want it? How do you think the desire theorist would respond to (supposed) instances of this?
Yes, if a drug addict doesn't want to go to rehab, that doesn't mean getting help isn't a good thing for them. A desire theorist would say no, rehab isn't good for that drug addict. They'd maintain that if we wanted to improve their lives, we would give t
What does it mean for a desire to be "informed"? Why might the satisfaction of uninformed desires fail to contribute to our well-being?
An informed desire is not based on false beliefs. If someone desires something based on false belief, they might obtain something that they never truly wanted and is not good for our well-being.
Example-suppose you want to hurt someone that insulted you,
Supposed that one of your desires is fulfilled, but that you never discover this, and so derive no feeling of satisfaction from it. Are you any better off as a result of your desire's having been fulfilled?
If you don't know of the desire being fulfilled, then your don't feel satisfaction and there will be no change in well-being. You are not better off this way.
Example- a person who has worked their whole life to find a cure for a terrible disease. After y
Why is the phenomenon of feeling disappointed at getting what you want a problem for desire theorists? How might a desire theorist try to defend their theory against such cases?
Because the desire theory rests on pleasure being brought on by desires being fulfilled. If no better well-being is brought on, then desire theory is false. A desire theorist would say that if the informed desire was fulfilled, and that thing pleases us,
Is it possible to be "brainwashed" into desiring something that isn't really in your interest? If so, what sort of pressure does this put on the desire theory?
Yes, it is completely possible. If we fulfill these fake desires and are better off because of it, are we truly better off? Being ignorant of our true desires and living a life we don't truly want does not sound like 'better off'. The pressure put on desi
How might a person do the right thing but still fail to be morally admirable? How does virtue ethics account for this?
A person who only does the minimum of what is required of them fails to be morally admirable. They only do the right thing because of law or because they are told to. If it were not for law that person who not make moral decisions. The only reason this pe
How do we come to know what the right thing to do is in a particular situation, according to virtue ethics? How does this account of moral knowledge differ from accounts given by previously discussed theories? Which do you find more attractive?
Virtue ethics insists that we understand right action by reference to what a virtuous person would characteristically do.
An act is morally right just because it is one that a virtuous person, acting in character, would do in that situation.
We know what
Aristotle believed that being a virtuous person was essential to one's life going well. Do you agree? What reasons can be given in support of this position?
The ultimate goal of a moral education is make ourselves better people. I do agree. I think that by striving to be a better person and to be virtuous, we are also living a good life. Also, someone who is not virtuous could also manage to have a good life.
What are tragic dilemmas? How might they pose a problem for virtue ethics?
A tragic dilemma is a situation in which a good person's life will be ruined no matter what they do. All of the available options will end in disaster. Tragic dilemmas are when someone needs to make a non-virtuous decision in order for a virtuous outcome.
Does virtue ethics demand too much of us? Why/why not?
Basing your actions on another virtuous person may be dangerous. If this moral exemplar does something that is dangerous, like Ghandi almost killing himself by fasting, this is asking too much from those living by Ghandi's example. The expectations of vir
Virtuous people sometimes disagree with one another about which actions are right. Is this a problem for virtue ethics? Why/why not?
It can be. Some people say that there's only one virtuous person out there. Other say that virtuous people would do the same in every situation. These are both very unlikely and become a problem. A way to solve it would be to say (1) All virtuous people w
What is the priority problem for virtue ethics? Do you think the virtue ethicist has an adequate reply to this problem?
Virtue theory does not put duty before virtuous characteristics, which is unlike other theories. It begs the question, are people virtuous because they perform right actions or are actions right because virtuous people perform them? Virtue theory says act
Difference between empirical truths and conceptual truths? Why might someone argue that moral claims don't fall into either? Into which category would a natural law theorist out moral claims?
A conceptual truth is one that can be known just by understanding it. Examples include no spheres are cubes, bachelors are unmarried males, and other things of that nature.
Empirical truths are ones we know from relying on our five senses. Examples includ
Many people think of human nature as consisting of innate traits that all humans share. Is this concept of human nature a suitable basis for morality? Why/why not?
