Ethics Midterms Reviewer - Utilitarianism PDF

ETHICS MIDTERMS REVIEWER Intensity: How intense is the pleasure? Duration: How long will the pleasure last? UTILITARIANISM Certainty: How certain is it that pleasure will LESSON...

ETHICS MIDTERMS REVIEWER Intensity: How intense is the pleasure? Duration: How long will the pleasure last? UTILITARIANISM Certainty: How certain is it that pleasure will LESSON 6 occur? Propinquity: How soon will the pleasure JEREMY BENTHAM occur? Fecundity: Will the pleasure lead to more  The founder of modern utilitarianism pleasure?  The central principle of Bentham's Purity: Will the pleasure be free from utilitarianism is the "greatest subsequent pain? happiness principle” Extent: How many people will be affected?  FELICIFIC CALCULUS 2. UTILITY “ACT UTILITARIAN” This principle emphasizes that the morality of actions should be determined by their ability JOHN STUART MILL to maximize overall happiness and minimize suffering.  Introduced rule utilitarianism as a refinement of Bentham’s act 3. CONSEQUENTIALISM utilitarianism. The fundamental principle is that the  Mill’s version focused on the rightness or wrongness of an action is importance of following general determined by the outcomes or results it moral rules. leads to.  Rule utilitarianism assesses the utility of general rules of behavior. 4. IMPARTIALITY “RULE UTILITARIAN” The principle requires treating all individuals' interests equally and impartially. WHAT IS UTILITARIANISM? It doesn't prioritize the well-being of one person over another based on their identity Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that follows or relationship to the decision-maker. key principles of: ACT UTILITARIANISM VS RULE 1. HEDONISM UTILITARIANISM Is a philosophy that places the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain at the ACT UTILITARIANISM center of human motivation and ethical This form of utilitarianism evaluates each decision-making. individual action on a case-by-case basis. It assesses the specific consequences of each Key Points of Hedonism: action to determine its moral value.  Pleasure as the Ultimate Good  Avoiding Pain Act utilitarians believe that the right action is  Physical and Mental Pleasure the one that, in a particular situation, maximizes overall happiness. HEDONIC CALCULUS Jeremy Bentham formulated RULE UTILITARIANISM Hedonistic Calculus = Felicity Calculus Rule utilitarians, while still adhering to the Calculates the pleasure that some actions can principle of utility, focus on following rules or produce. principles that, when consistently applied, would lead to the greatest overall happiness. They argue that certain rules or norms are NATURE OF RATIONALTY generally conducive to maximizing happiness, and it is important to adhere to these rules HUMAN ACTS even if exceptions might yield better results in actions that proceeds from the will. specific instances. Ex: Choosing to help a friend, Studying for a test. NATURAL LAW THEORY LESSON 7 ACTS OF MAN actions that does not proceeds from the will. WHO DEVELOPED NATURAL LAW THEORY? Ex: Breathing, Sneezing  St. Thomas Aquinas is closely UNIVERSALITY VS RATIONALITY associated with the theory of natural law, which he developed in his influential SOURCE: work, the Summa Theologica. Universality: apply to all people, regardless of individual  Aquinas, known as Doctor Angelicus Rationality: derived from logical reasoning ("Angelic Doctor") and Doctor and the use of intellect. Communis ("Common Doctor"), built on earlier philosophical traditions, APPLICATION: particularly the works of Aristotle and Universality: valid across all cultures, early Christian thinkers, to frame his Rationality: logical consistency and understanding of natural law within a reasoning, Christian theological context. CULTURAL INDEPENDENCE VS. WHY WAS THE NATURAL LAW DEPENDENCE: DEVELOPED? Universality: independence from cultural or personal beliefs; UNIVERSALITY Rationality: Can be influenced by cultural, There is a problem with the bible that it is historical, and contextual factors limited only to where it can reach. And also subjective moral opinion of the interpretation MORAL FRAMEWORK: of its contents is also contentious. HENCE the Universality: applies equally to everyone Natural law theory was developed Rationality: Focuses on the use of logic and Ex. "do good and avoid evil." reason RATIONALITY OBJECTIVE VS. SUBJECTIVE BASIS: Thomas Aquinas as influenced by early Universality: Claims to be objective, Greek thinker (Aristotle) believe that assuming that there are universal truths that rationality in ethics and are inherently apply to all humans needed. Rationality: Can be more subjective, as it depends on the individual's ability to reason Ex: The idea of justice WHAT IS THE NATURAL LAW THEORY? is a system in which actions are seen as morally and ethically correct, if It accords with the end purpose of human nature and human goals. For example: caring for others promotes  Avoid Offense social harmony.  Shun Ignorance WHAT IS THE CONCEPT OF LAW IN Basic Goods With Reason Leads To: RELATION TO THE NATURAL LAW?  Prohibition(negative Injunction)  Positive Injunction It refers to all instances wherein human beings construct and enforce rules in their community NATURAL LAW Natural law is a system in which actions are seen as morally and ethically correct if It accords with the end purpose of: Human nature and human goals. HUMAN NATURE Is what is naturally – Human. HUMAN GOALS It is to do good and avoid evil. WHAT IS GOOD IN NATURAL LAW THEORY? It comes naturally God has imbued everyone PRINCIPLE OF DOUBLE-EFFECT the moral compass to do what is right or Aquinas designed this method, if given a wrong – no bible required. situation or alternative wherein there is the conflicting issues as to what course of action Animals for instance know what is GOOD for will prevail. them even though they haven’t read the bible, they need to eat, sleep and to have sex 1. THE ACT-EFFECT PRINCIPLE: The action is good in itself or at least The goal of man is to exercise the nature of indifferent. being “Good” by following his nature. 