Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one benefit of living in communities?
What is one benefit of living in communities?
Nonconformance in a community can lead to rewards.
Nonconformance in a community can lead to rewards.
False
Define 'morality' in the context of society.
Define 'morality' in the context of society.
A society’s rules of conduct indicating what people ought or ought not to do.
The two ways to view the world are the _____ point of view and the ethical point of view.
The two ways to view the world are the _____ point of view and the ethical point of view.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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What does the ethical point of view prioritize?
What does the ethical point of view prioritize?
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According to student evaluations, studying ethics can lead to a more narrow perspective on issues.
According to student evaluations, studying ethics can lead to a more narrow perspective on issues.
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What principle states that any social and economic inequalities must benefit the least-advantaged members of society?
What principle states that any social and economic inequalities must benefit the least-advantaged members of society?
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Utilitarianism considers all consequences to be measured on different scales.
Utilitarianism considers all consequences to be measured on different scales.
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What are the two types of virtue outlined in Virtue Ethics?
What are the two types of virtue outlined in Virtue Ethics?
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In Social Contract Theory, Thomas Hobbes argued that life in a state of nature would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and ______.'
In Social Contract Theory, Thomas Hobbes argued that life in a state of nature would be 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and ______.'
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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What is the main idea of subjective relativism?
What is the main idea of subjective relativism?
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Cultural relativism suggests that there are universal moral guidelines that apply to all societies.
Cultural relativism suggests that there are universal moral guidelines that apply to all societies.
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What does Divine Command Theory state about good actions?
What does Divine Command Theory state about good actions?
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What was one significant outcome of installing video cameras on East Dakota freeways?
What was one significant outcome of installing video cameras on East Dakota freeways?
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In ethical egoism, morally right actions are those that provide self with maximum __________ benefit.
In ethical egoism, morally right actions are those that provide self with maximum __________ benefit.
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Match the ethical theories with their key characteristics:
Match the ethical theories with their key characteristics:
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The East Dakota State Police violated the rights of drivers by using video cameras.
The East Dakota State Police violated the rights of drivers by using video cameras.
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What should have been the ethical considerations for the antispam organization when blacklisting ISPs?
What should have been the ethical considerations for the antispam organization when blacklisting ISPs?
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Which statement represents a validity issue against ethical egoism?
Which statement represents a validity issue against ethical egoism?
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Kantianism holds that good will is the only inherently good thing.
Kantianism holds that good will is the only inherently good thing.
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Alexis graduated from high school with ________.
Alexis graduated from high school with ________.
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Match the actions undertaken in each scenario with their primary ethical concerns.
Match the actions undertaken in each scenario with their primary ethical concerns.
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What is the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative?
What is the first formulation of the Categorical Imperative?
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What is the primary concern of the Categorical Imperative's second formulation?
What is the primary concern of the Categorical Imperative's second formulation?
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___________ is the belief that different social contexts require different moral guidelines.
___________ is the belief that different social contexts require different moral guidelines.
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What potential harm resulted from the antispam organization’s action?
What potential harm resulted from the antispam organization’s action?
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Kantian ethics allows exceptions to perfect duties.
Kantian ethics allows exceptions to perfect duties.
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The East Dakota State Police acted without ethical concerns in their decision to share information with the FBI.
The East Dakota State Police acted without ethical concerns in their decision to share information with the FBI.
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What is a major criticism of Divine Command Theory?
What is a major criticism of Divine Command Theory?
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List one potential benefit of Alexis’s actions.
List one potential benefit of Alexis’s actions.
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What is the main difference between perfect and imperfect duties according to Kantian ethics?
What is the main difference between perfect and imperfect duties according to Kantian ethics?
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Subjective relativism asserts that moral judgments are dependent on __________.
Subjective relativism asserts that moral judgments are dependent on __________.
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Jeremy Bentham's principle of utility states that an action is good if its benefits exceed its __________.