No, because the origin of our impulses is irrelevant to the morality of our actions. Rape and robbery are immoral, whether or not they are innate does not matter. Morals do not depend on whether they are innate or acquired.
Do human lives have a purpose? Does knowing the purpose of human lives help us to determine what is morally required?
Humans have a purpose to fill their human nature. Good humans do this, bad humans do not. According to Natural Law theorists, the moral law is law that requires us to act in accordance with our nature. Morals are what help us fill our human nature, so it
Is there a single correct definition of human nature? If not, is this a problem for the natural law theory?
No. In this chapter just three definitions of human nature are explored. It is a problem for natural law theorists because all the human nature theories leave human nature up to be ambiguous. Human being are ambiguous and so is human nature.
How are moral laws different from the laws of physics or chemistry? Do these differences undermine natural law theory?
Moral laws are natural laws that regulate human beings rather than planets or molecules. Mora laws explains how morality could be objective and depend on other human opinion and why morality is suited for humans. laws of physics or chemistry explain the w
What is proceduralism, and how does it differ from other approaches to ethics? Why is contractarianism a form of proceduralism?
Proceduralism is the view that we can justify our basic moral views by coming up with a procedure that will tell us the steps from distinguishing right from wrong.
Contractarianism
The theory that only humans can have rights because only humans can enter
What makes a situation a "prisoner's dilemma"? What is the rational thing to do in a prisoner's dilemma situation?
A prisoner's dilemma is where everyone would be better off by scaling back their pursuit of self-interest. Adopting a cooperative strategy would get the best outcome in the end. Example: the two prisoner's who have the option to confess or stay silent. Bo
What is the state of nature, and why does Hobbes think that such a condition would be so bad? How does Hobbes think that people would be able to emerge from the state of nature?
The state of nature is where there is no government, central authority, or group with exclusive power. Hobbes stated that this was a life that was solitary, poor, nasty, and short. Everyone was at war with each other in order to maximize self-interest. Th
How do contractarians justify moral rules against such things as slavery and torture? Do you find their justifications to be compelling?
The rules of cooperation must be designed to benefit everyone, not just a few. There needs to be mutual benefit, not benefit of one over the other. I think it's a good rule to have, but saying that slavery and sexual discrimination are wrong just because
Explain how a contractarian defends the objectivity of ethics. Do you find this defense plausible?
Personal opinion, laws, or wisdom are not the final authority on ethics. Moral rules are agreed on by people who are like us, but more rational and free, who select terms of cooperation that will benefit everyone. Moral rules are the outcomes of rational
Do you find contractarian justification of punishment attractive? Can you think of cases in which it would endorse immoral punishment? Can you think of cases in which certain behavior merits punishment, but contractarianism would fail to justify it?
I do like it in the way that it helps level the playing field between criminal and citizen, but other than that I do not. An example in Nazi Germany, those who helped the Jewish people escape were killed because the law said so. This is immoral punishment
Do we have a duty to obey the law? If so, is this duty absolute, or can there be exceptions? How would a contractarian explain the existence of a duty to obey the law?
Contractarianism states that we have a duty to obey the law under normal circumstances. But under other circumstances, breaking the law can be morally acceptable. This includes when a law does not exhibit the cooperation of everyone's benefit. Contractari
Is it immoral to be a free rider? Is it irrational? Does the existence of free riders raise a serious problem for contractarianism? Why/why not?
It is immoral, because a free rider is something nothing, but gaining. Other people are making sacrifices for the greater good, while the free rider is benefiting from those sacrifices and yet gives up nothing. It is not irrational though, because the con
How does Hobbes defend the claim that is is never rational to behave unjustly? Do you find his argument convincing?
Hobbes states that it is always rational to act justly and be a just person who values fairness. He defends this by saying for just people, it is always rational to act justly. No. I would say it is more convincing to say that the just person has reasons
Some people might object that they never explicitly signed anything like a social contract and therefore cannot be bound by it. How might contractarians respond?
