According to Timmons, what are the two aims of a moral theory?
Theoretical Aim. Practical aim.
Theoretical aim
1. to provide a criterion of rightness
2.to provide a criterion of goodness
3.to establish standards on which moral verdicts can be founded
Practical aim
1.to provide and account of moral opinions held by ordinary people
2.to provide analysis of the meanings of moral terms
3. to tell us how moral reasoning work
Identify and describe the six criteria that Timmons provides us for evaluating moral theories
1.Consistency- yeild consistent moral verdicts with its principals( consistent results)
2. Determinacy-yeilds to definite moral verdicts about the morality of whatever is being evaluated
3. Intuitive Appeal-a moral theory should develop and make sense of
Describe the Euthyphro dilemma and explain how this presents a challenge to Divine Command
Theory.
The Euthyphro dilemma is a convo between socrates and Euth about piety and the dilemma is for theist who accepts the claims about the nature of God. This challenges the DCT because of they are a theist who doesnt they believe Gods commands are independent
Describe moral relativism as an ethical theory
the RWGB is ultimately determined by the basic moral norms of their culture
On what grounds is moral relativism against other
moral theories that we've studied so far?
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Identify the idea of the right for the following moral theories: Divine Command Theory, Moral
Relativism, Natural Law Theory, and Act Utilitarianism.
DCT-An action is obligatory (right) if and only if God commands that we perform the action.
MR-Actions based on a cultural norm
NLT-action is right if and only if failing to do it would result in a direct violation of one or more basic goods.
AU-An A is o
Identify the idea of the good for the following moral theories: Divine Command Theory, Moral
Relativism, Natural Law Theory, and Act Utilitarianism.
DCT-Gods will is the sole criterion that means something good or bad
MR-value based on cultural norms
NLT- Four basic goods that perfect human nature: life, procreation, knowledge,
and sociability.
AU-experiences of pleasure are intrinsically good.
Describe the Principle of Double Effect. How is this supposed to allow a follower of Natural Law
Theory to resolve moral conflict?
Whenever an action would produce at least
one good effect and one bad effect, then one is
permitted to perform the act if and only if all of
the following conditions are met:The action in question, apart from its effects, must not be wrong. After they go
Name at least three objections to Act Utilitarianism. How does Rule Utilitarianism seek to answer at
least one of these objections?
1.what things are good and bad
2.whose good (i.e. which individuals or groups) we should aim to maximize
3.whether actions, policies, etc. are made right or wrong by their actual consequences
Rule Utilitarianism number 3 helps get to an answer b/c it appl
Natural Law Theory
Natural law" refers to moral laws (or principles) that, like the laws of a legal system, prescribe how individuals ought to behave.
"Natural" indicates that moral laws have a source and authority that distinguish them from the civil laws of any society. T
Divine Command Theory
means that there is a real distinction between right and wrong that is independent of what we happen to think. It is rooted in the nature and will of God.
Moral Theory
study of how basic notions of the right,the good,and moral worth may be arranged to form different moral structures
Moral Relativism
the view that ethical standards, morality, and positions of right or wrong are culturally based and therefore subject to a person's individual choice. We can all decide what is right for ourselves.
Utilitarian
an action is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.