Moral Judgments and Intuition

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Questions and Answers

What distinguishes the internalist conception of autonomy from the relational conception?

The relational view asserts that autonomy is independent of social conditions.

The internalist view focuses solely on social relationships.

The internalist view is concerned with personal choices and values. (correct)

The relational view emphasizes individual mental states and values.

Why is Wilma considered more autonomous than Harriet?

Wilma makes choices freely, reflecting her own values, whereas Harriet's choices are restricted. (correct)

Wilma lacks any external influences on her choices.

Harriet's choices reflect her own values while Wilma's do not.

Harriet has more supportive relationships than Wilma.

What does Oshana’s example of the Taliban woman illustrate about relational autonomy?

Supportive social environments can hinder autonomy.

External conditions can prevent the exercise of true autonomy, despite personal feelings of meaning. (correct)

Personal fulfillment is sufficient for autonomy.

Women in oppressive conditions have complete autonomy.

What is a key argument for agreeing with Oshana's view on autonomy?

Supportive social environments are crucial for true autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

According to Oshana, what do WMM women experience regarding their autonomy?

Their autonomy is limited due to restrictive frameworks despite feeling fulfilled. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a positive attribute of WMM women according to Herr?

Strong engagement in their faith and community leadership. Signup and view all the answers

How does the relational conception of autonomy define autonomy?

As a combination of personal choice and supportive social environments. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of autonomy would likely generate disagreement with Oshana's view?

Belief that social conditions are not necessary for autonomy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Rawlsian social contract compared to traditional social contracts?

Principles of justice Signup and view all the answers

What does the veil of ignorance ensure in the decision-making process?

Unbiased selection of principles Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main principles of justice presented in the Rawlsian framework?

Principle of Equal Liberty and Difference Principle Signup and view all the answers

Which principle takes priority in the ordered principles of justice according to Rawls?

Principle of Equal Liberty Signup and view all the answers

Why do individuals not 'deserve' their natural endowments according to Rawls?

They are arbitrary and not chosen Signup and view all the answers

What kind of agreement does the veil of ignorance represent?

A theoretical construct Signup and view all the answers

How do rational individuals in the original position decide on principles according to Rawls?

By minimizing risks”, Signup and view all the answers

What does Singer argue should be viewed as moral obligations rather than optional acts of generosity?

Preventing suffering Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of social primary goods in the Rawlsian perspective?

They are essential for pursuing personal conceptions of the good life Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the stronger version of Singer's argument?

We are obligated to prevent harm regardless of cost to ourselves. Signup and view all the answers

According to Locke, why might utilitarians justify the assassination of JFK?

They believe it would generate greater overall happiness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between objective and subjective justification in utilitarian actions?

Objective justifications are universally accepted while subjective are personal. Signup and view all the answers

What rationale might utilitarians provide for suppressing information about their actions?

To prevent interference with their plans. Signup and view all the answers

How do the weaker and stronger versions of Singer's argument differ?

In the level of sacrifice required for moral obligations. Signup and view all the answers

Why should utilitarians who justify the assassination of JFK feel no remorse according to Locke?

Their actions align with the principle of maximizing happiness. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best summarizes Singer's perspective on charitable actions?

They should be regarded as obligations to prevent suffering. Signup and view all the answers

What does Herr suggest about the well-being of women in oppressive regimes like the Taliban?

They may still find happiness through limited cultural or religious roles. Signup and view all the answers

According to Mill, what is the 'tyranny of the majority'?

The imposition of majority views on minorities and individuals. Signup and view all the answers

What is required from laws according to the harm principle?

They should only restrict behavior that harms others. Signup and view all the answers

What does Mill argue regarding punishing adults who harm themselves?

It should be avoided unless they harm others. Signup and view all the answers

What enhances the well-being of WMM women according to Herr?

Religious participation that provides meaning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the principal justification for restricting individual liberty, according to the harm principle?

To prevent harm to others. Signup and view all the answers

How has the concept of tyranny evolved, according to Mill?

It has shifted from monarchic to a form of societal coercion. Signup and view all the answers

What role does personal autonomy play in the happiness of women within restricted regimes, as per Herr's view?

It can be limiting but is not the sole factor of well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of statist theory concerning political legitimacy?