Contractarians would say that people living in a country peacefully offer tacit consent to the contract, which is shown by silence and lack of opposition to the government. Therefore, you sign it by obeying the government.
Suppose that the existing laws of a society require something that you regard as unjust. Does the social contract theory automatically support the morality of the existing law? Why or why not?
Hobbes says that it does not make sense to live according to a law that someone who is nothing like you made. Rawls says that if those who make the rules are exactly the same, there should be no disagreement.
Would a group of free, equal, and rational people necessarily all agree on a set of rules to live by? If not, is this a problem?
Yes, because everyone is different and has different interests and moral laws. It is a problem for contrarianism because Hobbes and Rawls can't agree on how to solve this. The question remains unanswered.
Do animals have rights? Do weak and vulnerable humans beings? If so, can contractarianism account for this?
Animals and weak humans don't have rights because they don't meet the qualifications of a contractor. They can't give up anything in return for the sacrifice others have made. Hobbes says we have no obligation to them. Contractarianism doesn't account for
Explain the nature and purposes (4) of narrative ethics and give an illustration of narrative ethics at work.
Narrative ethics
refers to both the idea that the fullness of morals is taught most completely in and through the use of stories and that stories have the power to form ethical character and inspire ethical action.
1) Emotively meaningful
2) Non-provincia
Explain the interiority and exteriority of evil and give one example.
Interiority of evil (immaterial) thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, emotions
These can be instinctively evil
Exteriority of evil (material)
Concrete acts, laws ex acts of violence
Is a person born evil or are they made evil, Jeffery Dahmer
Define the ethics of domination and explore how the ethics of domination expresses itself in three of the six ways mentioned in lecture.
1) Social domination- one class exercises domination over another class. Ex. Slavery
2) Economic domination- when one class or race control the majority of economic means
3) Political domination-when one class dominates political
4) Gender domination-one
First define the basic principles underlining Natural Law ethics and then outline the Natural Law argument as to why homosexuality is morally wrong.
Moral naturalism
states that moral features are natural (not supernatural) features, whose existence can be confirmed by means of the natural sciences.
Homosexuality is morally wrong because it is not natural. It is not natural because it does not occur i
Define Rawl's liberty and difference principles. Do you believe that these principles should play a function in how society is organized?
Rawls' liberty principle
states that everyone should have the maximum number of freedoms as long as everyone else has those freedoms as well.
Difference Principle
Rawls suggested that any social, political, or economic inequality in society should be atta
What do you think is the origin of "evil"? Something present or absent in human nature, or some other source?
I think that evil is something that is present in human nature just as good is present in human nature. I think that the circumstances and experiences of a human being will dictate whether a person has evil tendencies.
Explain the difference between morals and ethics.
Morality refers to the rules and values we follow. Ethics are the theories about those rules. Morality is what our society is made of, ethics is that ordering of morality.
Ethics is the studying, questioning, and justification of moral rules. Why we make
Why is it insufficient, according to most theories of ethics, to answer the question of what is morally right or wrong by referring to God's commands?
Philosophy depends on reason. It teaches that one must look at issues without relying on authority. If we answer right and wrongs according to the commandments, then we are relying on God's authority to answer, not reason.
One reason this can be seen as i
List three logical fallacies, explain why they are fallacies, and give examples of fallacious statements from the world of moral problems.
Ad Hominen Attack is an attempt to undermine an opponents argument by criticizing their motives or character. An example would be "You are clearly to young to understand." This statement is and attack on a person intelligence and ability to make an argume
Nussbaum claims that philosophy has not wanted to deal with emotions, because when humans are emotional, they are not self-sufficient. What does she mean by that?
Because emotions are dependent on close relationships they effect how we react, rationally or irrationally, to situations outside our control. When we are emotional, we are weak to outside influences and are not always logical.
Comment on Nussbaum's statement: "We have never lived enough. Our experience is, without fiction, too confined and too parochial. Literature extends it, making us reflect and feel about what might otherwise be too distant for feeling.