Jeremy Bentham's principle of utility states that an action is good if its benefits exceed its __________.
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Match the ethical theories with their definitions.
Match the ethical theories with their definitions.
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Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
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In the highway routing scenario, what is one primary benefit of constructing the new highway?
In the highway routing scenario, what is one primary benefit of constructing the new highway?
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Act utilitarianism focuses on the intent behind an action rather than its consequences.
Act utilitarianism focuses on the intent behind an action rather than its consequences.
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What is a common criticism of Act Utilitarianism?
What is a common criticism of Act Utilitarianism?
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Kantianism treats all persons as moral __________.
Kantianism treats all persons as moral __________.
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In the anti-worm scenario, why was the release of the anti-worm deemed wrong?
In the anti-worm scenario, why was the release of the anti-worm deemed wrong?
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Study Notes
Living in Communities: Benefits and Costs
- Communities provide security against external dangers and enable the exchange of goods and services.
- Economic specialization in communities can lead to a higher standard of living and personal relationships.
- Costs of living in communities include prohibitions and obligations for certain actions, with nonconformance potentially leading to punishment.
- The existence of communities is justified by the benefits outweighing the associated costs.
Ethical Perspectives
- Core values shared by individuals typically revolve around life, happiness, and accomplishment.
- Two worldviews exist:
- Selfish: Focuses solely on personal interests.
- Ethical: Respects others and acknowledges their values.
Definitions
- Society: A group of individuals organized under rules that promote member welfare over time.
- Morality: The rules of conduct that dictate right and wrong actions in societal contexts.
- Ethics: The rational analysis of morality that evaluates behavior against established moral principles.
Importance of Studying Ethics
- Ethical studies encourage individuals to consider diverse perspectives on issues, leading to personal growth and better decision-making.
- Recognizes the complexity of ethical dilemmas which often require deep analysis for resolution.
Ethical Scenarios
- Scenarios presented include dilemmas involving deceit, harm, benefits, and ethical evaluation of actions.
- Common questions arise regarding fairness, rights violations, and alternative actions to achieve goals.
Ethical Theories Overview
- Subjective Relativism: Moral judgments are seen as personal and culturally dependent, leading to both subjective conclusions and challenges in establishing universal moral standards.
- Cultural Relativism: Right and wrong are defined by societal morals which vary across cultures and time periods, but faces criticism for potentially allowing harmful practices to persist.
Divine Command Theory
- Aligns right actions with God's will as disclosed in holy texts, but is criticized for inconsistency across different scriptures and impracticality in diverse societies.
Ethical Egoism
- Suggests individuals should act in their own self-interest, promoting maximum personal benefit. However, this approach can lead to immoral actions and neglect others' needs.
Kantianism
- Centers on the concept of good will, asserting that moral actions must respect others as ends in themselves rather than means to an end.
- Two formulations of the Categorical Imperative guide ethical decision-making:
- Act only according to principles that can be universalized.
- Treat individuals as moral equals deserving of dignity.
Utilitarianism
- Act Utilitarianism: Evaluates actions based on their outcomes, advocating for actions that maximize overall happiness.
- Rule Utilitarianism: Normative approach that supports moral rules leading to general happiness when universally followed.
Practical Evaluations
- Ethical scenarios evaluate the anticipated benefits and harms of actions, with various stakeholders considered.
- Case studies illustrate the complexities of ethical decision-making and the potential for societal impact.### Case for Rule Utilitarianism
- Moral decisions can be guided by established rules rather than individual utilitarian calculations.
- Moral rules can withstand exceptional situations without losing their validity.
- Reduces issues related to moral luck, where outcomes influence moral judgment.
- Minimizes bias in moral decision-making by relying on consistent rules.
- Appeals broadly to diverse social groups, providing a common ethical framework.
Case Against Utilitarianism in General
- Requires all consequences to be measured on a single scale, necessitating uniform units for calculation.
- Forces quantification of human life value in certain scenarios, raising ethical concerns.
