Philosophy 1020 Intro to Ethics Midterm
Exam-Graded A
What is philosophy? - ANSWER-Literally "love of wisdom"
The activity of increasing one's understanding through investigation and reflection
Begins with wondering
What is Ethics/Morality? - ANSWER-Rules about what we should/shouldn't do but rules
with special kind of importance
E.g., respect individual rights
Do not harm others
Try to prevent unnecessary suffering
Sources of morality - ANSWER-Family, religion, laws, society's values, "our inner
voice", by using reason
Socrates - ANSWER-Gadfly that questioned the wisest Athenians and showed the
importance of questioning, using reason and argument to sort truth from falsehood
MLK's "Letter From A Birmingham Jail" - ANSWER-Replying to criticism from others
and responds with arguments
Arguments - ANSWER-Not a verbal fight
A series of logically connected reasons intended to prove that something is true or false.
Components of Arguments - ANSWER-1. Premises - a set of reasons which give local
support for the..
2. Conclusion - the main idea or point which the reasons are meant to support.
Good arguments - ANSWER-We went to arrive at the right conclusion through correct
reasoning.
The conclusion follows from the premises
Put into standard form
Standard form - ANSWER-P
P
C
Where do we find these commands? - ANSWER-Scriptures (e.g., bible)
Religious figures (e.g., prophets)
, Religious leaders (e.g., pastor)
Personal revelation (e.g., praying for sign or answers)
Attractions of DCT - ANSWER-1. Billions of people seem to agree with it (fallacy)
2. Provides, clear objective rules
3. Apply to all individuals and cultures equally
4. Rules are eternal, unchanging
Problems with religious moral guidelines - ANSWER-1. Disagreements
2. Applying guidelines today
3. Inconsistences
4. Nonbelievers - "so what?", no moral pull
5. Believers seem to pick and choose (ignore a lot of them) Regard some
commandments more than others
3 Assumptions - ANSWER-- Glaucon: the only reason people act morally is fear of bad
consequences if they don't
- God created morality
Religious motivation - ANSWER-Western Monotheistic religions: fear of eternal
pain/promise of eternal bliss
(e.g., karma)
Problem- fear of hell might make people act morally but is it good motivation? (for the
right reasons?)
God created Morality - ANSWER-An act is morally right if it is commanded by God or
the gods.
Problem: two ways of interpreting this
"Euthyphro Dilemma"
God's command "you shall not steal" should be viewed as:
#1 because God says so
#2 because God says it's wrong
Natural law - ANSWER-An action is right if it is in accordance with natural processes or
inclinations
Natural Law & Conflicting Conflicts - ANSWER-Most basic natural duty- self-
preservation
ANOTHER: don't kill
Can killing ever be morally justified?
The Doctrine of Double Effect - ANSWER-Actions often have more than one effect.
Action (A) had intended effect (I) and unintended effect (U). The unintended effect can
be justified if it is truly unintended and there is no other way of achieving (I). The harm
from (U) isn't grater than (I)
Exam-Graded A
What is philosophy? - ANSWER-Literally "love of wisdom"
The activity of increasing one's understanding through investigation and reflection
Begins with wondering
What is Ethics/Morality? - ANSWER-Rules about what we should/shouldn't do but rules
with special kind of importance
E.g., respect individual rights
Do not harm others
Try to prevent unnecessary suffering
Sources of morality - ANSWER-Family, religion, laws, society's values, "our inner
voice", by using reason
Socrates - ANSWER-Gadfly that questioned the wisest Athenians and showed the
importance of questioning, using reason and argument to sort truth from falsehood
MLK's "Letter From A Birmingham Jail" - ANSWER-Replying to criticism from others
and responds with arguments
Arguments - ANSWER-Not a verbal fight
A series of logically connected reasons intended to prove that something is true or false.
Components of Arguments - ANSWER-1. Premises - a set of reasons which give local
support for the..
2. Conclusion - the main idea or point which the reasons are meant to support.
Good arguments - ANSWER-We went to arrive at the right conclusion through correct
reasoning.
The conclusion follows from the premises
Put into standard form
Standard form - ANSWER-P
P
C
Where do we find these commands? - ANSWER-Scriptures (e.g., bible)
Religious figures (e.g., prophets)
, Religious leaders (e.g., pastor)
Personal revelation (e.g., praying for sign or answers)
Attractions of DCT - ANSWER-1. Billions of people seem to agree with it (fallacy)
2. Provides, clear objective rules
3. Apply to all individuals and cultures equally
4. Rules are eternal, unchanging
Problems with religious moral guidelines - ANSWER-1. Disagreements
2. Applying guidelines today
3. Inconsistences
4. Nonbelievers - "so what?", no moral pull
5. Believers seem to pick and choose (ignore a lot of them) Regard some
commandments more than others
3 Assumptions - ANSWER-- Glaucon: the only reason people act morally is fear of bad
consequences if they don't
- God created morality
Religious motivation - ANSWER-Western Monotheistic religions: fear of eternal
pain/promise of eternal bliss
(e.g., karma)
Problem- fear of hell might make people act morally but is it good motivation? (for the
right reasons?)
God created Morality - ANSWER-An act is morally right if it is commanded by God or
the gods.
Problem: two ways of interpreting this
"Euthyphro Dilemma"
God's command "you shall not steal" should be viewed as:
#1 because God says so
#2 because God says it's wrong
Natural law - ANSWER-An action is right if it is in accordance with natural processes or
inclinations
Natural Law & Conflicting Conflicts - ANSWER-Most basic natural duty- self-
preservation
ANOTHER: don't kill
Can killing ever be morally justified?
The Doctrine of Double Effect - ANSWER-Actions often have more than one effect.
Action (A) had intended effect (I) and unintended effect (U). The unintended effect can
be justified if it is truly unintended and there is no other way of achieving (I). The harm
from (U) isn't grater than (I)