I agree with what Nussbaum says. A lot of literature portrays things we have not/will not experience, but through the characters experience we can know what its like. Reading about these things give us a better understanding of people who have experienced
Many students will agree that many people, even many of their fellow students, might do very bad acts such as the murder of innocents under extreme circumstances (as Arendt and Zimbardo have suggested). Still, they will say that they themselves would not.
Arendt would say that because of the concept of banality of evil that under pressure people can be persuaded to harm innocent people, and justify it as being normal.. A student who kills other students because someone ordered them could feel justified to
Discuss the following statement with examples from film and literature: "Literature can be used to raise one's awareness of potential future moral problems.
Because our life experiences and lessons are so limited, a good way to learn morals and lessons is through narratives such as literature and film. Watching a film or reading a book may give a different point of view about some that can help people underst
Do you agree with Plato that one ought always to be able to control one's emotions? Why or why not?
Yes I do agree that one should always control there emotions. If we do not have any control or filter on our emotions, we can be susceptible to making rash and irrational decisions. Irrational decisions can lead to making unethical choices. To avoid doing
Compare and contrast Plato's and Aristotle's views on whether watching a dramatic play, or in today's world, a film, has a positive or a negative influence. Compare their viewpoints to the current discussion on the subject of violence in films and on tele
Plato said that dramatic plays were a bad thing because they inspired violent emotions in the viewer. Balance was key to the ideal life for Plato. Aristotle, on the other hand, loved going to the theatre to watch plays for moral value and entertainment. H
Relate the Trobriand myth of the grandmother who shed her skin, and analyze its moral message.
It was believed that humans could shed their skin and become young again as a means for living forever. So the grandmother took her granddaughter to the river and left to shed her skin. When the grandmother came back looking like a young girl, the grandda
Relate the story of Abraham and Isaac, and analyze its meaning.
God commands Abraham to sacrifice he is beloved Isaac. God promises a lot of descendants for Abraham, but when Isaac is only a boy, God commands Abraham to go onto the mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham is about to kill Isaac when God intervenes and stat
What is the difference between psychological egoism and ethical egoism?
Psychological egoism states that human beings are always looking out for themselves, even if it looks like they are actually looking out for others. This is a theory that believes that this is part of human nature and we just instinctively look out for ou
Consider the story of the heroes on September 11. Explain their behavior in terms of psychological egoism. Is this explanation adequate? If not, why not?
In the terms of psychological egoism, the behavior of the heroes on 9/11 was an act of selfish human nature. Psychological egoism would state that self sacrifice is a selfish act because the motives behind it are selfish in nature, such as fame or to be k
Give a brief account of the story of the Ring of Gyges. How does Glaucon use it to express a hypothesis of human nature?
Gyges, a shepherd in ancient Lydia, found a magic ring that could make him invisible. He then used it to seduce the queen, kill the king, and become royalty. Glaucon suggests that if we have two rings to give to a decent person and the other to a bad pers
What are the three arguments that Hobbes gives to support the legitimacy of the social contract?
(1) Humans choose to live in a society in rules to ensure their own safety and there is no other reason.
(2) it is in human nature to be self-interested and any concern for others masks a true concern for ourselves
(3) it would be foolish to not look afte
Give an account of Singer's argument against ethical egoism.
Singer suggests that it is not in our best interest to act selfishly. He gives the example of the two hunters. If the hunters both stay with each other to fight the sabertooth tiger, they have a better chance of survival. If one of them leaves the other t
What is the difference between ideal and reciprocal altruism? Explain.
Ideal altruism suggests that everybody should give up his or her own self-interest for others. It implies that there is something inherently wrong with acting to benefit oneself.
Reciprocal altruism says that looking after the interests of others makes se
When, according to Ayn Rand, would it be morally acceptable to save a drowning person? Explain and add your own comments.
According to Ayn Rand It is morally acceptable to save a drowning person if the there is minmal risk compared to reward. For example if the person was very important to you, it would be morally acceptable to save the person because they mean a lot to you
Evaluate Levinas's theory that the other should always be regarded as more important than yourself. Is it a moral theory you would consider adopting? Why or why not?