Effective governance and order Signup and view all the answers

How do indigenous peoples' historical claims change upon entering a political association?

Their claims become shared rights within the association. Signup and view all the answers

Is actual consent essential for a state's legitimacy according to Ypi?

No, hypothetical consent is sufficient. Signup and view all the answers

Under what condition can indigenous peoples claim rectification of historical lands?

If they can demonstrate wrongful taking of resources or justice principles violations. Signup and view all the answers

Why is colonialism considered wrong according to the provided content?

It violates natural rights by unjustly taking lands and resources. Signup and view all the answers

What counterargument exists against the claim that indigenous peoples abandoned their lands?

Continuous cultural and spiritual ties prove they did not abandon their lands. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key argument against the legitimacy of consent given by indigenous peoples regarding land?

Consent was often coerced, manipulated, or fabricated. Signup and view all the answers

What alternative to direct land return do rectification measures for indigenous peoples typically involve?

Providing compensatory measures. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'maxim' refer to in Kantian ethics?

A subjective principle or rule guiding individual actions. Signup and view all the answers

How does Lenin's perspective challenge Williams’s objection regarding personal integrity?

By suggesting personal integrity can sometimes be sacrificed for collective good. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement aligns with agreeing to Williams's thesis regarding moral theories?

Integrity and personal beliefs must be integral to valid moral theories. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does Kantian ethics differ fundamentally from utilitarianism?

Kantian ethics emphasizes rights and obligations over collective outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a psychological effect of adhering strictly to personal integrity as suggested in relation to Williams's thesis?

Alienation and psychological distress. Signup and view all the answers

Why might one argue against Williams’s thesis in specific revolutionary contexts?

Moral progress may require difficult choices that conflict with personal integrity. Signup and view all the answers

What is implied by the need to universalize a maxim in Kantian ethics?

The universal application of a maxim determines its moral permissibility. Signup and view all the answers

What does the conflict between individual integrity and collective well-being highlight in real-world moral dilemmas?

The complexity inherent in balancing personal ethics with societal needs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Week 1

Moral judgments are primarily driven by intuitive emotional responses rather than conscious reasoning.
The social intuitionist model suggests moral judgments often arise from quick, automatic intuitions, not reasoned thought.
People rely on gut feelings when making moral decisions.
Emotions aren't the cause of moral judgments, but rather a part of the moral decision-making process.
Moral reasoning often involves social influence and persuasion rather than individual reflection.
Moral judgments are influenced by social interactions and the opinions of others, especially friends.
Moral psychologists need to acknowledge the importance of emotion and intuition in decision-making.
Moral judgments are a form of inference with multiple steps.
Relevant evidence, evidence coordination, and theory integration are key to reaching a decision via moral judgment.

Week 2

"The Experience Machine" is a thought experiment questioning the value of experiences versus experiencing them.
People are reluctant to plug into the machine because they value genuine experience instead of simulated ones, care about being a particular person, and value reality itself.
This reluctance suggests that values extend beyond simple pleasure; it includes authenticity, personal agency, and connection with reality.

Week 3

The desire theory of happiness posits that happiness is determined by the fulfillment of desires.
The simple view of the desire theory suggests happiness is directly related to the number of satisfied desires.
Frankl's description of concentration camp experiences demonstrates that complete loss of desire is not universal even under severe conditions.
The "absent desire problem" of simple desire theory points out the difficulty or impossibility of assessing happiness when someone does not have desires.
"Idealized desires" are the desires one would have under ideal conditions.
"Idealized desires" fail to adequately address the absent desire problem because fulfillment of desires does not imply happiness.

Week 4

Mill's philosophy examines tyranny and its development, focusing on the evolution from monarchial to majority rule.
Tyranny of the majority occurs when the majority imposes views, values, or interests on minorities.
The harm principle suggests that restricting an individual's liberty is only justified to prevent harm to others.
Laws should only restrict behaviors that harm others.
Society should avoid interfering in the actions of individuals unless those actions cause harm to another.

