Branches of Philosophy Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is the main implication if God wills moral standards because they are right?

What does the phrase 'abortion is wrong' primarily express?

  • A recommendation for policy change
  • An objective moral standard
  • A subjective experience of disapproval towards abortion (correct)
  • A belief about the legality of abortion

What is a key tenet of emotivism in ethics?

  • Moral judgments are based on universal truths
  • Morals are derived from societal consensus
  • Morals are obligations to a divine lawgiver
  • Moral statements express emotional attitudes (correct)

Which of the following best represents the perspective of moral subjectivism?

<p>Morals are based solely on individual feelings and opinions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do atheists generally view moral values according to the content?

<p>They deny the existence of moral values altogether (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one argument made by theists regarding objective moral values?

<p>They argue that if God does not exist, then moral values cannot exist (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does moral realism affirm?

<p>Objective moral values exist independently of human thought (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the argument presented by theists, what follows if it is true that objective moral values exist?

<p>There must be a divine lawgiver (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does an atheistic view of morals face regarding obligations?

<p>Explaining where obligations originate from without a deity (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What principle does cultural relativism emphasize regarding morality?

<p>Moral standards are based on the opinions of a specific culture. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does subjectivism present moral judgments?

<p>As expressions of individual preferences. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements aligns with the concept of moral objectivity?

<p>Moral truths are independent of individual beliefs or cultures. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes simple subjectivism from moral relativism?

<p>Moral relativism posits that moral truths depend on cultural standards. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which argument is a critique of the naturalistic fallacy?

<p>What is natural is not always considered good by everyone. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the principle of 'emotivism' claim regarding moral statements?

<p>Moral statements express emotional responses rather than facts. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following illustrates a common challenge posed by subjectivism?

<p>It can lead to a lack of accountability for moral actions. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between moral relativism and moral objectivism?

<p>Moral relativism upholds that moral truths are culture-specific. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of moral realism in discussions about morality?

<p>Moral values exist independently of beliefs about them. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best differentiates psychological egoism from ethical egoism?

<p>Ethical egoism states that individuals are naturally self-motivated. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does it imply if God wills moral standards because they are right?

<p>God is subject to external moral standards. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which concept involves acting in the interest of others as a moral principle?

<p>Altruism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does ethical egoism pose to common views of morality?

<p>It states that individuals are obligated only to pursue their own good. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why can psychological egoism and ethical egoism not both be true?

<p>Ethical egoism requires that one can act against their self-interest. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do moral standards being binding independently imply?

<p>They exist regardless of individual beliefs. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which viewpoint would generally argue that moral goodness is determined solely by God's will?

<p>Divine command theory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Moral standards and God's will

A concept where moral standards are considered right because God wills them, yet it raises questions if God wills morality due to it being right or because God wills what God wills. This leads to the arbitrariness of God's will, and if morality depends on God's command or is in some sense independent of it.

Moral Realism

The belief that moral values exist independently of individual or group opinions, objectively, and are binding upon everyone. This doesn't necessitate a belief in God and allows for rational discussion of morality regardless of faith.

Psychological Egoism

A descriptive theory which proposes that all human actions are motivated by self-interest.

Ethical Egoism

A normative theory which states that people ought to be motivated by their own self-interest.

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Altruism

Acting out concern for the wellbeing of others.

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Arguments for Psychological Egoism

Reasons offered to support the idea that all human actions are motivated by self-interest.

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Ought implies can

A philosophical idea suggesting that if psychological egoism were true, it would be impossible to be motivated by others' interests. Ethical Egoism's commands are therefore not truly normative.

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Challenges to Common Sense Morality

Psychological egoism and ethical egoism are presented as challenges to the idea that considering the interests of others is always morally relevant.

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Subjectivism (metaethics)

Moral judgments are simply expressions of personal attitudes or opinions.

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Emotivism (metaethics)

Moral statements express emotions or feelings rather than objective facts.

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Objective moral values

Moral values that are true and binding regardless of anyone's beliefs.

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Atheistic moral realism

The belief that objective moral values exist even without a god.