I would not consider adopting it, unless everyone else does. The only way that it would work is if everyone regarded others as more important, that is the only way it would be fair to everyone. If not some people would take advantage of the others, making
What does Hobbes mean by saying that when humans live in a state of war of everybody against everybody there is neither justice nor injustice? What event creates justice and injustice?
Hobbes means that in the state of nature there is neither justice nor injustice. It means that there are no laws, no society, no norms and therefore anything goes and everyone regards each other as enimies. Only law establishes justice or injustice.
In Singer's example of the saber-toothed tiger, which do you think is in the best interest of a hunter, joining his fellow hunter in a battle to kill the cat, knowing that it is very possible that they will lose that battle, or fleeing before the fellow h
I think that technically it would be in his best interest to run, because his best interest is to remain alive. If the rest of the tribe knew his choice, I would agree with Singer in saying that it'd be in his personal best interest to stay and fight with
What are some of the problems associated with the life of an ethical egoist?
If an ethical egoist is supposed to act selfishly, they are to tell others to act selfishly. If everyone is acting selfishly, then it is not in the best interest of the ethical egoist to tell them.
What is Socrates' definition of the good life?
The good life according to Socrates is one that is spent seeking the truth and bettering oneself. The good life is strenuous in that way. It is not inherently a pleasant one where we can seek gratification for the sake of having fun.
Socrates definition o
What are the three constitutive elements of the human person for Socrates/Plato? What is the proper relationship between these elements?
The three elements of a human person, or the tripartite soul, are appetites, reason, and spirit. In order to have a good life, one must control their desires with reason. When we let our desires win over the reason, the disgust we feel afterwards is calle
What are the Platonic Forms? Explain, using at least two examples. Why has Plato's philosophy led to calling him an idealist and/or dualist?
Plato says through his forms that for every things that exists on earth, there is a superior version that exists in heaven. What is on earth is only a dim participation of being that object. For example, bread on earth is bread because it has 'breadness'
What do the Forms attempt to explain? What are some of the difficulties with Plato's theory of the Forms?
Plato was attempting to dissolve the tension between constancy and change. The forms on heaven stay the same, which is the constancy, but the forms on earth are always changing in an attempt to be closer to the heavenly form. A problem with the forms is t
Tell the story of the Cave, and explain its philosophical significance.
In the myth, a group of prisoners are placed so that the only thing they see on the cave wall are reflections of objects in front of a fire. These are the only things the prisoners have ever known and believe the forms are all there is to reality. One pri
What did Socrates mean by saying that only ignorance leads to wrongdoing?
It means that no one willingly does something evil if they understand the completely truth of the situation. If a person does choose the wrong thing to do, it is because their understanding was faulty.
In this view all wrongdoing is the result of ignoranc
Explain the difference between materialism, idealism, and dualism, by using examples.
Materialism is the thought that reality consists of materials- things that can be measured. It includes food, water, everything that has a form.
Idealism is the philosophy that spiritual things are the only things that really exist and material things are
What does the term "empiricism" mean? How does Aristotle's empiricism distinguish him from Plato?
Empiricism is the theory that humans are born as a blank slate with no knowledge.
Aristotle gathered knowledge from his surroundings by observing their forms. To observed their forms would be to learn about them. Plato didn't think much about this kind of
What is Aristotle's doctrine of the four causes? What do they attempt to explain? How does it relate to his teleology?
Aristotle says that there are four factors that bring something into being. Material cause, efficient cause, formal cause, and final cause. It attempts to explain the purpose of things, because we cannot understand the purpose of things until we know thei
What is the function, according to Aristotle, of a human being?
The purpose of a human according to Aristotle is to reason (rational activity). A man should think rationally consistently and as a habit. This builds a rational character. This is the same thing as moral goodness. So technically the purpose of humans is
What is the "mean" of Aristotle? Is it an arithmetic condition? Does it imply that the virtuous person is an average person, of average talents?
The golden mean describes the virtuous action to take in any situation- and it changes from situation to situation. The golden mean is doing the right thing at the right time, in the right way, in the right amount- not too much, not too little. A virtuous
Explain Aristotle's theory of virtues, in detail, using at least three examples. At least two of the examples must be Aristotle's.