Week 5

Autonomy focuses on self-direction and controlling one's choices, actions, and decisions free from internal or external pressures.
Internalist conceptions of autonomy center on an individual's inner state and freedom to choose based on values.
Relational conceptions of autonomy incorporate a person's social context, relationships, and freedom from oppression.
In cases of oppressive social conditions, fulfilling one's perceived sense of self and purpose may still occur without full autonomy.
Social factors contribute to or hinder the ability of one to have autonomy

Week 6

Consequentialism and utilitarianism focus on the outcomes of actions.
Well-being conceptions of a person's interests center on what contributes to a person's quality of life, happiness, and well-being.
Utilitarianism judges actions based on their consequences, aiming to maximize well-being for the greatest number of people.
Respect and additivity principles stress that each person's well-being is important and should be considered in evaluating actions.
Utilitarianism prioritizes the total well-being, sometimes overlooking individual interests.

Week 7

Utilitarians might view the assassination of President Kennedy as justifiable if they thought it would result in a greater overall good.
Objective justifications for actions suggest that a greater good results (or that utility is maximized).
Subjective justifications involve the individual making a decision while not feeling that their actions are morally right.
Suppressing information can be seen as justifiable if it prevents greater harm to the majority.

Week 8

Kant's ethics emphasizes individuals' intentions and moral duties, with a focus on rights and obligations rather than consequences.
Maxims, an individual's principles guiding actions, are crucial in Kantian ethics.
Kantian ethics differs from utilitarianism regarding moral evaluation, focusing on intent (principles) and the ability to act rationally rather than the outcome of actions.
Duties of justice focus on fairness and respect for individual rights, whereas duties of beneficence aim to promote the well-being of others.
Kantians value life based on inherent dignity; utilitarians calculate life's worth based on its contribution to collective happiness.

Week 9

Rawls's theory of justice focuses on a hypothetical "original position" where individuals, behind a "veil of ignorance," make decisions about justice, without knowing their own status, background, or personal attributes.
The principles of justice are conceived to be fair and to benefit all members of society.
Rawls argues for the prioritization of basic liberties and the idea that inequalities are only acceptable if they benefit the least advantaged members of society.
Rawls's work contrasts with traditional contract theories that prioritize individual consent to form a society.

Week 10

Thomson argues that even if a fetus has a right to life, abortion isn't necessarily morally impermissible.
The violinist thought experiment demonstrates that a right to life does not inherently obligate others to sustain a life, particularly when their own will or autonomy is impacted.
Distinguishing between killing and letting die is important for deciding on permissible harm with moral implications.
A woman's consent to sex does not automatically extend to having to continue a pregnancy.
When the mother's life is at risk, abortion is aligned with self-defense and thus morally permissible.

Week 11

Marmor justifies the right to privacy based on the interest in controlling personal information and situations, leading to better self-autonomy.
Privacy protects individuals from unwanted intrusions, allowing for authentic self-expression and interpersonal relationships.
Privacy is about setting important information boundaries, and does not encompass all actions.
Privacy pertains directly to information, while actions may or may not affect privacy.
Examples of privacy include private communications, intimate personal information, and relationships.

Week 12

Ypi contrasts associationist and statist theories to explain why colonialism is wrong.
Associationist theory emphasizes individual consent, while statist theory prioritizes effective governance.
Indigenous peoples retain moral rights over their historical lands even after entering modern political associations.
Consent is not necessarily required for a state to be legitimate, as the justification for legitimacy can instead come from the state's upholding of basic justice principles.
Indigenous groups might have moral claims for rectification of historical injustices but must be contextualized.

Week 13

Colonialism violates natural rights by unjustly appropriating indigenous lands and resources.
Indigenous peoples may lose natural rights over their lands due to a lack of improvement, abandonment, or apparent consent. All these, however, require careful consideration and specific contextualization for justice based on history.
Rectification of injustices may be compensatory rather than simply restoring original land ownership.

Week 14

Demetriou argues that the right to human dignity supports both violent resistance and gun ownership, citing autonomy and the importance of self-defense.
Demetriou argues that the right to defend oneself is consistent with human dignity.
The policy debates around gun ownership, safety, and dignity are interlinked and multifaceted.

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Explore the fascinating insights into moral decision-making, focusing on intuition, emotion, and social influences. This quiz covers concepts from Weeks 1 and 2, including the social intuitionist model and the thought experiment 'The Experience Machine'. Test your understanding of these key ideas in moral psychology.

Moral Judgments and Intuition - Week 1 & 2

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