Phil 103 WSU Final Exam fully solved and updated

What is moral relativism? - answer-Belief that decisions about right and wrong are purely personal and subjective. What is "absolutophobia"? - answer-Phenomenon that includes the fear of saying unequivocally that certain behavior is unethical. Why do we need ethics if we have the law? - answer-Law is not possible without ethics, the only way law can be enacted or repealed is for one or more people to make a decision about right or wrong. Define ethics. - answer-The study of right and wrong conduct. In a philosophical sense: NORMATIVE ETHICS- answers specific moral questions, determining what is reasonable and therefore what people should believe. METAETHICS- examines ethical systems to appraise their logical foundations and internal consistency. . What is the problem relying on religious teaching to determine right and wrong?? - answer-Ethical discourse must take place on common ground, using understandings and intellectual procedures and judgement criteria that all participants affirm. If we were to examine a particular majority and compare their individual thinking on a particular issue, what three things would we find? - answer-1st- that actual knowledge of the issue varied widely among the individuals. Some would be informed about the details and some would not. 2nd- find significant variations in the degree and quality of consideration given the facts. 3rd- find a wide difference in the quality of judgement of the issue. Why can we not rely on the majority view to determine what is right and wrong? - answer-In past history majority view has supported heinous acts. We should examine issues for ourselves and embrace the most reasonable view. Are feelings reliable? - answer-Feelings are not reliable, many have done unreasonable things, and very awful things based on their feelings. If you want to do something or you do it because it feels "good", does not mean it is the right thing to do or is ethical. Why do we need a better guide than our feelings to determine what is right and what is wrong? - answer-Our feelings, desires, and preferences can either be beneficial or harmful, and because they can either be in harmony or in conflict with other peoples feelings, they obviously are not reliable criteria for moral judgement or trustworthy guidelines for actions. What are some of the dynamics about ones conscience? - answer-Shame, having special awareness of what we have done or are tempted to do. Is everyones conscience the same? - answer-No, many people are different. Some are extremists, some know when things are wrong, and some are completely unaware of right and wrong. What part does social conditioning play on shaping ones conscience? - answer-The effect of our environment. (people, places, institutions, ideas, and values we are exposed to as we grow and develop.) Some of the shapers of conscience. - answer-Natural endowment. social conditioning, moral choice. If one only relied on their conscience for making a moral choice, what would be some of the problems? - answer-When given more time to analyze we may find another choice may be better than our original conscience. Cultural relativity (moral relativism) - answer-Observation of cultural differences and two important realizations. A.) that a cultures values, rituals, and customs reflect its geography, history, and socio-economic circumstances. B.) hasty or facile comparison of other cultures with ones own culture tends to thwart scholarly analysis and produce shallow or erroneous conclusions. Is moral judgement of other cultures ever appropriate? - answer-People who accept an extreme interpretations of cultural relativism say that moral judgment of other cultures is never appropriate. 3 important cautions when evaluating another culture? - answer-1. understanding is no substitute for moral judgement. 2. the essential moral quality of an action does not change from time to time or place to place. 3. culpability for immoral acts may vary widely. 5 oughts from ancient cultures - answer-1. slander not (babylonian) 2. choose loss rather than shameful gains (greek) 3. the master said, respect the young. (chinese) 4. he who is asked for alms should always give. (hindu) 5. one should never strike a woman, even with a flower. (hindu) 3 oughts from the declaration of independence - answer-1. "secure the rights" 2. "injuries and usurpations" 3. "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Principal of right desire. - answer-We ought to desire what really good for us and nothing else Principal of contradiction - answer-is the second of the three classic laws of thought. It states that contradictory statements cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time, e.g. the two propositions "A is B" and "A is not B" are mutually exclusive. Explain the idea of "a fundamental good respect for persons". Give three requirements. - answer-The ideal that everyone is equal. The three requirements are: 1. everyone is worthy of sympathy 2. no one should be looked at as a possession. 3. no one should be treated as mere expendables. 3 Basic Criteria - answer-1. consequences 2. obligations 3. moral ideals 4 steps to analyzing ethical issues - answer-1. study the facts of the case 2. identify relevant criteria 3. determine possible courses of action 4. decide which action is most ethical 6 most significant errors - answer-1. generalizing (most important) 2. mine-is-better thinking 3. double standard 4. unwarranted assumptions 5. oversimplification Why is probability a factor when considering consequences? - answer-The fact that people can and do behave unpredictably makes considering consequences more difficult. 3 difficult questions. - answer-1. Is it justifiable to preform an evil act in order to achieve good consequences. 2. Is it justifiable to preform an act that is not in itself evil but produces mixed consequences, some of them beneficial and others harmful. 3. When only two actions are possible and both produce good consequences, which two should be chosen. The most common categories of obligations; - answer-Obligations of friendship, obligations of citizenship, employment obligations, professional obligations. How do you determine which obligation outweighs the other? - answer-Consider the relative importance of each and give preference to the more important one. What do you do when two or more obligations conflict? - answer-Identify all obligations thoroughly. 12 moral ideals - answer-prudence, justice/fairness, temperance, courage, loving kindness, honesty, compassion, forgiveness, repentance, reparation, gratitude, beneficence. When moral ideals conflict, how do you determine which moral ideal outweighs the other? - answer-Consider both, choose one that achieves the greater good or the lesser harm.