- Fails to address unjust distribution of positive outcomes, lacking a justice principle.
- Conflicts may arise between the Principle of Utility and principles of justice, complicating moral evaluations.
Social Contract Theory
- Thomas Hobbes posits that life in the "state of nature" would be dire and prompts acceptance of a social contract.
- Implicit social contract establishes governance and moral rules among citizens.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasizes societal order where no individual is above the law.
- James Rachels defines morality as a set of mutually agreed rules for relational harmony.
Kinds of Rights
- Negative rights require others to refrain from interfering (e.g., privacy).
- Positive rights compel others to act on your behalf (e.g., education).
- Absolute rights are unconditional; limited rights are subject to circumstances.
John Rawls’s Principles of Justice
- Individuals have claims to basic rights as long as they do not infringe on the same rights for others.
- Social and economic inequalities must ensure equal opportunity and benefit the least advantaged, known as the difference principle.
Convenience Stores Scenario
- Bill collects customer purchase data to create profiles for marketing.
- Customers have differing reactions to the sale of their information.
- Evaluation hinges on rights concerning privacy and consent for information sharing.
Case for Social Contract Theory
- Framed through rights language, explaining self-interested behavior without common agreements.
- Analyzes governmental authority and civil obedience as justified actions.
Case Against Social Contract Theory
- The absence of an actual signed social contract raises questions about legitimacy.
- Conflicts where actions can have multiple ethical interpretations complicate the theory.
- Potentially unjust towards individuals who cannot uphold the contract due to various reasons.
Virtue Ethics
- Critiques Enlightenment theories for neglecting moral education, social relationships, and emotions.
- Virtue ethics centers on the idea of achieving excellence (arete) through moral virtues.
- Intellectual virtues involve reasoning; moral virtues concern character traits like honesty.
Aristotle on Happiness
- Happiness results from living virtuously, acquired through consistent moral behavior.
- Virtue Ethics emphasizes the right action consistent with virtuous character in any circumstance.
Vices
- Vices prevent flourishing, existing as opposites of virtues.
- Virtues are often positioned between two extremes, e.g., courage is between cowardliness and rashness.
Case for Virtue Ethics
- Emphasizes virtues over obligations or consequences, aligning ethical focus with moral character.
- Recognizes that moral skills develop through practice over time and acknowledges the role of emotions.
Case Against Virtue Ethics
- Disagreements exist on which traits constitute virtues for flourishing.
- Limited applicability to government policy-making and accountability for actions.
Comparing Workable Ethical Theories
- Ethical objectivism asserts morality exists independently, contrasting with relativism which considers morality as a human construct.
- Workable ethical theories share characteristics like logical reasoning and factual bases.
- Examples include Kantianism, utilitarianism, social contract theory, and virtue ethics.
Morality of Breaking the Law
- From a social contract theory perspective, societal burdens are accepted for rights protection, emphasizing law obedience unless higher moral obligations compel disobedience.
- Kantianism argues against subverting laws under the guise of justice due to potential consequences for society.
- Rule utilitarianism weighs the happiness produced against societal respect for law.
- Act utilitarianism examines specific scenarios where benefits of breaking the law could outweigh harms.
Summary of Theories
- Kantianism: Advocates respect for equal personhood and rationality in interactions.
- Utilitarianism: Prioritizes outcome considerations in moral decisions.
- Social Contract Theory: Encourages collective promotion of human rights.
- Virtue Ethics: Trusts in virtuous individuals to make right choices based on character.
Personal Ethical Decision-Making
- Encourages individual reflection on moral duties, rights, consequences, and virtues.
- Prompts consideration of personal aspirations for character and societal context.
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Description
This quiz explores the various benefits and costs associated with living in communities. It examines themes such as security, economic specialization, and personal relationships, while also addressing the ethical implications and shared core values among community members. Test your knowledge on community dynamics and the balance between advantages and obligations.