Aristotle believed that everything has a purpose or goal. He believed that the ultimate purpose or goal of humans is happiness. He believed the way humans achieve happiness is through virtue. to use reason to and to be continent to become virtuous. Aristo
Explain the difference between a teleological explanation and a causal explanation.
Teleological explanation is explaining the existence of something by its purpose.
Causal explanation is when the existence of something is explained by what brought it to be.
Give an example of a virtue that is closer to one extreme than the other.
Courage-the mean between Cowardness (deficiency) and rashness (excess). The virtue changes how deficient or excess it is depenind on the time, situation and condition it is being used in.
What constitutes happiness, or "eudaimonia," for Aristotle?
Aristotle says that being virtuous makes you happy, because happiness is what's good for man. To become virtuous you need to develop your Intellectual virtues and virtue of character. Ultimate happiness is to live the life of a thinker.
What are some criticisms of virtue ethics?
Here are some common objections to virtue ethics. Its theories provide a self-centered conception of ethics because human flourishing is seen as an end in itself and does not sufficiently consider the extent to which our actions affect other people. Virtu
What is the difference between suicide and self-sacrifice? Explain what each is and why one is more acceptable in our society. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Suicide is when someone that their own life intentionally.
Self sacrifice is to give up ones life to help others or for the greater good.
There is something selfish in about the nature of suicide, because that person is only concerned with their self inte
Define Hallie's concept of institutionalized cruelty: (1) What kind of cruelty is it? (2) Why does it happen? and (3) What is the antidote?
Hallie says that cruelty is cause by an imbalance of power. Hallie's term for institutionalized cruelty is physical and psychological cruelty that has become so normal that it seems natural to both the victim and victimizer (prisoner/guard). It is when so
Contrast the conclusions of Lin Yutang and Jane English on the parent-child relationship.
Lin Yutang takes the basic Eastern position that since our parents gave us life, our character, our values, and our upbringing, we owe them literally everything that we have.
Lin Yutang says that parents have the right to be cared for by their parents. Ch
What does Hallie mean by negative and positive commands? Explain. Do you agree with him that positive commands are harder to live up to than negative commands?
These are the degrees of moral behavior. If you simply refrain from doing harm, this is a negative command. If you actively take the steps to do good, this is a positive command. I think it is true that positive commands are harder to live up to. It's a l
Evaluate the respect for the elderly as expressed in the philosophies of Confucius, Mencius, and Lin Yutang. Are such thoughts completely alien to Western culture? Do you think modern Western culture would be improved by incorporating such ideas? Why or w
The elderly are much more respected in Asian culture. In the event of an emergency, a Chinese man would stop to help his parents before any women and children. People get more and more respect as they get older. It isn't completely alien to Western cultur
What is the difference between reciprocity and mutuality in English's theory?
Reciprocity is when you must do something of a similar nature for the person you are indebted to. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours type of situation.
Mutuality is when you do something for someone because you have a mutual sense of duty towards each
Why does Rosenstand argue that the challenge to soft universalism is to provide justification for why certain values are to be considered common ground?
Because it makes soft universalists recognize that humans share common human morals and justify why some morals are considered common ground. Then for all those morals, they must choose which ones are universal, which ones are unique to culture and which
Discuss the concept of physical courage. Is it the same as absence of fear? Why or why not?
Physical courage is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death or threat of death
Physical courage is not the same as absence of fear, it is overcoming that fear despite physical pain or death.
Discuss the concept of moral courage: What are its defining characteristics?
moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, discouragement, or personal loss.
Moral courage is often defined by standing up for what you belief, despite the consequences. A sense of accomplishment, reward
Suppose that a father who never participated in raising his daughter comes forward after she is 18, apologizes for his neglect, and tries to get a relationship going. Do you think English would have argued that the daughter has a duty to at least give him
No, English would say that the daughter owes her father nothing. She would say that the relationship between parent and child should be modeled after the friendship pattern, where there are no obligations or debts or mutuality. A child who does not have a