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God and morality (theist argument)

If God doesn't exist, objective moral values don't exist.

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Moral values and Obligations

Moral judgements involve obligations, which require a lawgiver on an atheistic view.

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Atheistic Moral Values foundation

Atheistic view of moral values lack an adequate foundation without a concept of a lawgiver.

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Normative Conclusion

A statement about what should be, involving values or judgments, often using words like 'ought' or 'should'.

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Descriptive Premise

A statement about what is, describing facts or observations, without making value judgments.

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Naturalistic Fallacy

The error of assuming that what's natural is therefore good or morally right.

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Subjectivism (Ethics)

The view that moral truths are relative to each individual's personal beliefs and feelings.

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Cultural Relativism

The view that moral truths are determined by the specific moral standards of a culture.

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Simple Subjectivism

The belief that saying 'X is wrong' just means 'I disapprove of X'.

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Universal Moral Truth

A moral principle that applies to everyone, regardless of their culture or beliefs.

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Metaethical Theories

Theories that try to understand the nature of morality, like what makes moral statements true or false.

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Study Notes

Branches of Philosophy

  • Logic: Governs rules of human thinking, including communication principles. Example: the principle of non-contradiction (one cannot hold both P and not P).
  • Metaphysics and Epistemology: The study of reality and the theory of knowledge (e.g., what we know).
  • Value Theory: Explores the nature of value and what things are valuable/good, including the meaningful aspects of life and morality. It considers if morality is objective or subjective and evaluates if things should be described or evaluated.

Arguments

  • Structure: Arguments consist of premises and a conclusion.
  • Deductive Arguments: The premises logically relate to the conclusion. A valid deductive argument ensures that if the premises are true, the conclusion must be true. A sound argument is both valid and has true premises.
  • Example: P1: If it rains, then the streets get wet. P2: It is raining. C: Therefore, the streets are wet. (Valid and sound if both premises are true)

Validity and Soundness

  • Validity: If the premises are true, the conclusion must be true.
  • Soundness: A deductive argument is sound if it is valid and has true premises.

Additional Examples

  • Invalid and unsound example: P1: If it is raining, then the streets are wet. P2: The streets are wet. C: Therefore, it is raining. (Invalid - the streets can be wet for other reasons).
  • Valid but unsound Example: P1: All men are mortal. P2: Socrates is a man. C: Socrates is mortal. (Valid because if all p1 is true, and p2 is true, then c must be true) - (Sound because p1, and p2 are true statements)
  • Invalid but sound Example: P1 All dogs are animals P2 All golden retrievers are dogs C all golden retrievers are animals (Valid because p1 and p2 are true, and c logically fits in ) - (Sound because p1, and p2 are true statements)

Inductive Arguments

  • Probabilistic: Inductive arguments are based on probabilities, not certainties.
  • Strong vs Weak: Strong arguments show a high probability of the conclusion being true (if the premises are true). Weak arguments demonstrate a low probability.
  • Example: P1: Every Saturday for the past 10 years, Bob's alarm went off at 5 am. P2: Tomorrow is Saturday. C: Therefore, Bob's alarm will likely go off at 5 am. (Strong inductive argument).

Is/Ought Fallacy

  • Descriptive statements: describe something without expressing an opinion.
  • Normative statements: express an opinion or judgement.
  • Fallacy: drawing a normative conclusion from descriptive premises.

Moral Subjectivism and Cultural Relativism

  • Moral Subjectivism: Moral judgments are expressions of personal preferences; there are no universal moral truths, or no objective moral standards.
  • Cultural Relativism: Moral truths are relative to a particular culture. There are no universal moral standards that apply to all cultures, and a moral code in a society is valid for the members of that society even if deemed wrong by another society.

God and Morality

  • Theist: Belief in God often entails the existence of objective moral values because God is the source of right and wrong.
  • Atheist: Moral values can exist even without God. This is the basis of moral realism.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamental branches of philosophy, including logic, metaphysics, epistemology, and value theory. Dive into the structure of arguments, exploring deductive reasoning and examples of sound and valid arguments. Challenge yourself to understand how these concepts shape our understanding of reality and morality.

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