36 Questions
What is needed for our conscience to be properly informed?
A clearer guidepost
What is the problem with the divine command theory approach to ethics?
It is too simplistic
According to Aquinas' moral theory, what is the basis of our sense of right and wrong?
Human nature
What is an ethical command rooted in?
Moral principles or the dictates of conscience
What is the main goal of ethics?
To live a good, moral life
What is the result of having a clearer basis of ethics?
A sense of right and wrong grounded in human nature
What is the primary focus of consequentialist ethics?
The moral value of the consequences of the action
What is the main concept of hedonism?
The pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain
What is the primary concern of utilitarianism?
The greatest happiness for the greatest number
What is the principle of utility, according to Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill?
The principle of understanding the results of people's actions
What is freedom in the context of utilitarianism?
The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
What is the main difference between Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's views on utilitarianism?
There is no significant difference between Bentham and Mill's views on utilitarianism
According to Aquinas, what is the only being that is perfect in its goodness?
God
What is the purpose of divine providence, according to Aquinas?
To guide beings towards their proper end
What is the end goal of all actions, according to Aquinas?
To return to the divine goodness
How are beings created by God, according to Aquinas?
As determinate substances, as a particular combination of form and matter
What determines the materiality of a being, according to Aquinas?
The particular form of a being
What is the nature of a being, according to Aquinas?
A participation in God's goodness, both good and imperfect at the same time
How do beings fulfill their purpose, according to Aquinas?
By fulfilling or actualizing the potencies that are already present in their nature
What is unique about the way humans are directed towards God, according to Aquinas?
Humans are directed towards God in a way that is not applicable to other beings
According to Utilitarianism, when can individual rights be overridden?
In circumstances of conflict valuation
What is the primary challenge of Utilitarianism?
Reconciling individual rights with the pursuit of overall happiness
What is John Stuart Mill's understanding of justice?
Respect for rights directed towards society's pursuit of the greatest happiness
What is the primary reason why a right is justifiable on utilitarian principles?
Because it produces an overall happiness that is greater than the unhappiness resulting from its implementation
What is the relationship between moral rights and legal rights according to Mill?
Moral rights are superior to legal rights
What is the significance of the category of rights according to Utilitarianism?
It is associated with the individual's most vital interests
What is the consequence of not observing legal rights that are not morally justified?
It is objectionable
What is the justification for enduring legal punishments for acts of civil disobedience?
To promote a higher moral good
What is the primary characteristic of human beings that enables them to reach God?
Capacity for reason
What governs the community of beings towards its end?
Divine reason
What is the ultimate goal of creation according to the text?
To return to God
What is the role of the intellectual power in the human soul according to Aquinas?
It directs and commands the sensitive and nutritive capacities
What is the relationship between human beings and the universe according to the text?
Human beings are part of the universe's return to God
What is the characteristic that sets human beings apart from other animals according to the text?
Capacity for reason
What is the hierarchy of laws in the text?
Eternal Law, Divine Law, Natural Law, Human Law
What is the purpose of the divine reason in the universe?
To govern the community towards its end
Study Notes
Ethics
- Utilitarianism: a consequentialist moral philosophy that determines the moral value of actions based on their usefulness and consequences.
- Hedonism: a related philosophy that focuses on pleasure and pain.
The Principle of Utility
- Jeremy Bentham: an English philosopher who developed the principle of utility, which holds that an action is right if it promotes the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
- John Stuart Mill: an English philosopher who built upon Bentham's ideas and argued that individual rights can be overridden in extreme circumstances to promote better welfare.
Utilitarianism vs. Egoism
- Egoism: a moral philosophy that prioritizes individual self-interest over the greater good.
Strengths of Utilitarianism
- Intuition: utilitarianism appeals to our intuitive sense of morality, which prioritizes the greater good.
- Responsibility: utilitarianism promotes individual responsibility for the consequences of our actions.
- Flexibility: utilitarianism can be applied to a wide range of situations and contexts.
- Simplicity: utilitarianism offers a clear and simple moral principle to guide our actions.
Justice and Rights
- John Stuart Mill: understands justice as respect for individual rights, which are directed towards society's pursuit of the greatest happiness of the greatest number.
- Moral Rights: are justified if they produce an overall happiness that is greater than the unhappiness resulting from their implementation.
Natural Law and Ethics
- Thomas Aquinas: a philosopher who developed a natural law theory that grounds ethics in human nature and the pursuit of perfection.
- Divine Providence: God's guidance and direction towards the perfection of all beings.
- Human Nature: is created by God and is good, but imperfect, and strives towards perfection through the fulfillment of its natural capacities.
- Reason: is the prime characteristic of human nature and the tool for achieving perfection and returning to God.
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