2. THE INTENTION PRINCIPLE: WHAT IS BAD NATURAL LAW THEORY? The good effect must be intended. Evil deeds are unnatural and immoral. 3. THE MEANS-END PROPORTIONALITY PRINCIPLE: BASIC GOODS There must be a proportionately grave reason Basic goods are fundamental aspects of for the evil effect to happen. human well-being and flourishing that are considered inherently valuable and essential 4. THE RIGHT ORDER PRINCIPLE: to human nature. The good effect must come first before the evil effect or at least simultaneously.  Life  Reproduction  Educating Offspring  Seek God  Live In Society  CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE LESSON 8 “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should WHO PROPOSED THE CATEGORICAL become a universal law. ” IMPERATIVE? -Immanuel Kant  Immanuel Kant was born on April 22, WHAT IS GOOD CATEGORICAL 1724, in Königsberg, Prussia (now IMPERATIVE? Kaliningrad, Russia).  He came from a modest background PRINCIPLE OF UNIVERSAVILITY and received a strict religious upbringing.  First you have a GOAL  Maxim is the means to the goal WHY WAS CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE  Then the Maxim would be Universalize – CREATED? everyone will be doing the same  It shows that you should not set an Categorical Imperative was created by Kant exemption to yourself. because he believed that Rationality should  Are you able to achieve the goal even if be the only foundation of Ethics and Morality everyone is doing the same maxim? – No God Required.  IF no, it is wrong BECAUSE there is a contradiction Being Human is enough to know what is  IF YES, the action is Good. absolutely morally right, If you were asked 1 + 1, the correct answer is 2. no matter your religion/God is. Morality is a product of Rationality therefore the categorical imperative is absolute.. If it is wrong, it is wrong for everyone, no exemptions allowed. WHAT IS CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE? Good Will is a necessary Principle wherein you do things because it is morally correct 4 ways to explain: not because of the result that it might Value of People produce, you do things because it is your duty Not Using Others to do good. Moral Responsibility Universal Respect CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE: PRINCIPLE OF HUMANITY  Is a form of Deontological Ethical Theory.  Principle of Humanity – Act as to treat  Duty/Obligation based Ethical Theory. humanity/man as an end, not as a You are Obligated to do what is means only. It is about treating people GOOD (& ourselves) as end in themselves – as a being of intrinsic value.  Additionally Categorical Imperative means, Direct Order.  NEVER MERELY as THINGS or TOOLS to be used for your own purpose or satisfaction.  Kingdom of ends = Society of ends PRINCIPLE OF AUTONOMY Key concepts of to understand Eudaimonia:  When a moral agent acts, he must understand that he is not only a follower PURPOSE(TELOS) of universal law (moral law). He is also a Telos means purpose & function maker of universal law.  Hence if you cheat on an exam, you are Everything has a purpose. allowing it to be the act of all, which A chair that you cannot sat on is a bad chair makes cheating morally right. A phone that is slow and has a failing battery is a bad phone. “Do the right thing because it is right” Aristotle believed that also applies to -Immanuel Kant Humans. The Ultimate purpose of human life is VIRTUE ETHICS Eudaimonia It is the Highest Good. LESSON 9 REASON(LOGOS) WHO DEVELOPED VIRTUE ETHICS?  Logos means reason, intellect or  Aristotle’s is around the prominent rationality. figures of history, such as Plato &  As a human that is capable of rational Alexander the great. thought, we are ought to be rational.  Aristotle founded and/or influenced Reason is our ability to think logically different disciplines and coherently, this is a fundamental part of this ethics because in order for us  Biology to understand how to be a human, we  Formal Logic need to be rational  Political Science  To pursue telos, we need logos.  Metaphysics  Aesthetics For example, if faced with a decision about  Educational Philosophy whether to act generously or selfishly, we use  Virtue Ethics logos—our capacity for rational thought.  And literally changed the course of VIRTUE(ARETE) history Arete means virtue, but it also translated to Excellence. WHY VIRTUE ETHICS? Virtue are character traits and are considered as a means to achieve Eudaimonia.  Aristotle's virtue ethics tried to offer a Virtue in this context is a guide for rational more realistic and grounded approach being to achieve Eudaimonia. to morality in response to the ethical issues and intellectual setting of his time. For example, courage is an arete.  It still serves as a useful and significant ARISTOLE’S 12 VIRTUE ethical model that places a strong emphasis on ethical behavior and a pursuit of human flourishing. GOLDEN MEAN  In Aristotle's ethical system, there is a concept known as the "Golden Mean."  Virtue on excess and/or deficiency are called vices.  Aristotle contends that goodness is found somewhere between two conflicting extremes of insufficiency and excess.  The mean in arithmetic is about the average, it is almost the same as the golden mean of aristotle, but not really, Moral situation in the real world cannot really be quantified easily, but a person that has achieved Eudaimonia is able to decide clearly what the GOLDEN MEAN is, in different scenarios to make the Good decision  The goal is to choose Virtue to be virtuous.  "Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit.  We become just by doing just acts,  temperate by doing temperate acts,  brave by doing brave acts." ETHICS MIDTERMS 2024 -Aristotle VIRTUE WITH VICES